Former president APJ Abdul Kalam, one of the principal figures behind the May 1998 nuclear tests that shook the world, has said that India should "go ahead" with the civil nuclear deal with the United States as it does not compromise the country's sovereignty.
In a rare interview, Kalam told IANS that if at any time there was a fear that national security would be compromised by going ahead with the deal, "we can at any time withdraw (from it)".
This was the first time that Kalam, who was among a handful of scientists who were at the nuclear explosion site at Pokhran on May 11 and 13 a decade ago in what was a highly secretive operation, has spoken out in favour of the deal that has been the subject of so much debate and political controversy in India. "Yes. I think. India had made the right decision in the nuclear area in continuation of economic reforms in 1991"
Kalam, who was then chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, was feted as a national hero, applauded and besieged for autographs though the tests drew widespread censure in the rest of the world then.
Ten years later, Kalam - who was later appointed head of state by the government of prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - believes the five nuclear tests detonated in the Rajasthan desert was the right decision and said the tests were among the most memorable moments of his career.