Minimum n-deterrent vital: PM

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 12. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has emphasised that even as India is determined to retain a minimum credible nuclear deterrent, it will continue to strive vigorously for complete global nuclear disarmament.

At a dinner he hosted for National Democratic Alliance leaders and MPs at his residence last night, - it was also the second anniversary of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests - the Prime Minister noted that despite numerous conferences and discussions between the recognised nuclear powers, there were no tangible results to show the world was moving towards disarmament.

India's nuclear tests were ``purely defensive in nature,'' Mr. Vajpayee told the allies, who had earlier congratulated him through a resolution which said that over the last two years since Pokhran, India emerged stronger than ever before and attained many successes in the areas of defence, diplomacy and development.

He reiterated that his Government took the decision and gave the green signal for the Pokhran tests with the ``full knowledge'' that if it did not go ahead, ``our neighbour'' would have gone ahead with its tests.

Pokhran had given India a new sense of confidence and pride in its achievements. And in the world there was greater recognition of India's importance.

If the allies earlier complimented the Prime Minister for the leadership he had provided, Mr. Vajpayee did not fail to return the compliment, praising the functioning of the External Affairs Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Defence Ministry, the Commerce Ministry and so on. (He took care to mention the Ministries held by the major allies of the BJP).

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