NSG meets again on Sep. 4 amid continued scepticism over India-waiver

New Delhi, Sep 3 : Amid continued reservations of some member countries over granting waiver to India, the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will hold a crucial two-day meeting in Vienna from Thursday to consider the initiative.

The NSG will consider a draft which is being presented before the 45-nation grouping after amendments following demands by at least 15 countries during the 21st-22nd August meeting.

Countries like New Zealand and Austria, which are still not satisfied with the revised draft, are expected to voice their concerns over non-proliferation issues.

On studying the draft circulated to them by Germany, the current Chair of the NSG, these countries feel that the amendments in the text are only cosmetic in nature and conditions are not attached.

China, too, appeared on Monday to be joining the sceptic countries when its Communist Party's mouthpiece 'People's Daily' described the Indo-US nuclear deal as a "blow" to non-proliferation.

However, the Chinese Government on Tuesday indicated that it will not block the initiative.

India, on the other hand, has maintained that if conditions are attached to the waiver, it could walk away.

India and the US are hoping that the 45-nation grouping would have a consensus on giving the exemption at this meeting to enable the American Congress some time to have a final vote on the nuclear deal.

Ahead of the meeting, the US has been campaigning hard for the exemption for India, arguing that it would be good for the world.

ANI