Rahul takes a dig at PM, calls NSG bid a ‘failed diplomacy’

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi-Joining in the opposition’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India failed in its bid to clinch Nuclear Suppliers Group membership, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a dig at the PM calling it a “failed diplomacy”. “NSG: How to lose a negotiation by Narendra Modi. #FailedModiDiplomacy,” Rahul tweeted.

India’s efforts to join NSG hit a roadblock after its attempts were thwarted in two-day plenary in Seoul where China, Brazil, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand opposed its entry because it is not a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The plenary meeting of the 48-member NSG ended on Friday without any decision on India’s membership bid as divisions persisted over admitting non-NPT members with China leading the opposition to it.

Ahead of the meeting, India had pushed its case with a number of countries, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the charge. Modi had also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent urging him to take a decision on India’s membership on merit while seeking Beijing’s support but China persistently opposed India’s bid.