NEW DELHI, May 22: A concerned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today warned Prime Minister A B Vajpayee not to allow jingoistic celebrations of the recent nuclear tests, saying they would have a negative impact on the country.Naidu, who met Vajpayee for the first time after the nuclear tests, advised the Prime Minister against allowing the creation of an atmosphere of war-mongering. He was of the view that the successful conduct of the tests was an achievement no doubt, but it was not correct to politicise the event.
Opposition parties have already expressed their protest against moves by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other constituents of the saffron parivar who are in a upbeat mood following the tests.
But Naidu's voice carries significance at this juncture as the BJP-led alliance government has the support of his 12 party MPs in the House.
During the course of his hour-long meeting, Naidu also expressed his fears about the impact of the sanctions imposed by the United States andJapan, besides other countries. Vajpayee is said to have assured Naidu that the country was capable and confident of riding out the sanctions.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
