Over 100 NRIs lobby for India in NSG
21:21 IST Monday, January 14, 2008 Daily News & Analysis,

NEW DELHI: With indications that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) may meet in March to decide on opening doors of nuclear commerce to India, a group of non-resident Indians recently conducted a 'recruiting drive' to lobby in their respective countries for India's case.

A small survey was conducted during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here last week, asking the participants if they were interested in being part of a 'soft campaign' run by the Delhi-based Imagindia Institute in the NSG member countries.

Out of the 116 overseas Indians who took part in the survey, 106 have offered to take part in the efforts to spread awareness about India's energy needs, said a statement by Imagindia.

"The Indian diasporas can play an extremely important role in their home countries to create awareness and momentum for lifting of sanctions on India, and over the past one year we have been making efforts in some targeted countries to mobilize the diasporas," said Imagindia Institute president Robinder Sachdev.

The institute has already been running an 'NSG campaign' in some key members of the 45-country group. They have been conducting seminars and writing letters to newspapers.

"These 100-plus people will now lend further momentum to our efforts, and we thank them for stepping forward to counter the forces that are blocking India's efforts at the NSG," Sachdev said.

Last week, a group of international NGOs led by the Arms Control Association had written a letter to the NSG chair, South Africa, to argue against giving unconditional exemption to India for nuclear commerce.