CPI Leader bets on indigenous nuclear energy

Visakhapatnam, Sep 8 (UNI) CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan today said India could rely on its indigenously developed nuclear reactors for producing power instead of putting to stake independent foreign policy and sovereignty by signing the 123 Agreement to the US which could help generate only 20,000 MW or seven per cent of the total energy needs for the country.

Interacting with the press here, Mr Bardhan said the two 'jathas' organised from Chennai and Kolkata had successfully reached Visakhapatnam enlighting people en route on the nuclear agreement with the US and also the Joint Naval Exercises with the US and its allies.

The US was leading the exercise, forming an Asian NATO with Australia, Japan and Singapore, in the Bay of Bengal in which India had also been dragged.

The American administration was slowly and steadily dragging India under its purview of influence in each and every sector, including Agriculture, Economic, Defence and Foreign policy, he alleged.

The BJP was not so much keen in exerting pressure on the UPA Government to withdraw from the nuclear deal since it was initiated by them during the party-led NDA Government's tenure. The UPA was now treading a similar path.

The Left was serious about the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) adopted by the UPA.

''We are concerned much about the Hyde Act which has its own implications on the sovereignty of India and it independent foreign policy,'' Mr Bardhan said.

UNI