Narendra Modi is wrong about nuclear disarmament

by Arun Mitra

Speaking in an election rally in Madhya Pradesh on April 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a mockery of nuclear disarmament.

In his speech he said “those who talk of nuclear disarmament cannot protect the country.” Some constituents of INDIA group talk of nuclear disarmament, he warned. There can be only two inferences from his statement. One, that he is using it for petty electoral gains by projecting himself as the saviour of the country who talks on the position of military strength. The other inference could be that he is naïve about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons.

It is well known that South Asia is one of the most deprived regions in the world. Our Human Development Index are very poor. Health scenario in the region is dismal. India is a hub to both communicable and non-communicable diseases. We will soon become diabetes capital of the world. There is extremely high incidence of tuberculosis as out of a population of 100,000 in our country 36 persons die due to tuberculosis every year. The region needs to spend more on health and education if we have to progress.

Ironically India and Pakistan both the countries spend huge amount on arms race. Both have amassed nuclear weapons which require lot of expenditure on their maintenance. These weapons pose a real threat to the region. India and Pakistan are the only two neighbouring countries who possess nuclear weapons and have fought four full fledged wars. With the perpetual tension between the two countries the use of nuclear weapons cannot be ruled out. Even if the governments decide to refrain from using these weapons, there is a danger of these weapons being used by the non-state actors, through accident or in the event of a natural calamity.

The studies conducted by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) have shown that even a small nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could kill 20 million people in a week and two billion people would be at risk from death by starvation. There is enough evidence of the catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

At the present juncture the whole world is much worried about the use of nuclear weapons because of on-going wars in Ukraine and Middle East. Iranian strike on Israel in retaliation for an attack that killed top Iranian officers in Damascus has further added to the seriousness of the situation. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has already said that dropping a “nuclear bomb” on Gaza is “an option,” Eliyahu, a minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said that “one of Israel’s options in the war in Gaza is to drop a nuclear bomb on the Strip”. Whereas the world has appealed to Israel to maintain restraint, uncertainty looms large at this hour. The whole Middle East stands at risk with global ramifications.

It is extremely important at this juncture that the movement for nuclear disarmament is strengthened by the civil society as well as the state parties. India can play a significant role in this process. In this context the statement by the Narendra Modi is highly irresponsible. Jingoism has no place in today’s world. It is important to spread the message emanating from the Treaty on the Prohibition on Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

IPPNW board member Arun Mitra is President of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) and is a former IPPNW co-president.