HARARE: The Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao, Friday declared that India would take its own decision on signing the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT).

Replying to a question by a Pakistan: journalist who pointed out that China had agreed to sign the NPT and that Pakistan had offered to follow suit if India did so he said India does not believe in emulating any other country. It will take a decision on its own.

 Answering another question from another Pakistani correspondent on the tension in the border areas and the “danger of even a war” despite the ongoing dialogue between the two countries, the Prime Minister said “Troops go on moving from place to place and there is no need for tension to be created or imagined. I am not aware of any such tension.”

When the correspondent said that the tension had been created by the presence of troops on the Sind border, Rao said, “I am not aware of that aspect at all in general, I don’t see any need for any tension anywhere along the border”.

Referring to his meeting with the Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, he said it had enabled them to establish a personal rapport Both were hopeful that it would be possible to solve the outstanding issues.

 HUMAN RIGHTS: Asked about the alleged violation of human rights in Kashmir and India’s willingness to allow international observers to visit the Valley, Rao said there was no problem as such in allowing access to such observers. We only have to consider the circumstances in that area from the point of view of security. Requests can be considered on a case-by-case basis”.

The Prime Minister assorted that India had an “impeccable” human rights record despite some reports. “We have a pulsating democracy, a completely independent judicial system sometimes there is a clash between the requirements of law and order and unity of the country on the one hand and elements trying to break up the country on the other. On no account will they be tolerated. That is where we draw the line.” Rao said he was against linking

Foreign aid to human rights, adding that such a concept was not going to be accepted by the Commonwealth. “Do you think that if I don’t take aid from you? I can do anything with the human rights of my people?” he asked a Canadian journalist who posed the question.

Ad HOC APPROACH: Replying to a question at a largely attended news conference at the CHOGM media center, the Prime Minister said efforts were being made to lay down the criteria for admission or readmission of countries to the Commonwealth, These would be spelt out soon. It was generally felt that the “ad hoc” approach to this question should be abandoned.

Answering a query about the general response to his speech emphasizing a “pragmatic approach” to the question of democracy and good government, he said. “It was not negative at all”. The term good governance Was Open to varying, even contradictory, interpretations and efforts were being made to define it. On South Africa, Rao said “virtually all heads of govt™ had endorsed the recommendation of the foreign ministers committee regarding phased withdraw of sanctions.

Rao announced the acceptance by the commonwealth summit of the recommendations of the foreign ministers committee to lift people-to-people sanctions against South Africa immediately and expressed India’s readiness Indian origin there.

Replying to questions, he said India had an impeccable record on the human rights issue in Kashmir in spite of what was being written in the foreign press.

On the question of allowing foreign observers to monitor the human rights situation in Kashmir, Rao said the requests could be considered on a case-by-case basis.

He was of the view that the commonwealth could help countries with fledgling democracy or those trying to establish a democratic govt.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 25, 1991