Cong says no further need for nuke tests

Font Size

Express news service Posted: Sep 06, 2008 at 0025 hrs IST

Print Email Feedback Discuss

New Delhi, September 5: Maintaining that India may not need to conduct nuclear tests “in all probability”, the ruling Congress on Friday brushed off the Opposition and Left’s onslaught against the UPA Government in the wake of disclosures of correspondence between the US Congress and the State Department on the 123 Agreement.

Referring to the Opposition’s charge that the Government was surrendering the right to conduct nuclear tests, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, “Did the Prime Minister ever tell anybody that India will have the right to test but the US will not have the right to react? In 35 years we have tested only twice. There is no need to test (any further) in all probability.”

The ruling party contended that if the country needed to test in the next 15 to 20 years, there will be enough strategic fuel reserves by then. Besides, even if the US then decides to stop fuel supply, the 123 Agreement does not forbid other NSG countries from supplying it.

Ads By Google

“The need for testing is being exaggerated. We don’t need to conduct nuclear tests daily. If there will be a need for it in an emergency situation, the Government has kept the option open. As far as possible, we are not interested in testing. While we refuse to sign the NPT and CTBT, which we consider discriminatory, it doesn’t, for a moment, mean that we are trigger happy, gung ho and irresponsible nuclear power,” said Singhvi.

The Congress spokesperson also reminded the Opposition of the previous NDA regime’s decision to declare a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing.

“It is an artificial storm in a non-existent teacup,” said the spokesman denying the BJP’s and Left’s charges. “It is an irony that in case the deal does not get through, the maximum applause would be in Islamabad, Beijing and Nagpur (RSS headquarters),” he said.

Ads By Google

Post Comments

Message*	Maximum characters allowed

Name*		Email ID*
Subject*		Country*

TERMS OF USE:
The views, opinions and comments posted are your, and are not endorsed by this website. You shall be solely responsible for the comment posted here. The website reserves the right to delete, reject, or otherwise remove any views, opinions and comments posted or part thereof. You shall ensure that the comment is not inflammatory, abusive, derogatory, defamatory &/or obscene, or contain pornographic matter and/or does not constitute hate mail, or violate privacy of any person (s) or breach confidentiality or otherwise is illegal, immoral or contrary to public policy. Nor should it contain anything infringing copyright &/or intellectual property rights of any person(s).

I agree to the terms of use.

View all Messages [ 0 ]

Be the first to comment.

View all Messages [ 0 ]

Mail this page