"Atomic weapons can also be for defence." Atal Bihari Vajpayee took on the opposition for criticising Pokhran nuclear tests in this 1999 speech. Today marks 24 years of Operation Shakti.
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00:00Should we not be self-reliant in the matter of defence?
00:02Will self-defence be prepared only when there is a danger?
00:06But, wasn't there any self-reliance?
00:12Wasn't there any effort to make it happen?
00:17It is surprising that even the test of weapons was planned.
00:26I was asked what was the danger in front of the country.
00:33I was in Sadan in 1974, when the test of weapons was conducted under the leadership of Shri Indira Gandhi.
00:45We welcomed it.
00:47We were in opposition, but we welcomed it because it was conducted to protect the country.
00:53What was the danger at that time?
00:58Will self-defence be prepared only when there is a danger?
01:06If the preparation is already there, then the danger that is going to come will also be removed.
01:13Should we not be self-reliant in the matter of defence?
01:18We do not have only one neighbour. We have many neighbours.
01:22But, wasn't there any self-reliance?
01:29Wasn't there any effort to make it happen?
01:33But, it is our policy.
01:39And, I think it is the policy of the country.
01:44It should be minimum deterrent.
01:51It should also be credible.
01:58That is why the test was decided.
02:01We knew that there would be some difficulties because of it.
02:08But, we also knew that the country would face those difficulties successfully.
02:15And, this is what happened.
02:20The economic sanctions could not stop us from moving forward.
02:29But, along with the test, we also announced that we will not use weapons of mass destruction.
02:46We also said that those who do not have weapons of mass destruction, we will not use them.
02:57We also announced that we will stop the tests.
03:02Atomic weapons can also be used for defence.
03:17They have been used to avoid war.
03:21Mr. President, we have never taken any decision under international pressure during our 13-month term.
03:29And, we will not take any further decision.