The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked the government to come clean on the decision of the G8 not to allow the transfer of enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technologies to nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) countries.
“The country needs to know what the government intends to do about this denial of ENR technologies by the G8. Is it that the government was fully aware that the ENR ban was on the anvil, and the so-called charade of ‘clean exemption’ in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was conducted to hoodwink the people?” the CPI(M) Central Committee said.
In a statement on Monday, it sought to know what the government intended to do about buying reactors from the countries, which had declared that they would continue with the current discriminatory regime.
Energy security
This was particularly important as the U.S. State Department officials were now asking New Delhi to identify sites for the 10,000 MW reactors it had committed to buy from the United States. “With this ban in place, any move in this direction will seriously jeopardise India’s future energy security,” the statement said.
Till the government came clean on these issues, it should enter in to only fuel supply contracts, and not agree to buy reactors from the countries which were part of the restrictive technology regime.
“Tardy response”
The Central Committee also expressed concern over the prospects of a drought-like situation due to a delayed and deficient monsoon. It urged the government to come out with a comprehensive response to meet the emerging scenario.
The government’s response was tardy and it showed its disregard for millions of farmers and agricultural workers.
On Sri Lanka
The Central Committee also expressed serious concern at the displacement of three lakh Tamils from their homes in the last phase of the conflict in Sri Lanka.
The camps set up by the administration do not have adequate facilities and were not intended for prolonged stay.
“Unfortunately, the Sri Lanka government is not taking steps to speedily return and rehabilitate the civilian population in their homes. This is leading to discontent, and the resultant alienation amongst the people will not help to bring normality and peace,” the statement said.
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