India's nuclear test in 1974 at pokhran
In 1974, when
Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, India tested the first nuclear
device at Pokhran in Rajasthan. Since then a debate has started on this hot
issue of whether India has a nuclear bomb. No government has said that India
was a nuclear Power. But unexpectedly India conducted a series of five nuclear
tests again at Pokhran. There were three tests on May 11, 1998. After that two
more tests were conducted on May 13. Prime Ministers Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee
hurriedly called a press conference and announced that India has become a
nuclear power and our Scientists, Rajgopalan Chidam Bram and Abdul Kalam made
it possible. Now India has a unique distinction of being a member at the
nuclear club. Only USA, England, France, Russia and China have nuclear weapons.
Pakistan too tested nuclear devices soon after India had done.
Test at Pokhran
gave the people of India a sense of national pride. Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee has underlined the necessity of acquiring nuclear capability. He said
it had been done to ensure our security. Now the people of world and India know
that we have a nuclear deterrent. Though some of his critics said that it was
done due to same political reasons. They said there was no sudden threat to India’s
security from her neighbours like China and Pakistan. There were larger issues
like poverty that needed to be solved first.
Many
countries of the world also criticized this exercise. USA immediately imposed
sanctions. This meant USA stopped aid to India. Some other countries like
Canada, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Australia and Germany also
took similar steps. But the Prime Minister was not worried. He said that
stopping aid would not have much impact on India’s economy. The government was
prepared for it.
USA had been
insisting that India should sign CTBT, but India had some objections. Some
countries which have signed the CTBT already have piles of nuclear weapons.
India wanted them to destroy their stock pile. But they were not ready to do
it. India called it double standards.
No doubt
India is proud to be nuclear power but we had to pay a heavy price for it.
Moreover the danger of nuclear war is always there. If there is a war the world
is sure to be destroyed. But no country sincerely trying to stop this nuclear
arms race in the world.
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