Press statement issued by BJP National Spokesperson and MP
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad

The BJP deeply deplores the manner in which the UPA government has sought to disown the nuclear and atomic legacy of India on the 10th anniversary of Pokharan-II i.e. May 11. We need to recall that May 11 also happens to be the 34th anniversary of Pokharan-I. In fact the nuclear explosion particularly of 1998 successfully done because of the leadership of courage displayed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee as the Prime Minister not only demonstrated the accomplishments of our brilliant nuclear scientists but in one stroke brought India in the big league of world affairs. Almost the entire world imposed sanctions and the same were lifted without India submitting at all to the discriminatory non proliferation regime. India demonstrated its ability as a responsible nuclear power by declaring the principle of no first use and non use against non nuclear country.

All the opponents of Pokharan-II including the present Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh who had warned that the test would cripple Indian economy were proved to be hopelessly incorrect. With a new responsible status of India in the world, economic progress followed speedily, GDP growth accelerated and India’s foreign exchange reserve multiplied five times in seven years. By its conspicuous silence on May 11, the UPA government has sought to deliberately downplay a very glorious and golden chapter of our recent history, only because this achievement was made when Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister and NDA was in power. The UPA government totally forgot that the Indian nuclear programme has been beyond partisan politics. The BJP in its earlier existence as the Jansangh has openly appreciated Pokharan-I in the year 1974 when Smt. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. It appears that the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh are not comfortable with this legacy of Smt. Indira Gandhi.

The BJP seriously apprehends that the UPA government is seriously compromising our deterrent building capacity. They are more into deal making then deterrent building. In the last General Budget for 2008-09, the budget of the atomic energy department was reduced by $529 million without any explanation. China today has got more than 100 ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) whereas India’s programme is not even on the drawing board. In fact it has been shelved; it appears, under USA pressure. Even the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which was started 25 years ago, has been closed this year. We need to recall that in the year 1991-1995 as Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has starved the nuclear programme of necessary funds for expansion. The same is again being witnessed when he is the Prime Minister. The BJP shall never compromise India’s strategic needs and continue to expose the UPA government.

(Shyam Jaju)
Office Incharge