``The decision to conduct the nuclear tests is not a military decision. It is a political decision. But this decision seems to have been made by two or three persons in your Cabinet,'' he said, pointing out that according to reports even the Defence Minister was not in the know of it. Criticising the Government for not consulting other political leaders, he said, ``At least, you could have taken some important leaders into confidence before permitting the scientists to conduct the serial tests.'' Gowda released copies of the letter at a press conference here today.

He said in the letter that Vajpayee had conveniently forgotten his promise of building a consensus on all important issues. He also recalled that when he was prime minister he had asked his external affairs minister I K Gujral toseek the views of Vajpayee, V P Singh, P V Narasimha Rao and Chandra Shekhar on the CTBT. ``After consulting all of you, my government decided against signing the CTBT,'' he said.

Gowda said he was not against the tests, but questioned their timing. ``What happened in the 15 days between I K Gujral's stepping down and Vajpayee's taking over that dramatically changed the threat perceptions,'' he asked.The previous governments led by the Congress and United Front had decided against conducting the tests and had tried to improve relations with China. When he was prime minister he had refused clearance for demonstrating India's nuclear capability not because of the likely reaction from international community but because of concern for the economic situation, he said.

The former prime minister also protested Vajpayee's action in dashing off a letter to US President Bill Clinton immediately after the May 11 tests. The Prime Minister, he said, should explain the ``compelling reasons for hurrying the letter whentwo more tests were to be carried out.''

Gowda said the statement by the Prime Minister's political advisor Pramod Mahajan after the May 11 tests that India was ready to sign the CTBT had created confusion in the minds of the Indian public as well as international community.