Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alleges Congress inaction allowed Pakistan to become a nuclear power in the 1980s. He claims a timely intervention would have altered history.
Assam CM blames Congress: Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has launched another scathing attack on the Congress party. He asserted that a preemptive strike on Pakistan's Kahuta plant in the 1980s would have prevented Pakistan from becoming a nuclear power. He termed this inaction a historical blunder and a strategic failure for the nation.
Sarma accuses Congress's inaction of enabling Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
In a post on the social media platform X, Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that India's inaction and Congress's hesitancy allowed Pakistan to become a nuclear power. He wrote, "While the world is taking decisive steps towards eliminating nuclear threats, India missed an opportunity when it needed to make tough decisions."
Indian forces were ready, but the government retreated.
Chief Minister Sarma revealed that at the time, India's intelligence agency, RAW, had clear information about Pakistan's Kahuta nuclear plant. The Indian army had also given its full support to the central government for a preemptive airstrike. Furthermore, Israel had offered technical and strategic assistance for this operation.
Israel's assistance and the preparedness of the Jamnagar airbase.
According to Sarma, Israel agreed to assist in a joint air strike, and India had designated the Jamnagar airbase as the launchpad. Everything was prepared, but at the last minute, Indira Gandhi reportedly withdrew due to international pressure. Later, Rajiv Gandhi shelved the plan entirely.
Agreement between Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto.
Sarma also mentioned that in 1988, Rajiv Gandhi reached an agreement with then-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, where both countries decided not to attack each other's nuclear facilities. However, less than a decade later, Pakistan conducted nuclear tests in 1998, shocking the world.
Pakistan's audacity hidden behind the nuclear shield.
The Chief Minister further stated that under the cover of nuclear weapons, Pakistan launched the Kargil War, supported terrorism, and carried out cross-border attacks against India. Even today, Pakistan attempts to gain moral legitimacy on global platforms by making nuclear threats.
Targeting the CPI(M)'s policy.
Himanta Sarma, citing the manifesto of the CPI(M), an ally in the INDIA alliance, criticized the party's stance on dismantling India's nuclear policy, which he considers a serious threat to national security. He argued that such views could weaken the country.
