Despite China’s stiff opposition to India’s inclusion into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Centre has decided to keep the economic agenda insulated from the contentious issues between the two countries and to clear all Chinese investment proposals on a priority basis. Sources said the move once again highlights the importance the Modi government has attached to the country’s economic growth and plans to pursue it more aggressively in the days ahead.
All key ministries, sources added, particularly those dealing with economic issues, have been instructed not to “unnecessarily delay” any China related investments projects and try to fastrack them. On its part the home ministry, which deals with security clearance for projects related to foreign direct investment (FDI), has not kept any such proposal pending with it.
“There is a clear view in the government that the economic agenda should not be derailed due to diplomatic issues. The economic growth cannot be hampered due to this and its work as usual as far as FDI proposals from China are concerned. In fact, in the home ministry we are ensuring that security clearance is given in a time bound manner without any delays,’’ a senior home ministry official said.
China has been opposing India’s entry into the NSG saying there is a need for wider consultation among the Group’s members for India’s inclusions. The Chinese clearly feel that making India an NSG member could change the regional power equation particularly in context of India-Pakistan relations. Earlier, China had opposed India’s move at the UN to declare Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, as a global terrorist.
