However, it’s important to note that his moral objections to India’s nuclear weapons programme inhibited him from taking any steps toward acceding to the nuclear non-proliferation regime on the grounds that it was fundamentally inequitable and had no real provisions for moving toward universal nuclear disarmament. Desai’s term in office was short-lived as the fractious political coalition that he had headed soon unravelled. The nuclear weapons programme was reinstated with Mrs. Gandhi’s return to office.
Following her assassination in 1984, her son, Rajiv Gandhi, assumed office. Not long thereafter, in 1988, he embarked upon what many deemed was a quixotic enterprise, namely an ‘action plan’ that called for setting a timetable for the global elimination of nuclear weapons. Sadly, the world took little heed of this effort and dismissed it out of hand. Not surprisingly, faced with this rejection of a last effort, however impractical, to reduce the nuclear danger and faced with growing threats from China and Pakistan, it’s believed that he boosted India’s on-going nuclear weapons programme.
His successors looked on with dismay when the Clinton administration very deftly managed to get the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to extend the NPT ‘unconditionally and indefinitely’ at the 1995 Review Conference.
Despite their frustration with this development, they nevertheless attempted to work with the United States to pursue a comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva. Only when Indian negotiators concluded that the CTBT provisions would still leave significant loopholes in the treaty and include a clause that would have made the treaty’s ‘entry into force’ contingent upon India’s ratification, they made a last ditch but ultimately unsuccessful effort to prevent it from being reported to the UNGA. In the UNGA, the Clinton administration adroitly managed to get it passed with an overwhelming majority of votes. However, when brought before the US Senate for ratification, the administration failed to muster the requisite support.
But, fearing that inexorable pressures would soon be mounted on India to accede to the CTBT regime, as it was one of the principal global holdouts, its policymakers under the jingoistic Bharatiya Janata Party coalition regime chose to conduct a set of five nuclear tests in May 1998.
Interestingly, despite choosing to conduct the tests, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee still felt compelled in the parliamentary statement that he issued in the wake of the tests, to make a public nod to India’s continued commitment to universal nuclear disarmament. Even the parliamentary leader of a party openly hostile to the Nehruvian legacy couldn’t avoid a reference to that goal.
Despite its seeming quaintness, Singh’s remarks must be placed in the context of this long, historical interest in pursuing a world free of nuclear weapons. Of course, India won’t embark on this endeavour unilaterally. But now that Obama has spelled out his interest in ridding the world of nuclear weapons, it might be possible to engage India in a global dialogue on disarmament—as long as its ambit is genuinely universal.
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Bob
If the West is coming at Iran with sanctions because of their suspicion of developing a nuclear bomb then why the hypocrisy regarding India, Pakistan and Israel! They must all be forced to sign the NPT as non nuclear states, full stop, period!!!
Riaz Missen
India has problem with China, Pakistan with India and Israel with every one on the Arabian peninsula. You may dubb the whole situation as Asian dilemma. The problem with Iran is not yet known. It is why it is under pressure.
John Mulcahy
Who are those three persons drive freely their vehicles on the roads and streets without holding driving licenses and without following any rules and regulations of the streets? India, Israel and Pakistan. All of these nations are not the members of NPT and yet they are receiving all sorts of help from the ‘’so called the leader of the civilzed world”. Israel received so far 300 billion dollars outright grants with no hinges attached and free nuclear technology. India signed a 7-star deal with America for free flow of nuclear technology. Pakistan gets help for its war on terror. Iran, the driving license holder never broke the law of the streets, never attacked any country in 300 years and being attacked by others and yet is subject to the greatest sanctions in the history of mankind asa NPT member. And guess what? Yesterday only, the new nuclear enrichment sites were inspected by IAEA and Europe rejected that too. America and the world should pull their Ambassadors from Pakistan, India and Isreael until they get their driving licenses by signing NPT and until then all the trades and investments must be stopped. Get out of hypocricy boys.
MT
MR BOB, who are you to force India to sign the NPT as non nuclear states…. it will remain a dream for you.
Siddharth
Bob,
A laughable comment by you. Do you think that only the West has legitimate right to protect itself?
Muhammad Talut
It the desire from his heart not from his brain!