A tribute to Narasimha Rao on the 10th anniversary of the nuclear test

Today is the 10th anniversary of the Pokharan II tests or the Shakti nuclear test. India was proclaimed the Nuclear weapons state. Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was a Visionary, selfless and a tactician. He pulled the country out of the abyss created by his immediate predecessors. The visionary foresaw the changed world and navigated India through the rough years of 1990’s. One of his legacies was the run up to the second nuclear test in Pokharan. The tests did not go through due to various reasons, but, political survival or self interest was not one of them. The national interest was so paramount that he handed over the note to conduct tests to his political opponents when they came in power.

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee led NDA government wasted no time and it tested the bomb. The NDA government came to power the second time. The first time it came to power was just 13 days. Not minding the fact that there could be adverse implications, they carried out the test. NDA carried on the policies laid down by former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao with ruthless efficiency and zeal. Not minding the self interest, the magnanimous Atal Bihari Vajpayee credited the due to P.V. Narasimha Rao. Such is the leadership that we saw.

Today we have a government which stands as an oxymoron to what P.V. Narasimha Rao’s Congress party stood for. The Congress is huddled together with undesirable parties like the CPI (M) to remain in power. While people are wondering why they are in the power when they cannot take decisions and people go through untold miseries like inflation, bad economic policy and non governance.

Congress is also exhibiting its usual tendencies of not giving the others their due credit even if it means recognizing the genius of its own visionary leader P.V. Narasimha Rao. The Congress led UPA is not celebrating this historic moment of the 10th anniversary of the Shakti nuclear test. A non event like Rajiv Gandhi birthday was celebrated with all pomp and show emptying the tax payers’ money. If that was not enough, they credit Rajiv Gandhi of things he did not do. For example, congress talks about Rajiv gandhi and the IT revolution. A year back, the Indian IT Czar Narayan Murthy had openly credited P.V. Narasimha Rao for the IT revolution.

Congress may sign the beleaguered the Indo- US Nuclear deal at last movement, but, it will be to late for India.

Not withstanding the Congress attitude today is a proud day for every Indian and we thank the visionary P.V. Narasimha Rao for his selflessness.