Over 100 NRIs offer to lobby for India at the NSG
MEDIA ADVISORY Jan 14, 2008, Economic Times

New Delhi – The Imagindia Institute today issued the following statement: -
“New Delhi – The Imagindia Institute recently conducted a survey among the PIO/NRI community to create awareness about India’s energy needs in the 21st century, and to gauge the response among PIO/NRIs regarding India’s efforts to have the sanctions lifted at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The survey was conducted during the Prawasi Diwas, the annual gathering of PIO/NRIs from across the world in New Delhi on 8-9 January, 2008, and is part of a soft campaign that Imagindia has been running in NSG countries for over a year to lobby for removal of sanctions imposed on India since 1974.

The sample size was 116 PIO/NRIs, and out of these 106 offered to make efforts and spread awareness about India’s energy needs in their home countries. The few PIO/NRIs who did not agree to make any efforts had reasons ranging from their opposition to nuclear energy due to environmental reasons, to concerns that India’s nuclear weapon program will be accelerated if more nuclear supplies were available.

The results of the survey come close on the heels of a letter dated January 7, 2008, led by Daryl Kimball of Arms Control Association, and Steven Staples of the Global Secretariat to Abolition 2000, to the NSG chair, South African Foreign Minister, wherein they argue that India should continue to be under sanctions.

“Those who want India to remain under sanctions are undermining the choices, growth and global participation of over one billion Indians. The nuclear sanctions on India are unjust. It is truly heartening to see the response of the Indian Diasporas to this most critical issue for India. 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. 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,” said Robinder Sachdev, president of the Imagindia Institute.