New Delhi
7 September 2007
After lashing out at critics for labelling it pro-China, the CPI(M) has
come out with an open letter to all Members of Parliament in which its central committee
explains why the party is opposing the proposed India-United States civil nuclear
cooperation agreement.
The letter, which dwells at some length on the Hyde Act and its implications for India's
foreign policy and strategic autonomy, read: "The government has asserted that the
Hyde Act is not binding on India. The relevant issue is that it is binding on the United
States and this has been repeatedly stressed by US spokespersons." The letter goes on
to cite instances of the provisions of the Hyde Act going contrary to the Prime Minister's
assurances to Parliament.
Taking on the UPA Government in general and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in
particular, for peddling the nuclear deal as an energy panacea, the CPI(M) reasoned that
taking the imported reactor route would focus much more on Light Water Reactors, which
require much more uranium and are more expensive. It recalled that India's three-stage
nuclear programme, which will depend largely on technologies based on fast breeder
reactors and thorium fuel, requires far less uranium and lower dependence. It concluded:
"Thus even the technology being offered will not necessarily be the best choice for India.
Significantly, the mainstay of our nuclear power program - the fast breeder reactors - will
still be under technology sanctions, as they would be considered a part of the fuel
cycle." The CPI(M), therefore, maintained that going ahead with such an ambitious power
programme dependent on imports will come at a high cost and will dry up investments in
other sectors.
The letter reiterated that the objections and the apprehensions raised by the Left parties
need to be examined before proceeding further. "All we are asking the government to do
is not to rush through with the next steps which are necessary to operationalise the
deal," it said, before concluding with the hope that the MPs will seriously consider the
implications of the nuclear deal on vital matters affecting the country's future.
The Party Congress held every three years is the highest decision making body of the
CPI(M) but in between two Congresses, it is the Central Committee which is the highest
decision making body.
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