TNI Bureau: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam made sensational revealations that late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao had started the Pokhran nuclear test preparations, which was later carried forward by Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
According to Kalam, Narasimha Rao had asked him to prepare for the nuclear tests, just two days before the 1996 general elections results were announced. However, as he lost the polls, he asked Dr. Kalam to brief Vajpayee about a smooth takeover.
India conducted Pokhran nuclear tests in May 1998 in a secret manner. Even the United States could not get a hint about that. A series of missile tests, rocket launches and airstrip bombing were used to cover-up the entire operations.