BJP pledges to revise, update India's nuke doctrine

NEW DELHI: India will maintain a credible minimum deterrent in tune with "changing geostatic realities" in nuclear weapons programme, BJP said Monday as Narendra Modi pledged to provide a government with "zero tolerance" towards internal and external security threats.

In its manifesto, the BJP has also promised to strengthen the DRDO along with enhancing private participation and investment including FDI in selected defence industries.

"BJP will study in detail India's nuclear doctrine, and revise it and update it, to make it relevant to the challenges of current times. We will maintain a credible minimum deterrent that is in tune with changing geostatic realities," its manifesto said.

The party also promised to invest in India's Thorium Technology Programme for nuclear energy.

Credible minimum deterrent is the principle of India's 'no-first use' nuclear weapons use policy in which it wants to maintain an arsenal which can help it in retaliating strongly if attacked by an adversary.

The BJP also blamed the UPA Government of "frittering away" the strategic gains acquired by India in the nuclear programme during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime.

"We will follow a two-pronged independent nuclear programme, unencumbered by foreign pressure and influence, for civilian and military purposes, especially as nuclear power is a major contributor to India's energy sector," the manifesto said.

The BJP also promised that it will encourage Transfer of Technology to encourage indigenous defence manufacturing.

"We will find solutions to the problems hampering the growth of the defence sector and we will encourage domestic industry to have a larger share in design and production of military hardware and platforms for both domestic use and exports in competitive environment," it said.

At the release of the manifesto, Modi said the BJP will provide a strong government with "zero tolerance" with regard to internal and external security.

"There will be such a strong government at the Centre that no country dares to threaten us but should feel like being friendly. We will also not threaten any other country but have cooperation. Such will be the capability of our government," he said.