Pokhran nuclear test 19th anniversary: PM Modi hails Vajpayee's courage, greets people on National Technology Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed the ‘courage’ of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the eve of 19th anniversary of Pokhran nuclear test. May 11 is commemorated as the National Technology Day since 1999, marking India’s scientific prowess and technological advancements.

PM Modi took it to twitter to greet people on the National Technology Day. “Greetings to everyone, especially our industrious scientists and those passionate about technology, on National Technology Day,” Modi tweeted.

“We remain grateful to our scientists & the then political leadership for the courage shown in Pokhran in 1998,” he added.

On May 11, 1998, showing the country’s might to the entire world, India had successfully carried out the first of the five nuclear tests in Pokhran under the tenure of Vajpayee as prime minister.

A write-up on Narendramodi.in website refers to an earlier speech of Modi in which he had said, “The world is well aware of the Pokhran tests. Under Atalji’s leadership, successful tests were carried out and the entire world was witness to India’s might. The scientists made the nation proud.

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Recalling the nearly two-decade-old development, Modi said, “After the first series of tests the world community placed sanctions on India. On 13th May 1998, Atalji again called for tests, thus showing that he was made of a different mettle. If we had had a weak PM, he or she would have got scared on the same day. But Atal ji was different. He did not get scared.”

Lauding the role the people of Pokhran played by keeping silent during the nuclear tests, Modi said, “People of Pokhran must be lauded for maintaining silence during entire duration when the tests were planned and conducted. They placed interest of the nation above everything else.” 

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