Kakodkar lying about nukes, ex-DRDO scientist

New Delhi: Former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Anil Kakodkar's interview to CNN-IBN and his claims about India's nuclear arsenal have led to fresh controversy.

Former Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientist K Santhanam has rubbished Kakodkar's claims saying the former Atomic Energy Commission chairman is lying over India's nuclear deterrence.

Santhanam accused Kakodkar of bluffing the Indian armed forces by saying that the country has a credible thermonuclear deterrence.

In an interview to The Times of India, Santhanam took on Kakodkar, saying, "I can only describe what he is saying as an absolute lie. As the programme coordinator I was responsible for not just the entire management but also site instrumentation meant to measure the yields."

"Relying on one of the thermonuclear device that was tested in May 1998 is not of sufficient credibility. More so because the yield of the thermonuclear device was claimed to be 45 kilo tonnes, while world wide measurements as the site instrumentation DRDO claims indicated that the yield of the thermonuclear device was far below the claimed figure of 45 kilo tonnes. Armed forces have been told that thermonuclear device worked, where as the scientific truth is that it fizzled. The Government of India as well as people of India will not rest contended till a credible thermonuclear deterrent is designed and tested," Santhanam told CNN-IBN.

"I don't think there is any cause for alarm and dismay because no single country has ever succeeded in its first thermonuclear test or it's first hydrogen bomb. So it means go back to your drawing tables and do more honest homework and refine. If and when the opportunity presents itself to conduct, I would suggest to conduct few more thermonuclear test," he said.

Kakodkar in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN said that Santhanam had no idea about the state of affairs as he was only responsible for logistical support.

Santhanam, however, said there was no scientific proof to back Kakodkar's claims that India has more than one hydrogen bomb.

"By attacking my credibility, he is attacking the entire department's credibility. There are severe inaccuracies in Kakodkar's claims," Sanmthnam added.

Earlier this year, the former DRDO scientist had sparked a controversy when he said the yield of the thermo-nuclear tests at Pokhran was much lower than what was claimed.