To check Oneindia News on your Mobile
go to:   http://m.oneindia.in/news/
  •  

'India's Pokhran II was not fully successful'

Pokhran II
New Delhi, Aug 27: DRDO's senior scientist K Santhanam on Wednesday, Aug 26 said that India's Pokharan II, the nuclear test carried out in 1998, was not fully successful.

Santhanam said, "Based upon the seismic measurements and expert opinion from world over, it is clear that the yield in the thermonuclear device test was much lower than what was claimed. I think it is well documented and that is why I assert that India should not rush into signing the CTBT."

Sources said that the government is under pressure from the international non proliferation lobby, including the US, to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

India conducted a series of nuclear tests at the Pokhran underground testing site on May 11 and May 13, 1998. According to the website of Federation of American Scientists, there was a controversy about the claims made by the government.

The website states, "Based on seismic data, US government sources and independent experts estimated the yield of the so-called thermonuclear test in the range of 12-25 kilotons, as opposed to the 43-60 kiloton yield claimed by India. This lower yield raised skepticism about India's claims to have detonated a thermonuclear device."

OneIndia News

Govt dismissive of Pokhran II failure claims

New Delhi, Aug 27: K Shanthanam's statement on the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests failed get much attention from the government, which found very little merit to the claim that the test had not met the country's strategic objective.When asked to respond to the senior DRDO's scientist's statement, the Home Minister P Chidambaram said, "Somebody has made a statement. I was puzzled by the statement. If you are not puzzled, you are a genius."Maintaining a dismissive attitude, Chidambaram, said.....
User Comments
Rajendra Prasad 28 Aug 2009 01:01 pm
Indian scientists and decision-makers as well as strategic experts must realise the sensitivity of the statement given by K.Santhanam. His statement must be taken into the rubic of India's emergence as a major power and its future requirement treating Nuclear Weapons as an international currency of "Security, Prestige and Glory".All kinds of morality lies in self-preservation and forward-looking approach. After all, why should India sign CTBT, when it is detrimental to its long-term strategic goals.
[ Post Comments ]
Oneindia  Oneindia Login