Скачать или смотреть INDIA: ANTI US PROTESTORS CLASH WITH POLICE

(15 May 1998) Hindi/English/Nat

India's prime minister declared his country a nuclear state on Friday, saying it has a "big bomb" following five nuclear tests this week.

Indian officials had earlier been careful to differentiate between their tests and weapons, saying only "devices" were tested at a desert range Monday and Wednesday.

But Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said India had only peaceful intentions for its nuclear program.

Meanwhile, anti-U-S protestors clashed with police on Friday in New Delhi.

The demonstrators are angry at Washington for slapping economic sanctions on India earlier this week following underground nuclear tests.

India's tests also affected the country's stock exchange, with the market losing six per cent of its value.

At least 50 protestors shouting slogans against sanctions imposed by the U-S and Japan, clashed with police outside the U-S Embassy in New Delhi.

The sanctions were imposed following India's decision to carry out five underground nuclear tests earlier this week - the first since 1974.

Many countries have condemned the tests.

But domestic reaction has been overwhelmingly positive.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been hailed as a hero for standing up to international opposition and proving India's technical expertise.

Local media report that the tests, which have heightened tensions in the region, were conducted more to boost the popularity of the Hindu nationalist ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (B-J-P) than for security reasons.

Shortly before the demonstration, the Indian Prime Minister, whose party has insisted it would never be the first to use nuclear weapons -- but needed a deterrent against China and Pakistan -- said India would use nuclear force if needed.

With attention switching to American efforts in neighbouring Pakistan to persuade Islamabad not to retaliate, there are mixed feelings in Delhi about the prospects for a rival test.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is a kind of race between two countries which will end in utter catastrophe. People in both countries are living in poverty and unemployment etcetera, and we should not indulge in such race-like things."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE: (Hindi)
"India has conducted these tests for its protection and for its reputation. But Pakistan wants the tests as an excuse for an arms race. India doesn't want that."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Why we always compare India with Pakistan. Why not China? The threat perception is with China. You see for the last twenty-four years right from 1962 onwards, we have not cared for China."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop

India's key stock market, in Mumbai, previously known in the country as Bombay has also been affected by news of the sanctions.

While many brokers think the sanctions won't be damaging in the long term, the Indian rupee has been falling on fears that India could lose billions of dollars in potential investment and hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid.

Initially, after the first tests on Monday, the market lost six per cent of its value.

The outlook from some brokers, reacting to the announcement of the tests, was bleak.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The trend is very down. Right now the mood is very low -- the market was already in overboard position, so there was panic situation in the market."
SUPER CAPTION: Amit Seth, Stock Broker

The sanctions have come at a time when the economy was already sluggish.

But senior government officials to say India is confident it can weather the storm, whatever measures are taken.

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