India’s entry into MTCR due to a deal with Italy : Cong

New Delhi :  Congress  claimed that India became a full-member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as a result of a “deal” with Italy by the Narendra Modi government on the issue of two Italian marines.

Party spokesman Kapil Sibal claimed that India’s entry into the MTCR followed a “deal” with Italy by the Modi government on the issue of the marines charged in a case of killing two Indian fishermen.

He said while India was becoming a member of the MTCR, Italy was the only country opposing its entry and the “ghar wapsi” (sending back home) of the Italian Marines paved the way for the agreement.

India  joined the MTCR as a full member and said its entry would be mutually beneficial to enhance global non-proliferation norms.

Marking India’s first entry into any multilateral export control regime, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar signed the instrument of accession to MTCR in the presence of France’s Ambassador-designate Alexandre Ziegler, The Netherlands’ Ambassador Alphonsus Stoelinga and Luxembourg’s Charg d’Affaires Laure Huberty.

India’s entry into MTCR comes days after it failed to get NSG membership due to stiff opposition from China and a few other countries.

@Agency report.