Similarly, our right to produce as many weapons as we want is not abstract. We have adopted a self-limiting doctrine — to confine our arsenal to provide a credible minimum deterrence. If circumstances arise obliging us to change that doctrine and produce more weapons, we are as free under the agreement as we are without it. The Prime Minister has clearly stated that we cannot agree to fissile-material cut-off unless they allow for our security concerns.

We realise that there are many Indians, no less concerned about our security interests than ourselves, who disagree with us. Democracy demands and thrives on differences of opinion. We only urge that opinion be shaped by facts and reality.

One other objection to the agreement has lately been raised: beyond its specific provisions is the charge that the agreement makes us subservient to a particular foreign power. Without entering into the rights and wrongs of this view, we would draw attention to an objective fact: international relationships are shaped by strength, the stronger you are the greater your freedom of action. We believe India is more vulnerable to foreign pressures without this agreement than we would be by increasing our strength through an intelligent use of it to put through various development programmes which currently falter. To revert to our initial point, this agreement should be viewed as an instrument for making us that stronger power, confident of itself and of the respect of others, that counts more and more in the world, and can do more for its people.

... contd.