India to retain nuclear option: Gujral
Prime Minister I K Gujral on Monday criticised foreign powers which were trying to India from exploiting nuclear technology but said India would nevertheless retain its nuclear option.
Addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency seminar here, the prime minister said India has the capacity to produce nuclear weapons and would retain the nuclear option to meet unforeseen circumstances.
Gujral said hurdles were being placed in the way of India developing nuclear technology although India has lived up to its commitment to use sophisticated technology, including nuclear technology, for peaceful purposes.
Energy from nuclear technology was important for India and the country would continue developing it, Gujral said, adding that the entry of private investment in the sector was now under serious consideration. Bringing down the cost of installing and maintaining nuclear facilities was a challenge facing the world scientific community along with the question of nuclear waste disposal and safety factors, Gujral said.
Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission R Chidambaram said India did not want to fall into the trap of ''technological colonialism,'' especially with tighter technology control regimes coming into force.
India, he said, welcomed offers of international cooperation in research and development, including that in the construction of complete plants, Dr Chidambaram said.
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