India must have veto rights: PM

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New Delhi, Dec 21: Asserting that there was no ambiguity on UN reforms, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday made it clear that India must have veto rights as a permanent member of the UN security council.

He told Rajya sabha: “There is no ambiguity in our stand. There is no confusion... We do not believe there should be any discrimination in the security council (on veto rights).”

Observing that there was ‘no clarity’ on the shape the security council reforms would take, he said it was ‘premature’ for the government to ‘pre-judge’ the issue at this stage.

Responding to clarifications by former external affairs minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on his statement on foreign policy-related issues in both Houses of Parliament, Mr Singh brushed aside apprehensions over the country’s nuclear policy.

“There is no ambiguity about our nuclear policy. India is a nuclear weapon state and we are a responsible nuclear power,” he said adding the country was committed to promoting non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.

On Indo-PAK ties, he said confidence building measures could not move forward if the flow of terrorists from across the border went on ‘without any check and control’.

He said India would go by the ground situation and was committed to what was agreed between Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on January 6 this year.

Pakistan should ‘remain committed to the commitment’ it made in January, Mr Singh said adding the whole exercise would take off if Pakistan remains committed to its assurance.

On the issue of the US arms supply to Pakistan, the Prime Minister said though this did not figure during his talks with Mr Musharraf, India’s concerns were conveyed to the US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who had visited India recently.

About supply of natural gas from Iran through pipeline via Pakistan, he said the issue was being discussed and it was not possible to say what shape the discussions would take.

Asked about doubts over supply of nuclear fuel to Tarapur reactor by Russia, he said India had the assurance from Moscow that it would honour all its contractual obligations. On the question of additional supplies, the Prime Minister said he was confident that a satisfactory conclusion would be arrived at.

Asked about assurances given by Myanamarese leader Than Shwe during his recent visit that North-East insurgents would not be allowed to use Myanamar soil for anti-India activities, he said Yangon was honouring the commitment.