The BJP also accused the UPA government of seriously compromising India's deterrent building capacity. BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government was more concerned with "deal making then deterrent building."
Quoting figures, he said that "in the last General Budget for 2008-09, the budget of the atomic energy department was reduced by $529 million without any explanation. China today has got more than 100 ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) whereas India's programme is not even on the drawing board. In fact it has been shelved; it appears, under USA pressure. Even the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which was started 25 years ago, has been closed this year. We need to recall that in the year 1991-1995 as Finance Minister, Manmohan Singh, starved the nuclear programme of necessary funds for expansion. The same is again being witnessed when he is the prime minister. The BJP shall never compromise India's strategic needs and continue to expose the UPA government.
The party also accused the UPA government of totally forgetting that the Indian nuclear programme has been beyond partisan politics. "The BJP in its earlier existence as the Jansangh has openly appreciated Pokharan-I in the year 1974 when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister. It appears that the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are not comfortable with this legacy of Indira Gandhi," Prasad said.
