Kakodkar says Pokhran-II tests fully successful

MUMBAI: Trashing the contention that the Pokhran II nuclear tests in 1998 were a failure, India's top scientists on Thursday said all objectives had been achieved and the country now has the deterrence capability of upto 200 kilotons.

Describing the tests as "fully successful", atomic energy commission chairman Anil Kakodkar and principal scientific advisor to government R Chidambaram said the controversy triggered by K Santhanam, former DRDO scientist, was "unnecessary".

The two scientists held a joint press conference seeking to clear the air in the wake of Santhanam, who was the coordinator for the 1998 tests, claiming that the thermonuclear nuclear (hydrogen bomb) test was a failure.

"Rhetoric cannot be a substitute for good science," they said adding "unnecessary doubts have been created by ex-colleagues" in an obvious reference to Santhanam and former AEC chairman P K Ayengar who too raised doubts over the efficacy of the test.

"There should be no doubt over the yield of the tests. Once again, I would like to re-emphasise that the 1998 nuclear tests were fully successful. We achieved all objectives in toto," said Kakodkar.

Defending the thermonuclear test, Dr R Chidambaram said that it was a success and the doubts voiced over it were unjustified.

Santhanam had stuck to his assertions earlier this week and was dismissive of National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan calling his statements incorrect and horrific.