US backs India for NSG spot, but China sees red After Gurugram, RSS for renaming 3 other cities

JOINT MOVE? Reports suggest China acting at the behest of its key ally Pakistan

The US has reiterated its backing for India’s candidature for the Nuclear Suppliers Group after China defended its move to block India’s entry on the ground that it had not signed on to a key global nonproliferation treaty.

Reports have suggested China is acting at the behest of its key ally Pakistan to block India’s efforts to join the 48-nation bloc, a move that will make it easier access nuclear technology and know-how.

“I’d point you back to what (President Barack Obama) said during his visit to India in 2015, where he reaffirmed that the US view was that India meets missile technology control regime requirements and is ready for NSG membership,” state department spokesman John Kirby said on Friday. He was responding to a question on the reports that China and Pakistan have come together to oppose India’s candidature for the NSG.

“Deliberations about the prospects of new members joining the NSG are an internal matter among current members,” he said. “I’m going to refer you to the governments of China and Pakistan with respect to their positions on India’s membership.”

Earlier on Friday, China said several NSG members shared its view that signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is an “important standard” for membership of the bloc. Foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China and other NSG members believe the NPT is the cornerstone for safeguarding the global nonproliferation regime. He was responding to a question about reports that China is linking India’s membership of the NSG to Pakistan’s entry.

The NSG is an important part of NPT, and this has been the consensus of the world community, he said. Though India is not part of the NSG, it recognises this consensus, he added. of the 48 “current members” of NSG and thus, can block India’s entry, Pakistan can’t as a non-member. But Islamabad can piggyback ride China on this, as it tends to Obama had even earlier declared support for India joining the NSG and three other exclusive clubs of countries dealing with sensitive technology during a state visit in 2010 and enhanced military capabilities along the border with India, a top US military official said in an assessment that suggests Beijing is ramping up its geopolitical ambitions in the region have backed India too — the UK, France and Russia, four of the five UN Security Council permanent member. Only China continues to oppose it Congress on military and security developments in China, the US department of defense noted that tensions remained along disputed portions of the Sino-Indian border.

Ahmedabad might soon be known as Amravati, Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar and Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, if the RSS has its way. The Sangh that was crucial in pushing through Gurgaon name change to Gurugram last month is now preparing for more such “reversals” to highlight their culture and cleanse foreign influence. Critics say the name changes are an attempt to rewrite India’s history and extend the Sangh’s cultural influence.

The RSS has made such attempts in the past but its clout in the BJP — that rules Gujarat and Maharashtra — strengthen the possibility of such changes being accepted by governments. RSS leaders believe names of cities should be tied to their “history and culture” and the Sangh already uses “historic names” to address these cities.