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Vajpayee writes to world leaders explaining India's compulsions

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has written letters to leaders of major powers, including the United States, explaining the reasons for conducting three underground nuclear tests in the Pokhran range yesterday.

The letters were sent to US President Bill Clinton, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and leaders of Japan and other countries. Through the letters, he is reported to have conveyed his government's serious concern about the 'nuclear environment' in India's neighbourhood.

Vajpayee sent these letters to the world leaders soon after India conducted underground tests of fission device, a low yield device and a thermonuclear device. These tests did not release any radioactivity in the atmosphere, the prime minister added in his letter.

Pramod Mahajan, political advisor to the prime minister, told newspersons in New Delhi that the tests were carried out keeping in view India's security perception in the region.

He hoped that the Western countries would appreciate India's security concern and will not impose any sanction.

"We are confident that the tests will not pose any problems with Western countries," Mahajan said while reacting to reports that some countries have recalled their envoys for consultation after India conducted nuclear tests.

Mahajan, quoting media reports, said Clinton has stated that his scheduled visit to India in November remains unchanged in spite of the nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran.

"It is a welcome step, and shows an understanding by the international community of India's concern."

Asked whether there was a discussion on India joining the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Mahajan replied in the negative.

India had stated last night that it was prepared to consider becoming an adherent to some of the clauses in the CTBT. ''But this cannot be done in a vacuum,'' it said in a government statement.

It was also affirmed that the country will continue to exercise the most stringent control on the export of sensitive technologies, equipment and commodities -- especially those related to weapons of mass destruction. "Our track record has been impeccable in this regard. Therefore, we expect recognition of responsible policy by international community," the statement said.

"Our adherence to the chemical and biological weapons convention is evidence of our commitment to any global disarmament regime, which is non-discriminatory and verifiable," it said.

Meanwhile, Vajpayee today held a high level meeting at the defence ministry headquarters in South Block to analyse and discuss the fallout of yesterday's underground nuclear tests.

Vajpayee drove to South Block along with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, scientific advisor to the defence minister, and Dr R Chidambaram, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and consulted with Defence Minister George Fernandes and Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and senior finance ministry officials.

The meeting took note of the reactions of countries which had protested and indicated imposition of sanctions against India. The meeting was also attended by the three services chiefs.

Before the two-hour long meeting, which took stock of the entire gamut of political and economic fallout of tests, the prime minister held talks with senior scientists, who have contributed in successful conduct of the nuclear tests.

Later, the council of ministers met under Vajpayee's chairmanship and approved a resolution hailing the scientists for their contribution to this revalidation of India's technological maturity and progress.

The resolution reiterated its concern and commitment to national security interests which would remain paramount in view of the prevailing nuclear environment in India's neighbourhood.

Mahajan justified the government's decision to conduct nuclear tests, saying the BJP had promised in its manifesto and the national agenda to re-evaluate the nuclear policy. "We stood for it and did it at the earliest," he asserted.

Describing the nuclear test as a "nationalism test", Mahajan expressed happiness that all political parties had supported it.

Asked whether the tests were conducted to divert the attention of the people, he said it was absurd. "We can take a decision any time keeping in view our security perceptions," he added.

"When we decided to conduct the explosion, we never expected appreciation from Western countries. However, we are confident the West will appreciate our position and not pose any problems," he said.

Referring to the possibility of imposition of sanctions on India, Mahajan said, "We are ready to face it as the country has the inherent strength."

He said 95 per cent of the country's economy was swadeshi, and it would sustain itself.

UNI

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