Pokhran II was a success, insists Naval chief Posted: Thursday , Aug 27, 2009 at 1312 hrs New Delhi*:* *[image: Sureesh mehta]* Senior DRDO scientist K. Santhanam on Thursday reiterated that there was no question about backing away from his assertion that the 1998 Pokhran II nuclear tests were not fully successful, while the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, said the tests conducted eleven years ago were adequate. Santhanam emphatically said that he stood by what he had said. Admiral Mehta, who was addressing his farewell press conference in the capital on Thursday afternoon, said: “The tests were adequate. We believe whatever the scientists tell us. The scientists said the tests were enough and tested. We believe the scientists, as they provide us with nuclear capability.” Admiral Mehta’s statement came even as the defence ministry and former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra dismissed Santhanam’s statement, adding that India has a meaningful number of nuclear weapons and an effective delivery system to go with it. Sources in the ministry told a television channel that India has a nuclear deterrent that is adequate for its security. Santhanam, who was director for 1998 test site preparations and worked directly under Dr APJ Abdul Kalam when he was the scientific adviser to the then Defence Minister, told a daily in an interview that the yield of thermonuclear explosions was actually much below expectations and the tests were perhaps more a fizzle rather than a big bang. In nuclear parlance, a test is described as a fizzle when it fails to meet the desired yield. Santhanam said the yield for the thermonuclear test, or hydrogen bomb in popular usage, was much lower than what was claimed. Santhanam also said that given this fact, India should not rush into signing the CTBT. *Comment* ** *Truth, anyone?**By: Vivek Joseph | Thursday , 27 Aug '09 14:47:51 PM*
Even western countries are able to measure and study our most vital 'secrets' far more accurately than we are. What a shameful predicament! And what do we gain by lying about this? Maybe some extra perspiration from across the border? What good does that do? Yet another demonstration of the fact that if India is seeking superpower status in the near future, it is simply fooling itself silly. Considering the current state of the country and its citizens, that won't happen for the next 100 years.
