Friday, May 13 2005 20:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (May 13, 2005) said the new legislation to prohibit unlawful activities in relation to weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery in no way indicated any change in India's nuclear policy.

"It does not indicate any change in our nuclear policy. It does not in any manner constrain our nuclear programme, civilian or strategic," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters in New Delhi.

Describing the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Bill, 2005 approved by Parliament as an "overarching and integrated" legislation, he said India was determined to utilise advanced technologies for its security, welfare of its people and to meet the nation's developmental requirements.

Through updated controls for the export of WMD-usable materials, equipment and technologies and prohibitions related to non-State actors, India fulfilled its mandatory obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolution.

He said the legislation and its passage underlined India's role as a responsible nuclear power and its respect for such responsibility arising from the possession of sensitive dual use technologies.

India has stated that it was fully committed to safeguard its security as a Nuclear Weapon State and to deepen its autonomous scientific and technical capability for meeting its security imperatives and developmental goals.