The Congress on Friday rejected claims by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government achieved a breakthrough in securing uranium exports from Australia to India, saying the decision was approved by Australia's ruling party in 2011 during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. The political exchange began after BJP IT department head Amit Malviya claimed that Australia had refused to sell uranium to India in 2010 but that the situation changed under Modi's leadership, leading to an agreement between the two countries on uranium exports.

Countering the claim, Congress leaders said the groundwork for uranium cooperation between India and Australia was laid years before the Modi government came to power. The party argued that Australia's decision to revise its uranium export policy towards India was taken in 2011 after the Australian Labor Party changed its position on selling uranium to India. The Congress said the BJP was attempting to present an earlier diplomatic development as a recent achievement of the Modi government.

It maintained that negotiations and policy changes between the two countries had progressed during the UPA period, eventually paving the way for future agreements. Australia had earlier restricted uranium exports to India due to New Delhi's non-signatory status to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, in 2011, the Australian Labor Party approved a change in its policy, allowing uranium sales to India. The decision was later followed by the signing of the India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in 2014.

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The BJP, however, has highlighted the Modi government's role in strengthening India-Australia relations, including progress in strategic cooperation, trade and energy partnerships. Party leaders have argued that the agreement on uranium exports was part of broader diplomatic efforts under Modi's leadership to deepen ties with Australia.

The issue resurfaced during discussions on Prime Minister Modi's engagements with Australia, where bilateral cooperation in energy, defence and trade has remained a key focus. Both countries have expanded their strategic partnership in recent years, including collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, which also includes the United States and Japan.

The political disagreement reflects a larger debate between the BJP and Congress over foreign policy achievements and the legacy of previous governments. While the BJP has credited the Modi administration with accelerating India's global partnerships, the Congress has repeatedly argued that several initiatives highlighted by the current government were built on foundations established during earlier regimes.

The uranium issue is expected to remain part of the broader political contest between the two parties as they continue to debate the ownership of major diplomatic and economic developments involving India and its international partners.

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