While it has already been announced that India and Japan will not sign a civil nuclear agreement during the Prime Minister’s current visit, the fact that Japan, with its known views on doing business with a declared nuclear weapons nation, is talking to India at all on the subject is remarkable. “We have to give it time,” sources said, adding that “we also do not want an agreement that is markedly different from everyone else.”
India and Japan have held two rounds of discussions so far and expect to continue discussions on removing restrictions on high technology transfers to which Japanese firms and sections of the government are still not entirely comfortable with. India remains committed to not signing the NPT, saying its record of non-proliferation speaks for itself.
Prime Minister Singh, who will be meeting not just with his counterpart but the heads of all political parties as well as the captains of Japanese industry on Monday, has told the media here that he sees huge opportunities for the global nuclear industry to participate in the expansion of India’s nuclear energy programme. “We would like Japan to be our partner in this initiative,” he said.
“We are negotiating an agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with Japan. …the agreement will be a win-win situation for both of us,” he added.
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OC’s role in financial deals under scanner
Pramod Kumar
New Delhi
Oct. 24: The Central probe agencies are examining the files related to the decisions taken by the standing finance committee (SFC) of the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games regarding several Games projects. The SFC was constituted on December 8, 2008 after due approval of the Union Cabinet in order to strengthen the financial control and supervision of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games.
According to sources, the probe agencies are trying to ascertain whether certain decisions taken by the SFC were allegedly manipulated by the OC members at a later stage while awarding contracts to certain companies for carrying out Games projects.