 NEW DELHI — India will not be pressured into voting against Iran over its suspect nuclear programme at this week’s meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said yesterday. “We will do what is right for the country. India’s national interest is the prime concern whether it is domestic or foreign policy,” Singh told reporters in New Delhi, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported.
“We will not come under pressure. We will do the right thing for the country. Our prime concern is to protect and safeguard India’s enlightened national interest,” the premier said.
| Even if that means arming the Mad Mullahs™ with nukes? |
US ambassador David Mulford warned last week that a historic deal to provide India with American nuclear technology might fall through unless it votes against Iran at the February 2-3 meeting of the IAEA. Mulford said a prospective deal for the United States to transfer civilian nuclear technology to India would “die” in the US Congress if India voted against a resolution on Iran. If India decides not to back the resolution, “the effect on members of the US Congress with regard to (India-US) civil nuclear initiative will be devastating,” Mulford told PTI in an interview.
IndiaÂ’s communists, who lend crucial outside support to SinghÂ’s minority government, have asked the government to abstain from the vote if the IAEA meeting does not reach a consensus.
| Which is won't of course, since the Chinese will vote 'no'. |
During the IAEA meeting in Vienna in September, India voted with the United States, Britain, France and Germany to chide Iran for its nuclear programmes.
| Chided? Chided? What's next? Chastisement? Admonishment? |
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