HVK Archives: Overwhelming majority supports N-tests
Overwhelming majority supports N-tests - The Times of India
Times of India News Service
()
May 13, 1998
Title: Overwhelming majority supports N-tests
Author: Times of India News Service
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 13, 1998
India broke into the hitherto exclusive five-member nuclear club
on Monday when it conducted three underground nuclear tests at
Pokhran in Rajasthan, 24 years after its first implosion at the
same site.
The tests took the nation and the world by surprise. In the wake
of the successful conclusion of the three tests, spanning a range
of nuclear devices, what does the average Indian feel? Is it a
sense of national pride? Will the Indian action escalate the arms
race in the sub-continent? How do Indians think the U.S.,
Pakistan and China will react?
To answer these questions, the Indian Market Research Bureau
(IMRB) conducted an opinion poll between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on
Tuesday, May 12, less than 24 hours after the tests. ]he poll was
conducted in six metropolitan cities in India -Mumbai, Delhi,
Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
The total sample size of 1,007 adults was equally split among men
and women and further among three age groups: 15-24 years, 25-34
years and 35 years and above. Opinions were sought from those who
were aware that India had conducted the nuclear tests the day
before.
The findings show that an overwhelming majority of the
respondents approved of India conducting the nuclear tests (91
per cent vs 7 per cent), while two per cent of those interviewed
did not offer any opinion.
A large number of respondents felt that Pakistan would take some
active measures to counter India's testing of nuclear devices.
Respondents felt that the most likely response would be Pakistan
conducting tests of its own (80 per cent). The dominant feeling
was that Pakistan would seek help from the U.S. (73 per cent),
China (60 per cent) and ask other countries to impose sanctions
on India (67 per cent).
However, only 33 per cent felt that Pakistan would sign a no-war
treaty with India while 45 per cent felt that there would be a
breakdown in talks with Pakistan.
As far as China was concerned, most respondents felt that its
response would be more muted than Pakistan's. More than half felt
that China would now help Pakistan to produce a nuclear weapon of
its own. A significant proportion (46 per cent) felt that China
would actually target its nukes towards India. However, only 29
per cent thought that this event would lead to a breakdown of
talks between China and India.
There was tremendous support for India actually building nuclear
bombs of its own. While 82 per cent felt that India should build
a nuclear arsenal, 76 per cent felt that it would actually go
ahead and do so. The response to India signing the CTBT was
lukewarm, with only 39 per cent approving.
About two-thirds of the respondents felt that the U.S. would
increase pressure on India to sign the CTBT, while just over half
thought that it would actually go as far as imposing trade
sanctions on India.
OPINION ON THE NUCLEAR TESTS
Do not approve 7%
No opinion 2%
Approve of nuclear tests 91%
% AGREEING
India should now build nuclear bombs/weapons 82%
India will now build nuclear bombs/weapons
76%
India should sign all nuclear non=3Dproliferation treaties, like
CTBT 39%
INDIA TESTS ARE A RESPONSE TO % AGREEING
Pakistan testing the Ghauri missile 55%
China increasing its military presence in the region 47%
% AGREEING WITH
BJP-led government has done these nuclear tests ONLY to increase
its popularity 41%
After these nuclear tests feel happier today about the BJP-led
government 63%
Feel more secure and safe now as an Indian citizen
76%
Sense of pride that India has announced that it is a nuclear
power 91%
LIKELY RESPONSE OF U.S. % AGREEING
Ensure Pakistan does not do a nuclear test 50%
Encourage Pakistan to do a nuclear test 47%
Impose trade/economic sanctions on India 51%
Encourage India to sign treaties, like CTBT 68%
PAKISTAN LIKELY RESPONSE % AGREEING
Also conduct nuclear tests 80%
Ask other countries to condemn India 67%
Seek help from the U.S. 73%
Seek help from China 60%
Sign a no-war treaty with India 33%
Escalate disturbances in Kashmir 70%
Discontinue peace talks with India 45%
CHINA LIKELY RESPONSE % AGREEING
Target nuclear weapons in India 46%
Threaten India to discontinue its nuclear programme 44%
Encourage Pakistan to also conduct nuclear tests 59%
Provide nuclear weapons to Pakistan 55%
Discontinue peace talks with India 29%
SOURCE : IMRB Opinion Poll
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