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Journalism of Courage
• Then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee: ‘‘If Clinton talked to Rao, then only the two can clarify…As far as our policy, the govt worked for a consensus on total disarmament. And until such time the consensus was achieved, the country kept the nuclear option open…that was the policy till the 1998 tests.’’
‘It wasn’t so dramatic’
• Naresh Chandra,
Rao’s principal secretary: ‘‘I was in the PMO and aware of these things. What Talbott has said has come out somewhat overstated. It was not so dramatic. It never came to such a pitch. There was general exhortation by the Clinton administration, urging India, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil (not to test). This was nothing new.’’
• K. Santhanam, then key in N-programme, now director, IDSA: ‘‘There were reports about US satellites picking up Indian preparations. The Govt denied it at that time. That’s all I can say right now.’’
BJP plays it safe
• Minister External Affairs Yashwant Sinha:
I’m not aware of what he (Talbott) has said.
• BJP gen secy Pramod Mahajan: No comment.
