The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday charged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of ``misleading’’ the nation on issue of clean waiver for import of enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technology.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour, CPI (M) leader Basudeb Acharia said the latest decision of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) went against his (Prime Minister’s) assurances in Parliament that India would get a clean waiver for import of ENR technology and equipment, even as he sought a statement from the Prime Minister on the matter.
"We were then told a number of times and the Prime Minister time and again assured the House that the waiver granted by the US was 'full and complete'. But the U.S. has clearly barred enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technology transfer to India," he pointed out.
He said the UPA-I had earlier claimed that the waiver would enable India to access such technology and equipment from other countries. ``Now the latest decision of NSG shows that India cannot access this technology. Parliament and the nation was misled by the Prime Minister when he said that India has got a clean waiver. It was not a clean waiver and the US never committed to export such technology (to India). The government's claim then was not based on facts. The Prime Minister should explain,’’ Mr. Acharia said.
Pointing out that the Nuclear Liability Act was enacted several months ago, he said the government was yet to notify the rules and wanted to know the reason behind the delay.
Claiming that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her recent visit had ``pressurised’’ the government to further amend this law, Mr Acharia said this was being done because ``private nuclear equipment manufacturers of the US will be at a disadvantageous position’’.
Without ENR technology, India would not be able to reach the third phase of nuclear technology development which would enable it to use Thorium, which is abundantly available in India, Mr. Acharia said.
His party colleague Prof Saidul Haque demanded immediate stoppage of the Jaitapur nuclear power project, saying it would cause ``unimaginable damage’’ to the local populace and biodiversity. "The project is being pushed on political considerations to strengthen the Indo-US Nuclear deal, which goes against Indian interests," he said.
Claiming that there were moves to amend the Nuclear Energy Act, he said this would enable ``forcible’’ acquisition of land for such projects. Prof Haque further said the government should take lessons from the experience of the recent quake and tsunami that hit the nuclear plant at Fukushima in Japan and stop the Jaitapur nuclear project.
