Just yesterday, I echoed Arun Shourie’s question: are we really serious about the nation’s security? And what do I read today? The man in charge of ensuring that he projects India’s image positively to the world goes about publicly regretting that India has gone nuclear.

The Acorn has very perceptive comments to make about this, I urge you to read it.

Nutwar is old, senile, and braindead. If he wants to wear his badge of loyalty to the Family, let him by all means, and in full view of the public: let him just refrain from making statements that are counterproductive. The next thing you know, our friendly general will strut around saying, “see, they’ve admitted that going nuclear was a mistake, now don’t blame me!” Nutwar is also guilty of another error: washing dirty linen in public… “it’s the NDA’s fault, not our government’s!” And this isn’t the first time he’s guilty of this.

Observers involved in India?s nuclear programme appeared amused by the Foreign Minister?s statement, saying that it contradicted the stand taken by Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister in March 1989. It was then that Gandhi had given the security establishment the green signal to pursue a nuclear weapons programme.

Rajiv Gandhi?s move came after he was convinced that China was supplying nuclear technology to Pakistan. [...]

Those involved with Vajpayee?s 1998 nuclear decision were peeved at Singh?s remarks particularly in the context of Indo-Pakistan nuclear stand-off. According to them, the NDA logically followed the direction taken by previous regimes, which had stopped short of taking the final step.

The External Affairs Minister had recently baffled Parliament on another count by asserting that India would not become a member of the UN Security Council without veto powers. Singh clearly jumped the gun as India has not even been formally offered a seat in the UNSC.

That said, let me be fair to Nutwar Singh: he has had a long, successful stint as a distinguished member of the Foreign Services, is very knowledgeable and widely read. However, age does strange things to people.

The point is, it shouldn’t be at the cost of the country.

Again, and again, the question keeps returning to me: Nutwar and many ministers like him, are possibly not aware that they’re accountable to the Prime Minister. Normally, the PM’s consent is sought before making such statements. Yet these worthies don’t seem to be bothered about such trivialities. But of course who would like to report to a Puppet?

But I’m surprised that Nutwar who once said that knowledge alone is not enough, that wisdom is superior to knowledge, displays the lack of both at every turn. Because if he was indeed wise, he’d have retired. Long ago.

Tags: Commentary, Indian Politics, Weblogs