Indo-US Nuke deal not in country's interest : Pillai

Patna, Jun 26 (UNI) The CPI(M) today reiterated that proposed Indo-US Nuclear deal was not in the interest of the country and it would not hesitate to withdraw support to the UPA government if the Centre pressed further to go ahead with the deal.

Senior party leader and Polit Bureau member S Ramchandran Pillai told reporters here that the Centre's logic that the Nuke deal was necessary for fulfilment of the growing demand of electricity in coming days was far from the realities.

Mr Ramchandran said the logic put forward by the Centre lacked credence as nuclear energy could not be a substitute to the conventional thermal and hydreo-electric energy.

If the Centre succeeded in tapping the vast potential of hydro electric power in north Bihar, demands for 83,000 MW electricity could be easily met and price of the electricity would also go down considerably, he added.

'' The production cost of electricity from the nuclear reactor involving use of Uranium is much costlier and it would be better if we opt for thermal and hydro electric power to meet the requirement of energy in coming days, '' he said adding, '' If we have so much urgency for nuclear energy, we should prefer Thorium to Uranium. '' Expressing concern over the steep hike in prices of essentials, Mr Ramchandran said the Centre had failed to take remedial measures in time to save the commonmen from the brunt of price rise.

The investment in agriculture sector had decreased during the past few years and public districtbution system was in a shambles in several states, he said and pointed out that the government should focus on this sector to check the price rise of foodgrains.

He said the party would stage dharnas before all district headquarters on July 15 in the state to protest the failure of the UPA government to check the prices of essentials.

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