[Reader-list] Nuclear Blasts 1998

[Murali V]

Dear Rakesh,

Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam one of the quartet of scientists involved in the
Nuclear test, has disagreed with the statement of the scientist.

Regards,
V Murali

On Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 7:48 PM, Rakesh Iyer<rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:
> Dear all
>
> I am posting an article on what one of the scientists associated with the
> nuclear tests of 1998 of Indian state, has to say about it, as also the
> response of the Govt. What is strange is that while the theory of credible
> deterrence is a useless claim (only helping the ego, simply because if the
> enemy has just one nuclear missile, that is enough to strike you), even the
> bragging by Indian state of its achievements now seems to be taken to shreds
> and pieces. If this is true, one of the so-called 'few' achievements by NDA
> is also out as a 'failure.' Of course, the blasts never helped in achieving
> just goals for the modern world, nor for the Indian state.
>
> May be our govt must accept Mr. Amartya Sen's words, which I put in this way
> after having read him quite a lot:
>
>  'The strength of India lies in being a multi-racial, multi-ethnic,
> multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-party, responsible democratic state
> rather than conducting nuclear tests and shooting in darkness to achieve
> goals of being a superpower.'  (Ironical to come from Sen that India should
> try to become a superpower, because he is a Leftist by ideology and Leftists
> don't support the idea of India becoming a superpower.)
>
> Regards
>
> Rakesh
>
> http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pokhranii-issue-little-merit-in-scientists-claim-says-govt/507972/0
>
> Pokhran-II issue: Little merit in scientist's claim, says Govt
> A former senior DRDO scientist's contention that the 1998 Pokhran nuclear
> tests had not met the desired objective on Thursday did not receive much
> attention from the government which appeared to be dismissive of it.
>
> "Somebody has made a statement. I was puzzled by the statement. If you are
> not puzzled, you are a genius," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters
> when asked to comment on the claim made by K Santhanam, who had been
> involved in the Pokhran-II tests.
>
> "The government will find out (the veracity of Santhanam's statement)," he
> said indicating he found little merit in the scientist's claim.
>
> Santhanam has said that the thermonuclear or hydrogen bomb in May 1998 was
> of low yield and not the one that would meet the country's strategic
> objectives. He said India needed to conduct more atomic tests and should not
> sign CTBT.
>
> The scientist's version was contested by Brajesh Mishra, National Security
> Advisor in the Vajpayee government, who said R Chidambaram, then chief of
> the Department of Atomic Energy, had reported to him on May 13 that year
> that all parameters had been met in the five tests carried out and there was
> no need to undertake a sixth one.
>
> "It was clear to us that the thermonuclear as also the nuclear tests have
> been successful," Mishra said.
>
> Commenting on Santhanam's remarks, Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said
> India's nuclear deterrence capabilities were "proven and capable enough".
>
> "As far we are concerned, we go by the views of the scientists. They have
> given us certain capability and that is capable enough to provide deterrence
> and they are proven," he said when asked about the capabilities of India's
> nuclear arsenal.
>
> Pointing out that India follows the 'no-first strike' policy, the Naval
> Chief said "we are a nation that maintains a credible deterrence and that is
> more than enough to deter anybody."
>
> Santhanam contended that the international seismological community had made
> measurements and come to the conclusion that the yield from the device was
> below what was claimed by India.
>
> He said no country in the world has ever managed to get its thermonuclear
> weapon right in just one test.
>
> "I believe in the option that if the opportunity comes we should conduct
> another test. That has been my stand...I have made it very clear for years,"
> he said.
>
> Santhanam maintained that India should desist from signing CTBT as it needed
> to conduct more thermonuclear tests.
>
> His view was shared by nuclear scientist Subramaniam who said "there was
> something wrong with the seismic signals which seemed pretty weak to me
> then...so I would tend to agree with Santhanam".
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