Declaring that India is a responsible nuclear power, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said there is no uncertainty in the country's nuclear policy, which is based on 'continuity and national consensus'.
"India's defence and strategic affairs have to be decided on the basis of continuity and national consensus with due deliberations. These are issues best kept above partisan politics," Singh told the Rajya Sabha.
The PM was responding to questions from Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh, who voiced concern over Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh's reported remarks in Seoul. The minister had said that the previous National Democratic Alliance government was responsible for the Indo-Pak nuclear standoff.
"I categorically say there is no uncertainty in our nuclear policy," Manmohan Singh said.
The PM said he will check the authenticity of the reports of Natwar Singh's statement after the minister returns from his Seoul visit on Friday.
"But my assessment is that the reported remarks appear to be in context to questions from journalists, and what he (Natwar Singh) said was not a statement on foreign policy," the PM said.
