Pokhran-II was a success, claims Kakodkar

India does not need any further nuclear tests, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairperson Anil Kakodkar ascertained on Thursday. HT Correspondent reports.

India does not need any further nuclear tests, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairperson Anil Kakodkar ascertained on Thursday.

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The clarification came after the recent controversies over the success of Pokhran–II that was generated by former DRDO scientist K Santhanam.

Santhanam, who was the DRDO coordinator for the 1998 tests, had claimed that the thermonuclear nuclear (hydrogen bomb) test was a failure. Demanding an inquiry by an independent panel of experts, he had said it did not produce the desired yield of 45 kilo ton.

Kakodkar, which was then heading the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, which was closely involved with the nuclear tests, said: “The 1998 tests were fully successful and achieved all objectives and has given us capability to built deterrence of nuclear weapons system from the smallest yield to 200 kilo tons (KT). No more tests are needed.”

He described the controversy as ‘unnecessary’ while speaking to media persons at the Department of Atomic Energy’s office in Mumbai.

Former president and top missile scientist APJ Abdul Kalam and former National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra has also trashed former Santhanam’s claim.

R Chidambaram, former AEC chairman and current principal scientific advisor to the government, under whose tenure the tests were conducted, too, said “Pokhran–II was perfectly successful.”