Parliament to debate nuclear tests8217; fallout

While Laloo Prasad Yadav welcomed the tests, he took a swipe at the BJP by accusing it of pursuing a quot;hidden agendaquot; of quot;fundamentalist Hindutvaquot;, and trying to politicise the issue.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was particularly harsh and alleged that, with these tests, the two-month-long BJP-led Government had fuelled tension with the neighbouring countries, especially China and Pakistan.

Criticising the Government in general and Vajpayee in particular, the former defence minister pointed out that thecountry8217;s nuclear capabilities were matters of top secret and in no case should it have been revealed in the interest of both the nation and mankind.

Pulling up Vajpayee for his quot;childish behaviourquot;, Mulayam said that during his tenure, the UFgovernment had sent the Army to an unknown destination in a bid to restore peace and also to maintain international relations, but in the interest of the country, this information was not made public. quot;A sensible person like Vajpayee should not have disclosed such a sensitive defence matter,quot; he said.