DATE=3/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228325
TITLE=INDIA / NUCLEAR / L
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE -- ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE
-- HAS CALLED FOR AN END TO CONFRONTATION IN HIS COUNTRY AND SAYS
HIS GOVERNMENT WILL SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND LEAVE THE OPTION
OPEN TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT
DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS.
TEXT: THE HINDU NATIONALIST BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY AND ITS
ALLIES HAVE RELEASED THEIR NATIONAL AGENDA WHICH OUTLINES THE
POLICY GOALS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT.
PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE CALLS THE CHARTER A
DOCUMENT OF UNITY AND SAYS IT IS TIME END INDIA'S POLITICS OF
CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE RULING PARTY AND THE OPPOSITION.
// VAJPAYEE ACTUALITY //
THE BITTERNESS AND HOSTILITY THAT HAS MARKED THIS
RELATIONSHIP UNTIL NOW MUST BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.
THE NATION CANNOT AFFORD SUCH ADVERSITY. WE WILL
REPLACE IT WITH COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATION.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE AGENDA SAYS THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL TRY TO PRACTICE
SECULARISM, IN KEEPING WITH INDIAN TRADITION. THE AGENDA IS FREE
OF SUCH CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AS BUILDING A HINDU TEMPLE IN
AYODHYA, ON THE SITE WHERE B-J-P SUPPORTERS TORE DOWN A MOSQUE IN
1992.
ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE, THE GUIDELINE REFLECTS THE TRADITIONAL
B-J-P STANCE -- SAYING THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WILL RE-EVALUATE
THE COUNTRY'S NUCLEAR POLICY AND EXERCISE THE OPTION TO INDUCT
(INTRODUCE) NUCLEAR WEAPONS. MR. VAJPAYEE SAYS THERE IS NO TIME
FRAME FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY. INDIA CONDUCTED AN
UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR TEST IN 1974, BUT HAS SAID IT BELIEVES IN
USING ATOMIC ENERGY ONLY FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES.
ON THE ECONOMY, THE NATIONAL AGENDA PLEDGES TO CONTINUE REFORMS
BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1990'S, BUT SAYS DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENT
WILL BE MOSTLY LIMITED TO CORE AREAS. THE B-J-P HAS LONG SAID IT
WANTS INVESTMENT FOR ROADS AND AIRPORTS BUT DOES NOT WANT
FOREIGN CONSUMER GOODS TO PENETRATE INDIAN MARKETS.
SENIOR B-J-P LEADER JASWANT SINGH -- WHOM INDIAN NEWSPAPERS
REPORT MAY BE NAMED FINANCE MINISTER -- SAYS THE CHARTER IS
INTENDED TO REASSURE FOREIGN INVESTORS.
// SINGH ACTUALITY //
THE SIGNAL THAT IT SHOULD SEND IS ONE OF CONFIDENCE, THE
SIGNAL THAT IT SHOULD SEND IS ONE OF CONTINUITY AND OF
THE INEVITABLE GROWTH OF INDIA.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE AGENDA ALSO SAYS GLOBALIZATION, OR FOREIGN COMPETITION, MUST
BE MONITORED CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT UNDERMINE
INDIAN INDUSTRIES. T HE B-J-P / LEAD GOVERNMENT WILL BE SWORN IN
THURSDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
18-Mar-98 4:37 AM EST (0937 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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