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BJP readies for flak on triggering off N-race

Rajesh Ramachandran in New Delhi

With Pakistan exploding five nuclear devices on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party feels its decision to conduct nuclear explosions on May 11 and 13 has been vindicated, even as they prepare themselves for criticism that they sparked off an arms race in the subcontinent.

Already the Left leaders have issued a statement pointing out that the developments in the region could lead to an arms race, and have appealed to both countries to maintain sobriety and not divert attention from basic issues.

BJP leaders told Rediff On The NeT that the pressure built up by the Opposition and the anti-nuclear lobby within the country can now be countered effectively by pointing to Pakistan's capability to conduct nuclear tests within a fortnight of the Indian tests.

"We don't have to explain anything to anyone. Even if Pakistan and China were not there, if five nations in the world can have the bomb why should such a big and great country like India be denied the right to exercise the option?" asks senior BJP leader K R Malkani.

The party feels the very fact that Pakistan had always claimed it had the nuclear capacity and that it did not take much time to respond to India's test, would itself lend credence to the party's stance that it faces a nuclear threat from across the border.

The party has already begun digging up files from the prime minister's office to prove that the government has not deviated from the country's nuclear policy since the Buddha first smiled on May 18, 1974.

"If Pakistan had exploded the nuclear device earlier, then the very same Opposition would have blamed the government for not measuring up to a small country. Their programme has been going on for long. In fact, we know that Rajiv Gandhi asked General K Sundarji to work out the cost of the explosion. But later he developed cold feet. Now what is more interesting is that the files are missing. General Sundarji is willing to testify that he has prepared it and given it to Rajiv Gandhi," a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader told Rediff On The NeT.

The party feels the nuclear gambit is a winner anyway since Pakistan has nothing to gain out of the present tests.

Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves would not last more than a couple of weeks, and once sanctions are imposed on it the Islamic nation would face severe economic strain.

"Whichever way you look at it, we have the advantage. The US would blame India for provoking Pakistan, but India can always counter the allegation with the Chinese collusion and Pakistan's ready reply to our explosions. But the point is, if the US, Japan and the rest of the developed world impose sanctions then it would lead to Pakistan's collapse. The US wouldn't allow that. Then the US would have to have double standards to bail out Pakistan and lose face. So either way we have gained," says the RSS leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that Pakistan had conducted two nuclear tests.

The prime minister, who made this announcement following persistent queries by Opposition members, said according to a news report Pakistan had conducted the tests, but full details were not available.

Vajpayee said he would give full details to the House later.

The prime minister said if the report about Pakistan having conducted the tests was correct, it only justified the stand taken by India.

Earlier, Congress leader K Natwar Singh came to the House and asked the government to confirm whether Pakistan had conducted nuclear explosions.

He was supported by all Opposition members. At that time Marxist member Somnath Chatterjee was speaking in the resumed debate on the Pokhran tests.

At that time Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani were not present in the House.

Additional reportage: UNI

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