NEW DELHI: BJP had planned to conduct nuclear tests during its first shot at power in 1996 but it could not materialize, senior leader Jaswant Singh has said.
"When we came to power for 13 days even then we wanted to do nuclear tests, but scientists advised us that it would be better if it was done after the confidence vote," the former External Affairs Minister said.
In an interview to Hindi magazine 'Outlook Saptahik', he downplayed former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra's change of stance on the Indo-US nuclear deal and seeking to give credit to Rajiv Gandhi for the 1998 tests. "Mishra has performed a very important role in the NDA Government.
If he has changed his views, then he has every right to do so," he said. Singh also noted that every Prime Minister had a contribution in the country's atomic program and Atal Bihari Vajpayee understood the need of the hour and went ahead with the tests.
The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha also spoke about the Kandahar hijacking episode and sought to dismiss suggestions about infighting in the top echelons of the party.
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