Senior BJP leader and defence minister Rajnath Singh criticized the CPI(M)’s manifesto promise to dismantle nuclear weapons, questioning its impact on national security. The CPI(M) in its manifesto said there will be “complete elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons.”
Speaking at a public meeting in Kasaragod Lok Sabha seat seeking votes for BJP candidate M L Ashwini, Singh demanded that the Congress should clarify its stand on the CPI(M)’s promise in the manifesto to dismantle nuclear weapons as it was the Indira Gandhi government which kicked off the country’s nuclear programme in 1974.
The CPI-M and Congress are allies of the Opposition INDIA bloc, a grouping of parties to take on BJP-led NDA in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Singh also emphasized India’s efforts to establish itself as one of the 11 nuclear-armed nations globally.
The defence minister also argued that the dismantling of India’s nuclear arsenal would compromise its security, especially given the nuclear capabilities of neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and China.
Singh also promised unbiased probes into the Karuvannur Cooperative bank scam and allegations against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter.
He also said that the BJP is committed to implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the next five years.
He said the UDF and LDF will not do anything to resolve the problems being faced by rubber farmers in the state. “Only the BJP will be able to help the rubber farmers,” he said.