The international media ___________ India’s nuclear tests in the 1990s and stated that when the world was moving towards nuclear non proliferation India’s step would spark off an arms race in Asia.

Public opinion, or popular opinion, is the collective opinion on a specific topic or voting intention relevant to society. It is the people's views on matters affecting them. (Source: Wikipedia)
In a democratic system, public opinion occupies an important place as because public opinion is considered as the voice of the people.