India as a Nuclear Power
India has made great progress as a nuclear power. Indian nuclear scientists can compete with the best experts and technicians in the Western world. But the Government of India is dedicated to the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. India has no intention to make an atomic bomb for the destruction of mankind.
There are a few countries in the world, which have the know-how for nuclear energy. These form what is known as the “Nuclear Club”. USA, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China are considered members of the Nuclear Club. India joined this Nuclear Club on May 18, 1974 when Indian scientists made their first successful explosion in the Rajasthan Desert near Pokharan. It was an underground explosion. It caused no radioactive fallout because it took place inside the earth. It was of fifteen kilo tons magnitude.
Now on May 11 and 13, 1998 India successfully made her second Nuclear Explosions in Pokhram with far higher intensity than the first one. It took the whole world by surprise and immediately Pakistan also followed suit by exploding a Nuclear explosion to equal the military might of India. The whole world reacted sharply to the explosion and U.S., even put certain limits on the sanctions of usual aids to this country. India bore this all successfully under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with the sole aim that India doesn’t want to become an aggressor of any kind but given the prevalent conditions of the region India had no alternative but to boost her war preparedness without any evil designs on any foreign land.
It has always been the policy of India to live and let live but she cannot compromise on her dignity, honour and integrity.
