India rejects SAARC Secretariat suggestion to bring satellite project under its ambit

After Pakistan, the SAARC Secretariat has suggested bringing India's satellite project for countries of the grouping under its ambit, but India has rejected the idea again saying it is not acceptable. In a letter from the SAARC Secretariat, based in Nepal, it has been suggested whether the "issue could be referred" to SAARC's Technical Committee on Science and Technology. India has, however, rejected the suggestion saying the project is India's gift to its South Asian neighbours. "If the issue is the referred to the SAARC's Technical Committee on Science and Technology then it will get stuck for 2-3 years as everyone will chip in. We wrote back to the SAARC secretariat that it was not possible to bring the project under the aegis of the regional grouping," said a senior government official.