UPA compromising with nuclear sovereignty,food security: Joshi

Patna, Sep 25 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today accused the UPA government of compromising with India's nuclear sovereignty and food security through agreements with the US.

''The Centre did not care to inform MPs or farmers about its agreements with the US on both the issues in 2005,'' the former union minister told newspersons here.

He said the two agents--Molcento and Wolmatrh--,entrusted with implementation of the agreement, were eyeing India's potential seed market.

Dr Joshi castigated the UPA for not concentrating on solving the farmers' plight during the just-concluded conference of chief ministers of Congress ruled states in Nanital. He argued that the farmers' condition could not be improved simply by lowering the interest rates.

''The prime minister had spoken about enhancing agricultural output but has no idea how many folds it has to be increased,'' he remarked. Referring to the productivity of pre-independence era, he said then paddy production was 20 tonne per hectare even without fertilizer, high quality hybrid seeds and irrigational facilities.

He alleged that the UPA lacked the vision for enhancing productivity and instead of solving the problems of farmers it was entering into an agreement with the US which would ultimately affect the farmers and the country's foodgrain sovereignty.

''Once the agricultural agreement is executed, food security will be compromised and India will have to depend on other nations for foodgrains,'' he warned.

He said it was a 'well-planned conspiracy' to make the country slave at the hands of scientists, multi-national companies and businessmen of foreign countries. Instead of doing so, the UPA government should discuss the points of agreement with the scientists and farmers of India before its implementation, he opined.
Dr Joshi further said nuclear sovereignty of the country would also be at stake as the new agreement would stall nuclear explosions affecting related research. He said India will have to depend on others for nuclear fuel once the agreement comes into existence. ''Americas stand was aimed at attacking Indian's nuclear sovereignty through the agreement which had several shortcomings,'' he added.

Dr Joshi said the agreement with America had no exit clause and in view of this he had asked the UPA to reconsider its stand in order to protect the country's independent nuclear character.

He also asked the UPA government to slash the prices of petrol as its rates had been lowered in the international market and demanded proportionate reduction in tax on petrol.

UNI