BJP welcomes government’s stand on CTBT, NPT

October 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed on Monday clarified his stand on companies paying exorbitant salaries to top company executives and managers, and said that the Government welcomes the top company brass to lead an austere life-style. Talking to media Khursheed said that the display of wealth and opulence is unacceptable in the present scenario.

September 24th, 2009 MUMBAI - Rejecting claims made by former Defence research and development Organisation (DRDO) chief K. Santanam that the Pokhran II were partially successful, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar said tests were fully successful.

September 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is concerned about a proposed UN Security Council resolution urging countries to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and has contacted Britain, Russia and France to ensure that its nuclear deals are not be affected, National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan said.

August 29th, 2009 BARMER - The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Saturday said that a needless controversy had been created over the Pokhran II nuclear tests that took place in May 1998.

August 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Defence Ministry on Thursday rejected senior DRDO scientist K Santhanam's assertion that the 1998 Pokhran II nuclear tests were not fully successful, adding that India has a meaningful number of nuclear weapons and an effective delivery system to go with it. Sources in the ministry told the Times Now television channel that India has a nuclear deterrent that is adequate for its security.

August 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Top defence scientist Dr.K. Santhanam said on Thursday that the scientific community in India had felt after the May 1998 nuclear tests that there should be another test to complete the research.

July 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Setting the stage for nuclear business with India, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Sunday sought to downplay differences over nuclear issues, saying the two countries can work together for a 21st century non-proliferation regime, but left it to New Delhi to decide its position on signing the CTBT. "We will work for a 21st century non-proliferation regime.

June 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in parliament, Monday asked the government not to succumb to pressure from the developed world and change its stand on agriculture subsidies ahead of the mini trade talks to be held here later this year. Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had Saturday said he hoped the mini-ministerial of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in New Delhi will lay out a clear roadmap for the Doha Round of negotiations that have been blocked for nearly a year.

June 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - CII today welcomed the Government's announcement on creating the UID Authority of India (UIDAI), under the aegis of the Planning Commission, and begin the process of allocating unique identification number to the citizens of India. CII acknowledged the move to appoint Nandan Nilekani to lead this initiative, and said that Nilekani's technological acumen and managerial prowess will help deliver a project of this magnitude.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Ahead of the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to New Delhi next month, India Wednesday underlined its credentials as a responsible nuclear power and reiterated its commitment to universal nuclear disarmament amid speculation there might be pressure on it to sign the global nonproliferation treaties. "We will welcome real action towards disarmament.

May 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has once again attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for what it calls his pro-American foreign policy even as Congress leaders are trying to get the support of Left parties and their Third Front allies to form the government at the centre. 'The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government led by Manmohan Singh has virtually surrendered to US imperialist pressures and committed India to ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),' the CPI-M said in an editorial in People's Democracy, its mouthpiece, Thursday.

May 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Warning of a downturn in India-US relations in the short term, former US ambassador Robert D. Blackwill Tuesday said New Delhi may face pressure from the Obama administration over resolving the Kashmir issue and on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

April 12th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - The Congress Sunday welcomed as a positive step the decision of Kashmiri separatist leader Sajad Lone to fight elections. 'The Congress welcomes this development.

March 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama in London, India Monday said it 'won't stand in the way' of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) provided it 'actively contributes to nuclear disarmament'. 'We won't stand in the way...

January 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Terming it an opportunity to improve stability in the region, Pakistan Friday welcomed the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as the special US envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 'Pakistan welcomes the appointment of ambassador Holbrooke and looks forward to enhanced and fruitful engagement with the special envoy to further the cause of peace and stability of the region,' Dawn quoted the foreign ministry spokesman as saying.