New Delhi: India firmly committed the doctrine of no first use of nuclear weapons, said Defense Minister Raj Nath Singh. On the occasion of the first death anniversary of Vajpayee, he paid tributes to the portrait of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Pokhran on Friday.  

  Speaking at function he said that the India’s stand on nuclear weapons no first use, what happens in the future will depends on the circumstances. He said that Pokhran is the area which witnessed Atalji’s firm resolve to power and yet remain firmly to the doctrine of no first use.  He also said India attaining the status of a responsible nuclear nation became a matter of national pride for every citizen of this country. Pokhran is also the site of the first nuclear test in 1974 under the Indira Gandhi Government. After conducting the nuclear tests in 1998, immediately India had declared a no first use policy under which India will not be the first to initiate a nuclear strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail.