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Drumbeat: Ad Buzzaar

Wednesday, May 13, 1998

	Russia against sanctions Indirectly opposing the US-led threat of economic sanctions against India for conducting nuclear tests on Monday, Russian President Boris Yeltsin has stated that Russia felt the only way to change India's policy was by diplomatic means. Yeltsin's Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov also ruled out joining any international sanctions against India.		"Explosive" gamble may push BJP up popularity charts After being buffeted around for 50 days, the BJP Government, which exploded three underground devices at Pokhran on Monday, demonstrated that it was capable of acting decisively. In a message connoting strength, it signalled to the nation that it was serious about the promises it made in its manifesto and the National Agenda for Governance.
	Organiser's "Nuclear India" coincides with Pokhran tests National security is the latest theme song of the RSS and BJP. The Sangh Parivar is hoping to cash in on what it feels is the euphoria generated by yesterday's nuclear tests to enthuse its cadres. The parivar knows that strident public posturing on Ayodhya is not feasible while the BJP government is in power with coalition partners.		Land Act goes, Central staff to stay till 60 The Union Government has decided to scrap the Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULCA) and raise the retirement age of Central Government employees from 58 to 60. The Cabinet also approved a proposal from the I&B Ministry to restore the original provisions of the Prasar Bharati Act. A Bill to repeal the ULCA will be introduced in the Parliament's budget session.

Germany freezes aid, Japan threatens to follow suit
Reacting to India's nuclear tests, Germany decided to freeze fresh development aid worth DM300 million to New Delhi and Japan held out threats of reviewing its billion dollar aid. The freezing of the German aid followed cancellation of the three-day annual Overseas Development Aid talks after Germany condemned India for the nuclear tests.

No consensus on exercising nuclear option, says Left
The Left parties have taken a critical view of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government's decision to conduct three nuclear tests, saying that there is no national consensus on exercising the nuclear option. The Left parties have demanded that the Vajpayee Government should adhere to the country's nuclear disarmament policies.

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