CPI(M) accuses Modi govt. of U-turn in nuke deal with U.S.

The ``breakthrough’’ in the logjam with the U.S. over The Civil Liability of Nuclear Damage Act, according to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), represents not only a reversal of the BJP’s position in Parliament but also a commitment made by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in September 2014 that India would remain steadfast on the issue of suppliers’ liability.

This assertion was made by the CPI(M) in the editorial of the upcoming issue of the party organ People’s Democracy . Recalling how the BJP had ``stoutly’’ supported the Left parties in Parliament to force the UPA Government to insert Section 17(b) -- allowing liability in the case of an accident to apply to the supplier as well – the CPI(M) accused the Modi Government of surrendering to U.S. pressures.

Quoting reports, the editorial accused the Narendra Modi Government of permitting ``the circumvention of U.S. manufactured nuclear reactors’ liability in case of a nuclear accident’’ though when the Act was legislated, ``then Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha – today’s External Affairs Minister – had castigated the Manmohan Singh government on this issue by saying PM had betrayed the country’s sovereignty for his own prestige’’.

Likewise, the CPI(M) recalled, then Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha – today’s Finance Minister – stating that ``Clause 46 of this Bill empowers any victim of an accident to take recourse to the courts seeking greater compensation. This cannot be denied to anybody under the universally accepted and enforceable `Law of Torts’.’’

And, even after the Modi Government came to power, External Affairs Minister said on September 8, 2014, that ``scandals like the Bhopal tragedy took place. That is why suppliers liability is already included into the Nuclear Liability Act. We will not pass any [revised Bill]… I think we will reiterate out stand before President Obama. This time a strong government will be talking to Obama; that will make all the difference’’.

Stating that this ``breakthrough’’ would benefit U.S. corporates like GE-Hitachi, Westinghouse – which have not got any domestic order since 1979 after the Three Mile Island Accident – the CPI(M) noted with concern that this was being done at the expense of Indian tax-payers.

As for the promised $4 billion pledged by the U.S. in loans to India, the CPI(M) said it was essentially to facilitate American imports into India. ``PM Modi’s `Make in India’ slogan is, thus, only to mislead the Indian people. It is, in reality, promoting `Made in USA’ instead!’’