New Delhi: The Government of India on Thursday, June 10, asserted that no radioactive item or uranium were found or being sold in Bokaro in Jharkhand and flayed Pakistan for trying to "malign India without caring to check or verify facts".
"The Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, after due evaluation and laboratory analysis of the material sample has stated that the material seized last week is not uranium and not radioactive. The gratuitous remarks about India by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry drawing upon a media report indicate their disposition to malign India without caring to check or verify facts," MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi told reporters.
He further said, "Let me also reaffirm that India maintains a stringent law-based regulatory system for internationally controlled items which is reflected in our impeccable non-proliferation credentials recognized by the international community.”
Pakistan last week called for investigating the incidents of illicit uranium possession and sales in India and emphasised the need for identifying the end-users of the material.
“Pakistan reiterates its call for thorough investigation into such incidents and measures for strengthening the security of nuclear materials to prevent their diversion,” Foreign Office spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri has said. The remarks came after Jharkhand police had arrested a group of seven people in Bokaro.
On India-China border talks:
MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said India has repeatedly stressed that completion of "disengagement" would pave the way for India and China to consider de-escalation of forces.
"You would recall that the 21st meeting of the WMCC was held on March 12 and the 11th India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held on April 9. During these meetings, both sides agreed on the need to resolve the outstanding issues in an expeditious manner in accordance with the existing agreements and protocols," he said.
"We have repeatedly stressed that completion of disengagement in other areas would pave the way for the two sides to consider de-escalation of forces and ensure full restoration of peace and tranquility and enable progress in bilateral relations,"he said.
