India needs to conduct at least two more nuclear tests: Santhanam
22 Sep 2009
New Delhi: Brushing aside some comments from National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, former DRDO scientist and the co-ordinator of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests tests, K Santhanam, said Monday that he hoped for at least two more nuclear tests as the country was yet to acquire minimum deterrence. Santhanam's assertion, that the thermo-nuclear test conducted in 1998 was a 'fizzle,' have sparked off a lively controversy in the country.
On Monday Narayanan got a bit theatrical describing Santhanam's claims as being ''horrific.''
In response Santhanam hit back, saying that Narayanan was ''barking up the wrong tree.''
So far, the current prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and ex-president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, amongst other luminaries, have tried to dampen the controversy by asserting that the H-bomb test was indeed a success.
Santhanam has dismissed Kalam's assertions as being 'uninformed' as he was not a phycisist.
Kalam, in his capacity as DRDO chief, was Santhanam's boss at the time of the tests.