Now, what is non-alignment? Non-alignment is self-reliance in foreign policy. Self-reliance in technology is essential for our modernisation. These are very important matters. We would like to know this because we really do not know what is your position, what position you take and when. We were told in this House by the hon. Prime Minister that he had made a unilateral declaration that there would be no peaceful explosion. Vajpayeeji makes statements occasionally which are quite contrary to that. (Interruptions) Not contrary, but you will make your position clear at the end because we would like to know exactly, what your position is. If you have unilaterally taken a position not to resort to nuclear explosions, that means that you have taken a position of not making progress in nuclear technology. You may have done it as the government, but we would like to tell you and the world that the people of India have taken this position. The people of India have taken a position that we have every right to make every effort in the field of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes....
Shri Vasant Sathe : They have a mandate for that also. Vajpayeeji said that.
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Shri Yashwantrao Chavan : This is one thing. The first point was the contribution made by Non-aligned Movement and the other is the role that India has played in the United Nations because that is also one of the important forums where we certainly can make a significant contribution.
I was trying to look through this report of the External Affairs Ministry to see about the work that we are doing for the last 2 years in the United Nations or as a member of the Security Council. There is not much information given about what role and what positions we have taken in the Security Council consistent with our national policy.
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee : We are no longer a Member of the Security Council.
Shri Yashwantrao Chavan : I know. It ended on 31st December. Sir, this is the only announcement he has made-that we have ceased to be a Member of the Security Council. In the paragraph about the world and the Security Council this is the announcement they have made as if this is an announcement of joy, ‘No, we are no longer a Member of the Security Council.’.... (Interruptions) I will tell the hon. Minister there. There is a school of thought in the Foreign Ministry - I am not talking about the Foreign Minister - which believes in isolation, as far as, the Security Council is concerned...
Shri Hari Vishnu Kamath : When you were there also, the same was the position.
Shri Yashwantrao Chavan : I was for taking responsibility in the Security Council. We were defeated once. Even then we persisted and got elected and got membership of the Security Council.
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