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Vajpayee blasts big powers's hypocrisy

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, while charging big powers with adopting double standards towards nuclear tests and weapons, today categorically reiterated that India would keep ''its options open.''

Addressing a public meeting in Pokhran town after inspecting the Buddha Sthal in the nearby field firing range, where the country had conducted five nuclear tests last week, Vajpayee said the big powers had indulged themselves in manufacturing nuclear weapons but they have been preventing others from doing so. ''Why should they prevent us, what sin or crime have we committed?'' he asked.

The prime minister said India had been urging these nations to stop the manufacture of atomic weapons and to work for destruction of the huge stockpiles of such weapons within a stipulated time-frame.

But the big nations had not heeded India's demand, Vajpayee said.

Besides, threats to the country's security had increased after Pakistan acquired missiles and entered into pacts. It was then only that India decided that it would take all measures deemed necessary, for its defence.

''We assigned the task to our scientists and they performed it with utmost dedication within a stipulated time,'' he said.

Vajpayee said the foremost need was to make the world prosperous and pleasant, and "our country had been urging the developed nations to work in this direction for the past 50 years".

He said weapons might be essential for security and defence, but it could not feed hungry people. Neither could one sleep on a bed of weapons. ''The developed nations did not bother about our appeal. We were subjected to wars and forced to spend funds earmarked for development on security measures."

Vajpayee said the successful nuclear tests by the country had shown that India would take all essential measures for her defence and would preserve national security at all costs.

Referring to complaints of nasal bleeding among some residents of the neighbouring village of the blast site, Vajpayee said no radioactivity was found during scientific testing and analysis. ''Even then, if there had been any trouble, then we should learn to sacrifice, as national security is above all considerations,'' he added.

UNI

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