US Indians hail nuke bombshell

NEW YORK, May 12: Indians, across the United States, have expressed happiness over the three nuclear tests conducted by India, and extended ...

NEW YORK, May 12: Indians, across the United States, have expressed happiness over the three nuclear tests conducted by India, and extended their support to the BJP-led coalition government, saying a strong India would bring stability and prosperity to the sub-continent.

Several Indian-American organistaions issued statements strongly backing the government and as the news spread, there were celebrations in the areas where Indian businesses are concentrated. Some were seen distributing sweets.

They congratulated Indian scientists whose competence, they said, was never in doubt. They also praised the BJP for taking a quot;politically sensitivequot; decision in the interest of the country8217;s security.

Congratulating the government, US-based Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party OFOBJP called for deployment of nuclear weapons without any further delay.

Only such a deployment would prove a quot;credible deterrent to any future misadventurequot; across the border by China and Pakistan and would encourage the twoto resolve their outstanding problems with India in a peaceful manner, its president Dinesh Agrawal said.

He said the tests had enhanced India8217;s self-esteem and national pride and made every Indian and NRI proud of the country.

Any attempt by the western nations to impose sanctions would prove quot;futile and ill-conceivedquot;, he added.

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quot;The tests have strengthened India8217;s resolve to safeguard its integrity and unity and signalled the international community that it would pursue independent nuclear policy based on its security needs,quot; he added.

quot;Pakistan8217;s open hostility to India and its blatant support to terrorist activities on the Indian soil is no secret. There is genuine and very serious threat to India from these countries8230;.In the face of such reality and to secure her sovereignty, national borders and interests, India has no option but to go nuclear,quot; he said. Global organisation of people of Indian origin GOPOIO has also congratulated the Indian Government on its decision to conduct threenuclear tests, saying they were important for the country8217;s security.

GOPOIO counts among its members people of Indian origin throughout the world.

In a statement, its president Dr Thomas Abraham spoke about the danger from China and Pakistan and said India needed to reassure its citizens and prove to the world that it would not be cowed down by any nation with evil designs. The tests, he said, were important in the context of threat posed by its neighbours 8212; China and Pakistan.