Insta
‘Will Depend On Circumstances’: Says Rajnath Singh On No First Use Nuclear Policy, Hints At Rethink
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (R) and COAS General Bipin Rawat (L). (@ANI/Twitter)
After paying homage to late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary in Pokhran, Rajasthan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to reporters about the future of India’s ‘No first use policy’, reports ANI.
Accompanied by senior Indian Army officers, including Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat, Singh said that although it was true that India had continued with this policy till date, the question of whether it is continued into the future will depend on circumstances.
The is not the first time that a defence minister has indicated that India may not always continue with the No first use policy.
According to a report in The Economic Times, in 2018 then defence minister Manohar Parrikar had remarked that instead of saying no first use, India should state that it is a responsible nuclear power and that it would not deploy its nuclear arsenal irresponsibly.
Currently, India is only one of two nuclear-armed states pledging a no first use policy, with the other being China.
In recent years, the question of whether India should continue to pursue a no first use doctrine also seems to have become a more frequently discussed issue among the political establishment and security circles.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
