ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Analysts debate efficacy of nuclear tests, signing the CTBT

Former United Nations under secretary-general C V Narasimhan on Tuesday advocated India signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in the wake of the recent nuclear tests, while Swadeshi Jagran Manch convener S Gurumurthy differed with him, saying that the issue would arise only after proven nuclear weaponisation through computer simulation.

They were participating in a debate on the fall-out of economic sanctions being imposed by the United States and other countries, organised by the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Madras.

While Gurumurthy reiterated the Manch stand that the tests had enhanced the country's prestige in the international arena, Narasimhan disagreed with him, saying it was not necessarily so. "Both Germany and Japan, which have immense clout, are non-nuclear states," he pointed out.

Gurumurthy said the tests had proved that the West, especially the United States, could not afford to ignore India any more. Narasimhan, however, felt that Pakistan might end up being the biggest beneficiary of the tests by getting more US military and financial aid.

Tracing C Rajagopalachari's contribution to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the early sixties, Narasimhan recalled the role played by the statesman in eliminating atmospheric nuclear tests from the world.

"Rajaji had met both John Kennedy and Nikita Khruschev and forcefully pleaded with them to do away with further tests," he added.

Stating that non-proliferation the world over was a continuous process, he said the Pokhran tests were definitely a scientific achievement but their effects had to be reasoned out. "Weaponisation, which needs proven delivery systems, is a costly affair and India's resources are urgently needed for economic development," he added.

Gurumurthy contended that the tests had brought about a division in US public opinion about India which could dilute the sanctions and their possible impact on the Indian economy. Narasimhan, however, said the US public opinion about India had never been monolithic.

Answering questions from the assembled industrialists, Gurumurthy made light of the impact of the sanctions and hoped that better business sense would prevail in the US on the issue of investing in India.

Asked if the foreign direct investment flow to India would go down in the wake of the tests, he said: "In any case, FDI will not lift the Indian economy. We have to do it ourselves," he added.

Replying to a question on the recent fall of the Indian rupee in the international market, he said this had nothing to do with the tests.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report