BANDRA (Mumbai) unit of BJP organised a seminar on 123 nuclear agreement on November 25 to explain the pros & cons of the deal, its effect on India'satomic independence and its actual benefits to the country. Dr B.B. Singh, former senior nuclear scientist with the BARC, speaking on the occasion exhorted that the deal is against the interests of the Indian nuclear establishment. ?There is a myth that after signing the deal we will be able to tide over the energy situation, it is not so. Nuclear energy is a very costly option, when alternatives like natural gas are available in the neighbourhood, why should we opt for nuclear energy,? he said. He also disclosed that the Gas Authority of India had discovered 47 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in Burma and said there were plenty of reserves in neighbouring countries like Turkmenistan, Bangladesh and Iran.
Shri Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, member, Nuclear Executive Committee, spoke about the conditions in the Hyde Act and said that the nuclear deal bound the country to the will of the US. ?Under the Hyde Act, if India conducts nuclear test the deal will be off. Moreover, the Act makes it mandatory for the US President to certify to the legislature that India has not violated provisions of the Act,? he added.
Shri Ajeet Manyal, president, BJP Bandra unit, clarified the BJP stand on the deal and said the party is against the deal in present form and it does not serve the national interest.
