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India should acquire second-strike capability and ICBMs, says AICC secretary

India, after having carried out a series of nuclear tests successfully, should now discuss and concentrate on second-strike capability -- the potential to strike after having suffered a nuclear attack, according to Major Sudhir Sawant (retd), secretary, All India Congress Committee.

Major Sawant told newsmen in Bombay that this was possible only through a submarine launched system. "We do not have this capability, as the Sagarika missile system is yet in its development stage," he said.

He added that the grave threat to the Indian people and Indian security and threat perceptions should now be immediately analysed, and an action plan should be evolved to ensure safety and security of the country.

Major Sawant, who was recently appointed as AICC secretary, said the people of the country need to recognise that the status of a nuclear weapon state exposes India to a pre-emptive nuclear strike. "The nuclear weapon states have the capability of destroying all nuclear installations and weapon platforms even before India can think of using nuclear weapons," he said, adding that to be a really credible nuclear power, India was still required to develop second-strike capability and also an inter-continental ballistic missile system.

He said that merely carrying out tests or developing nuclear weapons is of no use unless there is a credible delivery system. Since India's nuclear capability was proved during the Pokhran explosions on May 18, 1974, it would have been logical for renewed nuclear tests after having developed a good delivery system. He recalled the efforts of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi of launching and promoting the integrated guided missile development programme.

As part of the efforts to refine the delivery system, the Congress government took the decision to purchase state-of-the-art Sukhoi-30 fighters, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. He said it was because of the efforts of the respective Congress governments that the missile development programme was carried out in a phased manner. But the BJP-led coalition government seems to be taking mileage from it, he said.

Turning to another aspect, he said the prime minister is yet to address the nation directly after carrying out the series of nuclear tests last week, and this deserves strong condemnation.

He told reporters that the nuclear tests were carried out at the Pokhran range on May 11 and 13, but the prime minister is yet to address the nation on television or radio, although almost 10 days have passed since. Vajpayee has held press conferences after the nuclear tests, but has not addressed the nation directly, though it is a practice to address the nation after major decisions. The fact that Vajpayee chose to address his workers at his party headquarters on this matter, without even bothering to address the nation, deserves strong condemnation, he said.

UNI

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