Modi's Japan visit 2014: DNA of non-violence engrained in our society, says PM Narendra Modi on why India not signing NPT

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to address Tokyo’s concerns over India’s nuclear programme by saying that the country’s commitment to peace and non-violence was ingrained in “DNA of Indian society”, and it was above any international treaty or processes.

The PM utilised the opportunity at Tokyo’s Sacred Heart University to send out a convincing message across Japan — the only country that has been nuked — a day after India and Japan failed to break the logjam in negotiations on the nuclear deal and directed officials to expedite deliberations for mutually acceptable agreement at an early date.

“India is a land of Lord Buddha. Buddha lived for peace and suffered for peace and that message is prevalent in India,” Modi said at the University while replying to a question by a student.

During an interaction, he was asked how India would enhance trust of the international community without changing its stand on Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it has refused to sign despite possessing nuclear weapons.

India refuses to sign NPT as it has discriminatory rules. “In international affairs, there are some processes. But above them is the commitment of the society,” he said, underlining the need for rising “above the treaties”. India is also not a signatory to Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and has a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear tests since Pokhran-II of 1998.

But Japan wants Indian guarantees not to conduct nuclear tests and more stringent inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that spent fuel is not diverted to make bombs. I

ndia is opposed to Tokyo’s insistence on a clause in the text of the proposed agreement that provides for automatic termination of the bilateral nuclear ties if India conducts nuclear test in future. Delhi wants India-US nuclear deal of 2008 to be the template for the deal with Tokyo. A nuclear deal with Japan is important as several advanced N-power companies are Japanese or have a tie-up with Japanese companies.