Public CompanyPokhran-II tests fully successful, says Kakodkar
Trashing the contention that the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998 were a failure, India’s top scientists today said all objectives had been achieved and the country now has the deterrence capability of up to 200 kilotons.
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Describing the tests as “fully successful”, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar and Principal Scientific Advisor to Government R Chidambaram said the controversy triggered by K Santhanam, former DRDO scientist, was “unnecessary”.
The two scientists held a joint press conference seeking to clear the air in the wake of Santhanam, who was the coordinator for the 1998 tests, claiming that the thermonuclear nuclear (hydrogen bomb) test was a failure.
“Rhetoric cannot be a substitute for good science,” they said, adding “unnecessary doubts have been created by ex-colleagues” in an obvious reference to Santhanam and former AEC chairman P K Ayengar who too raised doubts over the efficacy of the test.
“There should be no doubt over the yield of the tests. Once again, I would like to re-emphasise that the 1998 nuclear tests were fully successful. We achieved all objectives in toto,” said Kakodkar.
Defending the thermonuclear test, Dr R Chidambaram said that it was a success and the doubts voiced over it were unjustified.
Santhanam had stuck to his assertions earlier this week and was dismissive of National Security Advisor M K Narayanan calling his statements incorrect and horrific.