However, this time Sonia elaborated a bit. She read out to the CPP general body meeting this evening: ``The nuclear issue has been thrust upon us all of a sudden. It demands careful evaluation and a measured response. Let us remember that we did not become nuclear-weapons capable in May 1998. We became so a quarter of a century ago. Our decision not to translate that capability into a weaponised armed force was deliberate and held for years with high responsibility.''

``It had a political, economic, social and moral dimension. The option was kept open in nationalinterest. Indiraji signed the Shimla Agreement. She was resolute in war but more importantly magnanimous in victory. She conducted Pokhran-I but extended her hand of friendship to our neighbours,'' Sonia read. In a similar vein, she spoke of Rajiv Gandhi's ``whole new vision'' which stressed on defence R&D, technology missions in agriculture, telecom, health and education.