PM takes tests to Opposition

He also said that the explosions were 8220;long overdue8221; and should have been carried out when France did it in 1995 before it signed the CTBT. The statement was meant to check whatever criticism has emanated from Opposition quarters in the last three days about the timing of the blasts.

During the period in question, both the Congress and the United Front were in power and the governments of P V Narasimha Rao, H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral had considered the option of nuclear tests.

Vajpayee invited Congress President Sonia Gandhi last evening. Though both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress dubbed the meeting 8220;informal8221; and 8220;social,8221; theCongress turned around. Two days ago, it had demanded to know the reason behind the timing of the tests. Today, however, Sonia Gandhi, in her opening remarks to the Congress Working Committee, placed on record the 8220;pride8221; the party felt in scientists and engineers for 8220;putting India8217;s nuclear capability in the front rank.8221; She said the nuclear issue should not be made a partisan one.

Vajpayee8217;s meeting with Sonia was followed up today by parleys with Sharad Pawar and Manmohan Singh, Congress Parliamentary Party leaders in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

During the last three days, the Congress has been caught in a bind. The party could not distance itself from the explosions with Indira Gandhi responsible for Pokhran-I in 1974, Rajiv Gandhi giving the missile programme a fillip, and preparations which were afoot during Rao8217;s time for such an explosion in December 1995. On the other hand, the Congress did not want to let the BJP walk away with the credit.

Gujral struck a similar note today makinga case for treating the issue on a low key. In a letter to Vajpayee sent yesterday, he objected to the plans that are afoot for celebrating on Saturday what has been described as a 8220;day of pride8221; by the BJP, the RSS and its front organisations.

Such partisan euphoria, Gujral told The Indian Express today, would only lend a jingoistic touch to an issue of great import. The success of the recent blasts was after all due to the continuity of approach of successive governments over the years irrespective of the party in power.

The next issue before the Vajpayee government is the CTBT. Across-the-board opposition to the CTBT could strengthen Vajpayee8217;s hands to ward off international pressure. The US has asked India to sign the CTBT immediately and unconditionally.

The Government is prepared to sign but as an acknowledged nuclear power.Agencies add: Vajpayee assured Opposition leaders that he would make a full statement on the tests on the opening day of Parliament on May 27.

He conveyed this during ameeting he had with Communist Party of India-Marxist and Communist Party of India leaders as part of efforts to evolve a consensus on various Bills.

The two Left parties demanded that the Prime Minister present a detailed statement in Parliament on the threat perceptions that led the BJP government to conduct five nuclear tests without consultations with any of the political parties.

They also asked for a statement on the economic repercussions.

The Left parties were represented by Somnath Chatterjee and Indrajit Gupta, CPIM and CPI leaders respectively in the Lok Sabha and by E Balanandan and J Chittaranjan, leaders of the two Left parties in the Rajya Sabha.

The left parties voiced their fears that the nuclear tests would accelerate the arms race in the region and jeopardise the normalisation of relations with India8217;s neighbours.