Cong Isolated Over Stand On Nuclear Tests

The Congress yesterday found itself isolated over its stand to question the governments decision to conduct the nuclear explosions.

Instead of sharing the credit for the nuclear explosion, as the country was ready with all preparations during the Congress five-year rule under P V Narasimha Rao, the party decided to question the timing of the explosion.

Perhaps aware of the damage and its isolation, the party yesterday revised its stand and welcomed the explosions unequivocally. On Monday, the day the first series of explosions were carried out, the Congress had been slow to react. It did finally congratulate the scientists for having successfully carried out the tests, but raised questions on the governments intentions. The party wanted an explanation from the government as to what changed in the last 40 days to alter the perception of threat to the country so drastically.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had nominated a team consisting of Natwar Singh, head of the Congress foreign affairs cell and Manmohan Singh, head of the partys economic department, to meet the Prime Minister and get his views on what prompted him to carry out the tests.

Though Congress leaders were cagey in responding to the question as to why the meeting did not take place, government sources pointed out that the Prime Minister could not give time due to heavy engagements.

A PMO source said the Congress leaders had not mentioned any specific purpose for the appointment and, therefore, were told that they could have their discussion a day later along with the Prime Ministers meeting with opposition leaders as part of a pre-budget exercise.

Political advisor to the Prime Minister, Pramod Mahajan, yesterday ridiculed the Congress saying that when the Congress government had conducted the first test in 1974, no opposition party had asked for an explanation and all parties had backed her.