Narasimha Rao was ready to test the nuclear bomb in 1996: Kalam

[JohnyD]

New Delhi: In 1996, the then Prime Minister of India, PV Narasimha Rao, was all prepared to test the nuclear bomb, but then he handed the onus over to his successor, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, since poll results were contrary to his expectations.

This was revealed by former president APJ Abdul Kalam at the 7th RN Kao Memorial lecture at the RAW headquarters here.

Kalam, the then scientific advisor to the defence minister, and his team of scientists had been asked by Narasimha Rao to be ready to conduct the test in 1996.

But after the results were announced Rao asked him to brief Atal Behari Vajpayee (PM designate) on the pending nuclear tests, Kalam said.

"I was the scientific advisor to the defence minister with two great leaders of our country.”

“I still remember that one night during May 1996, I got a call from the PM House that I had to meet PM Rao immediately. I had met him just two days before the announcement of General Elections results.”

“He had then told me —"Kalam be ready with DAE and your team for the N-Test. I am going to Tirupati. You wait for my authorization to go ahead with the test. DRDO-DAE teams must be ready for action."

“Of course the elections results was quiet different from what he had anticipated. I was busy in Chandipur Missile range when I got a call saying that I must meet immediately the PM designate Vajpayeeji with Rao.”

“I witnessed a unique situation. The outgoing PM, Rao, asked me to brief the details of the nuclear programme to Vajpayee so that a smooth takeover of such an important programme could take place."

Narasimha Rao was ready to test the nuclear bomb in 1996: Kalam

 

[satishkumarcsc]

One of the few prime ministers worth mentioning in Indian Politics.

 

[trinity]

One of the few prime ministers worth mentioning in Indian Politics.

Wasn; he involved in a scam? Was it the Stamp Scam?

 

[KS]

Narasimha Rao and Vajpayee..two of the best prime minsters.

It is reported that PVNR had said to Vajpayee.."I did not get to do it, you do it" regarding the nuclear tests.

Narasimha Rao was the main brain who was responsible for saving the economy from bankruptcy with his deft political handling of the situation in an environmet that still harbored the socialist mentality and anything regarding US or IMF was considered blasphemy. He also handled the Kashmir situation well IMO.

 

[INDIC]

Narasimha Rao should be admired for taking bold steps of economic reforms.

 

[zaxcolix]

Narasimha Rao was truly the Greatest and Best Prime Minister we ever had. (Lal Bahadur Shastri never lived long enough to perform)

 

[zaxcolix]

Narasimha Rao and Vajpayee..two of the best prime minsters.

I strongly disagree equating Narasimha Rao with Vajpayee.

Vajpayee was not even a good PM, forget about being best. His true achievement was successfully building up BJP to form a govt. in the center and providing an alternative to the congress.

 

[T90TankGuy]

^^ his achievements were few. baring the nuke test (which let to sanctions) and the NHAI what was it he achieved?

his only major achievement was to unite a fractional party and bring it to power using the Ram mandir controversy .

 

[zaxcolix]

^^ his achievements were few. baring the nuke test (which let to sanctions) and the NHAI what was it he achieved?

his only major achievement was to unite a fractional party and bring it to power using the Ram mandir controversy .

Vajpayee was another Nehru.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Do Indians credit Narasima Rao with the 1991 economic reforms that led to India becoming one of the biggest rising economies?

Or Singh?

 

[zaxcolix]

Do Indians credit Narasima Rao with the 1991 economic reforms that led to India becoming one of the biggest rising economies?

Or Singh?

Puppet Singh was a dummy then and a dummy now. He never had the spine to do anything by himself.

He is good at following orders. He makes a good Solider ...not a General/Leader.

Its suites congress propaganda to project him as a great PM but history will judge him poorly.

 

[INDIC]

Do Indians credit Narasima Rao with the 1991 economic reforms that led to India becoming one of the biggest rising economies?

Or Singh?

Both of them. Manmohan Singh is an economist who came with ideas on reforms while Narasimha Rao took the bold step and managed things politically. Opposition at that time was too against opening the Indian economy to foreigners.

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Puppet Singh was a dummy then and a dummy now. He never had the spine to do anything by himself.

He is good at following orders. He makes a good Solider ...not a General/Leader.

Its suites congress propaganda to project him as a great PM but history will judge him poorly.

So you credit Rao with India's economic emergence, not Singh?

That does make sense. Since Singh by himself doesn't seem to be doing a great job, at least not without Rao there.

 

[KS]

I strongly disagree equating Narasimha Rao with Vajpayee.

Vajpayee was not even a good PM, forget about being best. His true achievement was successfully building up BJP to form a govt. in the center and providing an alternative to the congress.

Providing an alternative to the congress which was ruling(not governing) the country for 45 years in the 50 years is in ITSELF a huge achievement. That is exactly what democracy was about. Where there is a credible opposition so that the ruling party does not behave with arrogance.

Regarding others - the nuke test, good conduct of Kargil war and not negotiating till the last of intruders were evicted, kickstarting the economy in a huge way, going about liberalization and divestment, starting the telecom boom, infrastructure development with projects like Golden Quadilateral..and this was all done with a mammoth coalition of 22 parties.

 

[Infinity]

Narasimha Rao and Vajpayee..two of the best prime minsters.

It is reported that PVNR had said to Vajpayee.."I did not get to do it, you do it" regarding the nuclear tests.

Narasimha Rao was the main brain who was responsible for saving the economy from bankruptcy with his deft political handling of the situation in an environmet that still harbored the socialist mentality and anything regarding US or IMF was considered blasphemy. He also handled the Kashmir situation well IMO.

I think you should give some credit to MMS then FM........................but i know you cannot.....................