Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

May 14, 1998

April 20, 1996: "In fact, my government will exercise the option to induct nuclear weapons as a deterrent."

June 14, 1996: "India must manufacture nuclear weapons for its security as a deterrent."

December 11, 1997: "We are for developing a nuclear deterrent. This is needed. For some odd reason the (outgoing government) headed by Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral gave up this option."

January 14, 1998: "Our argument is that given the security environment, we have no option but to go nuclear."

February 19, 1998: "Though we believe in a nuclear weapon-free world, but reject any notion of nuclear apartheid. We will take all steps and not be dictated by anybody in this regard."

March 18, 1998: "To ensure the security, territorial integrity and unity of India we will take all necessary steps and exercise the option to induct nuclear weapons."

March 22, 1998: "The U.S. President, Mr. Bill Clinton, during his telephonic conversation with the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on Friday did not raise the issue of the BJP-led coalition’s decision to keep India’s nuclear option open. ‘The President in his conversation with the new Indian Prime Minister did not have an opportunity to go in depth at any issues like that,’ Mr. Mike McCurry, told newsmen when asked whether Mr. Clinton discussed with Mr. Vajpayee the ruling front’s stand on the nuclear issue. Mr. McCurry, however, said, ‘but in stressing the utility of a strategic dialogue with India, issues of that nature … could be well within the framework of the kind of dialogue we would wish to have with the government of India.’"

May 13, 1998: "If you just read the newspapers printed in New Delhi in English for the last year, nothing that happened in the last three days would surprise you in the least. You would have expected it."