India will conduct nuclear tests if needed, says foreign minister

Dec 5, 2007, 11:04 GMT

New Delhi India is committed to non-proliferation and disarmament but would conduct a nuclear test if needed, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday in parliament.

'If we feel a test is necessary because of the geopolitical situation, refining of weapons is necessary, we will do it,' Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha upper house.

He was replying to doubts raised by opposition and leftist allies that the agreement governing a civilian nuclear deal with the United States would impact India's right to test nuclear devices.

'If India considers it necessary, India will undertake tests as we did in 1974 and as we did in 1998. The consequences will also follow as it did in 1974 and 1998,' Mukherjee said. A range of sanctions were imposed on India by the US and other countries after the tests.

The proposed nuclear deal between India and the US would allow the latter to provide India's civilian reactors with fissile materials and technology ending a 30-year ban.

That deal can become operational only after India enters into a a country-specific international safeguards agreement, and amendments are made to the Nuclear Suppliers' Group guidelines.

Objections to the pact range from possible negative impact on India's sovereignty - concerning foreign policy its right to conduct nuclear tests - to the viability of the nuclear energy option.

At the end of a marathon debate, Mukherjee reiterated the government's position that nuclear energy was crucial for power-hungry India if it was to maintain its rapid rate of growth.

Citing climate change and rising oil prices, Mukherjee said the government was looking at optimum utilization of all energy sources, including hydroelectric, solar generation, wind power and nuclear.

'Please give it a try,' he urged lawmakers.

He said the deal could be viewed as a kind of passport which would enable India to get visas all over the world, in reference to the commercial transactions that would follow.

Members of the opposition National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist parties, which provide crucial support to Singh's government in parliament, said they were not convinced by the minister's argument and boycotted the session.

'The majority of the house does not agree. Tell the world: we are a democratic country and the majority do not agree,' said Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury.

'The sense of the house is that a large majority of the house is not with you and not with the government,' said Jaswant Singh, former foreign minister and leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

The debate was the fifth in parliament since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush declared the intention to realize the pact in July 2005.

India's parliament has no veto powers on international agreements entered into by the government.