U.S. will ascertain facts before reacting to charge: Burleigh
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's charge that civil society groups were misusing funds from America and other western countries to stoke protests at the Kudankulam nuclear plant saw Russia, the joint venture partner, claiming it had suspected this all along, and the U.S. stating it would check whether the allegation was true.
“We have been suspecting it all along, and, I was openly saying this, because it was very strange. Six months after the Fukushima tragedy [in Japan], all those protesters raise their voice. They were sleeping for six months, and then, all of sudden, they raise their voice against the most secure, the best and the safest station in the world,” Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin told journalists.
“We were perplexed, but now we stand vindicated,” said the veteran India hand.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Peter Burleigh wanted to ascertain facts before reacting to Dr. Singh's observations made in an interview to Science magazine. In principle, Washington had no issues with India pursuing civil nuclear projects, he said in Guwahati, while pointing out that U.S. firms were also pursuing civil nuclear opportunities in India
“The government of U.S. has certainly no objection with regard to nuclear programmes. [The] U.S. is also involved in potential participation in the civilian nuclear programme. Indo-U.S. relationship is growing in every sense at all levels. [Our] Relationship has been cordial. We want American companies to be here,” added Mr. Burleigh.
Dr. Singh's observations, which appeared on Thursday, were amplified the next day by Minister in-charge of the Prime Minister's Office V. Narayanasamy, who said the licences of three NGOs were cancelled following reports that they had diverted funds to fuel protests against the nuclear project. “The people who are agitating near the plant are being brought there in trucks from various villages. They are being given food,” he said.
What Mr. Kadakin and Mr. Narayanasamy left unsaid was they suspected that the Kudankulam plant was being targeted by the West because similar projects by American companies in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have not taken off while two units of the Russian technology-based plant are on the verge of being operationalised.
Two of the six units at Kudankulam are nearly ready and four more are in the works. Each will be India's largest civil nuclear power plants until they are overtaken by larger French and American units. The site of the French units is under siege by civil society protesters, while plans of the U.S.-based companies have been stymied by an Indian law that holds equipment suppliers as well as operators liable for compensation in case of an accident.
However, the Russian plant is in a category very different category from the French and U.S. projects. It was conceived at a time when a West-dominated cartel was bitterly opposed to transferring nuclear technology to India until it rolled back its nuclear weapons programme. But the Russian project meandered along for over a decade until the U.S. quarterbacked India's entry into the nuclear commerce mainstream with active assistance from other civil nuclear heavyweights such as France and Russia.
Keywords: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India, Russia, bilateral ties, Kudankulam nuclear plant, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Peter Burleigh
I had been to the Kudankulam Nuclear plant while under construction as a part of an industrial visit during my UG programme in year 2007. They had well explained about the construction which can withstand earth quake and tsunami. I learnt that even well known scientists have given reports as it is safe enough. Still natrual disasters cant be predictable.Whatever, finally poor people are being the sufferes without knowing whom to believe. Hope this issues gets resolved and benefits all.
With due respect to the wisdom of Dr. Singh, it seems he has become habitual of misinforming and misguiding people for his own petty interests. To blame civil society members, conscious people and people concerned with sustainable development seems to be on the top of his list.
With exchange rates at US$1=Rs50, it is easy for leftists and environmentalists in US and Europe to rent a mob in India. They do the same in the States as well. They have effectively shut down debate on many sreas such as Global Warming, not so "Green" Energy and the like through their bullying tactics. So I am not surprised that they are doing the same with respect to Nuclear power plants. The last Nuclear Power plant to be commissioned in the US was in the mid eighties, with countless delays and cost overuns in the Billions.
Enough is enough!! Put a stop to this madness in the name of opposing nuclear power! TN state govt ought to put a stop to this irrational agitation with ill-motives against an almost completed plant built with enormous money. To those who parrot western NGO propaganda, renewable energy is part of the solution but that is the not the entire solution, if so India would not go on a binge to build coal power plants that are immensely polluting, global warming causing and results in death from mercury and respiratory diseases. Renewable power is not in a stage to be able to meet massive energy needs of a growing country like India. India needs to have all options including nuclear power in a judicious mix of power sources. India has been operating nuclear plants for decades without accidents. You learn from accidents like Fukushima and build safer plants, but not put a stop to entire nuclear power. If that is the case there won't be any chemical plant because there was Bhopal disaster!
Truly said by Nagercoil 1
This issue is a classic example of how US exploits other countries for
its benefit. Just how they arm rebels in other countries and start
internal war. If the US has problems with Russia they have to deal with
it directly and should not interfere or influence others. This should
not stop here with banning the NGOs, Indian Govt. should start an
investigation and question US mission in India if they are involved.
when Dr.singh signed indo-US nuclear deal, most of the opposotion
parties criticised his pro-american stand.In this interview to
'science' magazine he focused only on india's developmental stand
towards nuclear energy and even stongly criticised american agencies
for foreign-funding to fuel protests against kudankulam project.unlike
from other crying greedy politicians we can find that our PM is not
playing petty politics in this issue.Although his image is like a
rubber-stamp in many past issues like 2G and antrix-devas deal ,now he
is not behaved like a silent-sitter in this.it also proves his vision
for development and growth of india,which is diffrent from what gandhi
family followed.
LIPIN RAJ M P
IDBI BANK
KOCHI
People should be educated, and given confidence that their lives are safe. Mis-info is counter protective to the growth. At this rate we will continue to live with hours of power cut everyday. Nuclear energy production is safe. Let's not suspect every country, including Russia. US is seriously trying to show their friendship towards India. India needs friends. We cannot antogonize Russia, and should not ignore American's friendship.Let's decide whether to have a high standard in our life or 'power cut' life. Choice is ours to choose.
India is a dumping ground for toxic technologies and waste. Nuclear suppliers find India attractive both in the short and long term. A good mishap will reduce a significant proportion of the globalised population! The elites can never understand the wisdom of the (poor) masses. And how does one take the 'They are being given food' part of V. Narayanaswamy's statement. MMS is not a weak PM - he is the devil incarnate.
But for the vociferous demands of the NGO's for containing the moves of the govt in the establishment of certain projects that are prone to accidents things would have been different.However,in spite of assurances pouring in from some intellectuals like Dr.Abdul kalam and Mr.Kakodkar some people are still being skeptical about the safety of the project which is unwarranted.
P.M. remark about foreign interest in Kundankulam plant operation
seems inevitable. Evidence to support their comments should be
made available to general public so that a common man would stay
away from those goons or agencies.
At one place we are saying that we have strong bonding with U.S.
which is paying off in the favor of our nation and on the other
hand we are certain about the involvement of western NGOs to
hamper plant operations. Should not this topic be discussed with
U.S. officials about the involvement of these agencies which are
sending funds to delay the operations?
PM's statement is 100% correct.
This issue is a classic example of how US exploits other countries for its benefit. Just how they arm rebels in other countries and start internal war. If the US has problems with Russia they have to deal with it directly and should not interfere or influence others. This should not stop here with banning the NGOs, Indian Govt. should start an investigation and question US mission in India if they are involved.
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