NEW DELHI: The France government has rejected India’s request for extension of contract to supply enriched uranium for Tarapur atomic plant and for rocket technology.

Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao went to Paris last month soon after the U.S.-dominated International Monetary Fund sanctioned liberal loans to this country. The prime minister proceeded with the visit despite the fact that Paris through diplomatic channels had clearly told India that no enriched uranium would be supplied or high-tech rocket system would be made available unless India signed the nuclear non-prilferation treaty.

Rao’s evident aim was to assess for him the mood of the French leadership on the two issues. He wanted to know as to what extent the French leadership would like to go along with the United States which some time ago had banned exports of spare parts and components to India’s space program. The Indian prime minister offered all kinds of baits to France in return for the two aims he had set for himself during the visit. There was talk of economic liberalization and avenues of profitable investments in India. Rao had also let it be known that his government might intervene to help a few French companies in their disputes with Indian companies but the matter was kept pending and the further action was evidently linked to the results of his talks with the French government on matters of India’s concern.

The French president, Francois Mitter and, was quick to understand the purpose of Rao’s visit. His government lost no time to tell the Indian journalists accompanying the prime minister that there had been no change in the French stand vis-a-vis the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. In view of this public stand, the Indian leader did not even mention the two issues which had taken him to Paris.

Most Indian journalists, fed by the Indian delegation, reported blah-blah about the identity of views on a wide-range of issues between India and France. The exception, for once, was India’s semi-official news agency, P.T.I which truthfully reported Farce’s firm no on the two vital issues.

Meanwhile, to minimize India’s humiliation the country’s atomic energy commission chairman P.K.lyengar boasted that the Tarapur plant would continue to operate for the next 15 years with the help of indigenously produced enriched uranium and despite France’s no to India.

India evidently also failed to enlist any public support of Paris against Pakistan on its support to the struggling people of Kashmir and Punjab, France merely agreed to hold talks with Delhi on the need to counter “terrorism.” There was no statement by France against the Sikhs and Kashmiris and their aspirations.

The result of Rao’s visit should come to the U.S. administration as satisfactory because Paris stood its ground against India’s clever moves and did not respond to the ideas of an anti-US. Axis being formed.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 16, 1992