HVK Archives: Nuke tests a logical culmination, says Congress
Nuke tests a logical culmination, says Congress - The Economic Times
Political Bureau
()
May 12, 1998
Title: Nuke tests a logical culmination, says Congress
Author: Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 12, 1998
Putting aside political compulsions, the Congress today welcomed
the successful testing of three nuclear devices by scientists at
the underground testing facility at Pokharan today.
Taken by surprise at the announcement made by Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee within hours of the successful testing of the
nuclear devices, the party, after a two hour session at 10
Janpath attended by senior party leaders, eventually sought to
wrangle a portion of the credit by maintaining that the exercise
was actually a continuity of the nuclear programme initiated by
the late prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1974.
e congratulate our nuclear scientists and engineers on the
demonstration once again of our scientific prowess. The first
Pokharan test of 1974 was conducted during the prime ministership
of Indira Gandhi, the party spokesperson Ajit Jogi said today.
The party held that the 1974 explosion was an ssertion of our
Independence and our nuclear capacity and that India has always
maintained that the nuclear option would be open". The refusal to
take a political stand on the issue notwithstanding, party
circles indicated that the apprehensions of the motive by the
Vajpayee government as to timing the tests at a juncture when it
had just taken over the governance could be discussed in the CWC
meeting on May 14.
Caught in a bind over how to formulate its stand, the, Congress
dilemma was reflected when party circles opined that, the BJP
should have taken the largest Opposition party in confidence over
the issue. It was indicated that a senior level delegation would
call oar the Prime Minister to ascertain the full facts on the
development. It also reserved comments on the fact that the
economic sanctions against India would come into force
immediately and the economic implications, if any, on the
country.
The party maintained that it had always taken a principled stand
on the nuclear issue. "We have been urging the elimination of
nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework since the action
plan for a nuclear, weapons free and non-violent order was
presented to the United Nations first by Rajiv Gandhi in 1988.
That continues to be the seat anchor of our nuclear weapons,
policy" Mr Jogi said.
Individual leaders in the Congress too welcomed the testing of
the nuclear devices. The former party spokesperson VN Gadgil who
welcomed the announcement by terming it as a "step in the right
direction" said that the tests proved that India was a nuclear
power.
Mr Gadgil, who had also held the portfolio of minister of state
in the defence ministry under Ms Indira Gandhi also said that
provocation by Pakistan was also one reason which had led to the
tests being conducted. "India must show that it is a nuclear
power, After all it was Pakistan which has provoked its" he said.
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