mahajan-nuclear
India to utilise N-weapons as a deterrent: Mahajan
MUMBAI, Mar 28/199: Asserting that India will utilise nuclear weapons as a deterrent, Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan today said that the challenge before scientist and security agencies is to develop a sophisticated command and control system of effecting delivery.
"Nuclear weapons cannot be transported or delivered on bicycles or trucks and we need to have an effective command and control system," the Minister said while addressing a huge gathering of BJP workers on the concluding day of Jan Jagran Abiyan here.
"It will take a few years time for developing an effective command system", he said, adding that the Government need not be destabilised at this stage.
"The nuclear cover will act as a deterrent against enemies and those who have guts to see eye to eye with India," he said and added "we will make the country’s nuclear policy irreversible." We are a peace loving country and do not want to harm anybody, he asserted while reiterating that the nuclear weapons will be used as a deterrent.
Mr Mahajan refuted the opposition claim that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was the weakest ever Prime Minister the country has had. "He is strong enough and that prompted him to take several bold and wise decisions including improving India’s nuclear progress, he said amidst thunderous applause.
The Pokhran II set of five nuclear tests on May 11 and May 13 have given a new identity to the country that of being a nuclear power. "It is just a matter of mere 53 days after assuming power at the Centre on March 19 1998, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee made India a nuclear power", he said, adding that the Congress was on a campaign to malign the image of the Government and the Prime Minister. After being a nuclear power we need not cow down before the super powers.
Saying that US sanctions did not have any effect on the country, he thanked the NRI community for subscribing to resurgent India bonds. "US dollar 4.3 billion (Rs 18,000 crore) in just 10 days, which means Rs 1800 crore per day... One crore in just 60 seconds was made by these bonds," he said, adding that the super powers need not think of bullying India.
He said that the Kashmir issue was bilateral and India will not accept intervention of any third party in resolving the issue. He pointed out that Prime Minister’s bus journey to Lahore was a landmark achievement and it will improve the relations between India and Pakistan.
Mr Mahajan dismissed the idea of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the episode of sacking of former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. "The Prime Minister and Defence Minister George Fernandes must have found something serious about the conduct of Admiral Bhagwat and hence he was sacked," he said.
He alleged that the Congress was misusing democratic institutions and demanding a JPC probe. "Whenever they are in opposition in Lok Sabha, they utilise Rajya Sabha for various demands", he said while hinting about the recent stalling of proceedings in Rajya Sabha. (UNI)
MUMBAI, Mar 28/199: Asserting that India will utilise nuclear weapons as a deterrent, Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan today said that the challenge before scientist and security agencies is to develop a sophisticated command and control system of effecting delivery.
"Nuclear weapons cannot be transported or delivered on bicycles or trucks and we need to have an effective command and control system," the Minister said while addressing a huge gathering of BJP workers on the concluding day of Jan Jagran Abiyan here.
"It will take a few years time for developing an effective command system", he said, adding that the Government need not be destabilised at this stage.
"The nuclear cover will act as a deterrent against enemies and those who have guts to see eye to eye with India," he said and added "we will make the country’s nuclear policy irreversible." We are a peace loving country and do not want to harm anybody, he asserted while reiterating that the nuclear weapons will be used as a deterrent.
Mr Mahajan refuted the opposition claim that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was the weakest ever Prime Minister the country has had. "He is strong enough and that prompted him to take several bold and wise decisions including improving India’s nuclear progress, he said amidst thunderous applause.
The Pokhran II set of five nuclear tests on May 11 and May 13 have given a new identity to the country that of being a nuclear power. "It is just a matter of mere 53 days after assuming power at the Centre on March 19 1998, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee made India a nuclear power", he said, adding that the Congress was on a campaign to malign the image of the Government and the Prime Minister. After being a nuclear power we need not cow down before the super powers.
Saying that US sanctions did not have any effect on the country, he thanked the NRI community for subscribing to resurgent India bonds. "US dollar 4.3 billion (Rs 18,000 crore) in just 10 days, which means Rs 1800 crore per day... One crore in just 60 seconds was made by these bonds," he said, adding that the super powers need not think of bullying India.
He said that the Kashmir issue was bilateral and India will not accept intervention of any third party in resolving the issue. He pointed out that Prime Minister’s bus journey to Lahore was a landmark achievement and it will improve the relations between India and Pakistan.
Mr Mahajan dismissed the idea of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the episode of sacking of former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. "The Prime Minister and Defence Minister George Fernandes must have found something serious about the conduct of Admiral Bhagwat and hence he was sacked," he said.
He alleged that the Congress was misusing democratic institutions and demanding a JPC probe. "Whenever they are in opposition in Lok Sabha, they utilise Rajya Sabha for various demands", he said while hinting about the recent stalling of proceedings in Rajya Sabha. (UNI)
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