Nuclear Debate: Securing India's Energy Future

Nuclear debate and future of Indian Children in 40th century

Nuclear Debate: STABILISING ECONOMY, SECURING ECOLOGICALLY
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR INDIA /CHILDREN OF 40th CENTURY

Dr.Muhammad Mukhtar Alam

This is 21st of July 2008, a critical date in the history of India. Confidence motion is being
discussed in the parliament. Leader of Opposition expressed his views. The debate is going on the
in the parliament of the country. Almost all concerned in the country is watching it, there are
more than 10 private channels telecasting the debate live. Somnath Chatterjee is appealing to the
members of the parliament for peace and calm. The session has been called after the withdrawal
of support by the ‘atheistic’ 1 communist parties. I have taken this opportunity to record the
content of debate with my observations on the arguments as part of Mission for Ecologically Safe
India, a programme under the auspices of Centre for Ecological Audit, Social Inclusion and
Governance and in collaboration with National Forum of Muslim Organisations founded by a
group of organisations in India including Labour League Foundation, Sufi Trust, Grassroots India
Trust, Sewa, Delhi, Moral India Mission and several others.
Opposition charges include not having debated the deal and draft with the parliament as the
nuclear deal had substantial implications for the future of the country. Manmohan Singh went to
IAEA without taking the parliament in confidence. Mohammad Saleem, in his aggressive and
passionate speech questioned the position of the UPA/Congress in taking the country to a
direction that should not have been taken, and in this regard pointed out that Congress Party has a
history of leading the struggles of the downtrodden nationally and internationally, but it appeared
to be giving up on that as its policies were leading millions to misery. Rich are getting richer and
poor are getting poorer “Ameeraun ko aur ameer aur garaibaun ko aur ghareeb banaya ja raha
hai”. He emphasised that the government has not adhered to the common minimum programme.
Concerns of the left on Disinvestment and Inflation have not been taken of. He further recalled
the history as the nation was commemorating 250 years of the battle of Plassey fought in the year
1757 after commemorating the heroic struggle of Indians across the religions and caste lines
against the British in 1857. He called for safeguarding the foreign policy, as giving in to the US
policy preference will render India to the slavery of 600 years. Therefore he called for
safeguarding the interests of the country. He recited a very important Urdu couplet used by all
who have convictions for the struggle in the cause of independence:

“Bagiyaun me jab talak boo rahegi imaan ki,
Takht-e-London tak chalegi teg Hindustaan ki”
(So long the rebels have an iota of conviction in the righteousness, sword of India will move up to
London)

1
Communists in India in so far as they derive their lessons from men and women who had sought
banishing religious communication in all matters are atheistic. However, a recent conference
organised by Annie Raja of Communist Party commemorating the 100th birth anniversary of
Aruna Asaf Ali started with faith based prayers. This indicates that communists are accepting the
faith groups in India and call for interfaith harmony. Communists associated with the communist
party of India are recognising the need to integrate faith based prayers. This may be considered a
special feature of communism in India. Atheistic communists are different from monotheistic and
polytheistic communists. Communist Party of India appears to be recognising the importance of
religion even among the communists. They are recognising political and cultural rights of the
religious groups, though they are not ready to get the religious leaders on their forums.

Centre for Ecological Audit, Social Inclusion and Governance, a collaborative project of Sewa, Labour League Foundation 1
and Sufi Trust, 62-A,DDA Flats, Ashok Vihar-III Delhi-110052, India ceasig@gmail.com Tel:+9968345380


He pointed out that there was no question of accelerating the pace of deal without taking the
house in confidence. He questioned the enlightened self interest citied by the prime minister and
noted that it is not the light seen from the huts of the poor but was that of US that was being
shown.

‘What is being talked about enlightened self interest? Why we are being compelled to see our self
interest through the eyes of US’. Left is convinced about the foreign policy implications if the
deal goes through. He recalled six basic principles of governance for pointing out the deviations
with reference to nuclear deal as the same was not part of the common minimum programme.
1. To preserve and protect the lives and prevent all the fundamentalist forces
2. To ensure that economy grows 7-8 interest so that each family of each
3. To enhance the wellbeing of farmers, workers particularly those in the unorganised sector
4. To fully empower women
5. To provide equality in opportunity.
6. To unleash the creative energy of our engineers 2

He further pointed out that left supported on a common minimum programme. The house is not
bound by the programmes that were not agreed. He noted that the nation is bound by the common
minimum programme. He noted that for the government CMP is not important and an uncommon
optimum programme is important. He called for a dope test for the government. ‘Government
should go for dope testing on the accelerated speed for the deal’. He wondered why the
government did not hurry up on the measures for implementation of the recommendations of the
Sachar Committee and finding of the report of the Sri Krishna Commission.

On the pace of signing deals, he further took on the government for having signed the deal for
foreign direct investment in retail .Individual deals were struck for FDI in retails and not in
bundles as that was what suggested by the left. Even the draft of 123 agreements was not shared.
National Security Advisor told nation after the agreement was finalised. He referred to the
scientists at the BARC who opposed the deal. He cited the findings of the International Energy
Outlook where contribution of nuclear energy to the world energy sources was shown to be
declining the world over from only 9.6% in the year 2005, it will reduce to 7.8% in 2030.He
wanted that the government should have explained the cost benefit projections rather than
hurrying up the deal and become part of the US grand strategic designs. He pointed out that the
nuclear power is not sustainable as gas is cheaper and coal will be cheaper. He further noted that
there are greener technologies that can be developed and ought to e development. He further
emphasized that India needs leaders looking after interests of people of India not the dealers-
“Leaders are needed not the dealers”.

Pranab Mukherjee , the minister of External Affairs defended the government and asserted that
Government is not yet a minority. He noted that the several meetings were held for keeping the
processes transparent. Hyde agreement is there on the website along with the 123 agreement. He
noted the achievement of the government in terms of GDP growth over the last 4 years with 4.5
% growth in agriculture and 9 % increase in Gross Domestic Product. He noted that all the
concerns of the Left has been taken into consideration and assured that the prescriptive provisions
of Hyde Act will not be there. Pranab Mukherjee, leader of the house recalled that a decision was
taken for establishing a political mechanism and that was established to address the left concerns
of the Hyde Act. He referred to the meetings where it was the agreed that a committee will draft a
text and the text was drafted along with left leaders (who were not named). He distinguished that

2
I have noted down the objectives from the speech and this is not the complete expression of the common
principles of the common minimum programme.



the committee on the formation of the text was a political mechanism and not the one appointed
by the Prime Minister or by the honourable speaker of the house. He pointed out that it was a
political mechanism created by UPA chairperson and, therefore there was no question of betrayal
and adopting secrecy. He informed that as part of this mechanism, 9 meetings were held and it
was only in November 2007 that some problems arose between Left and UPA. He also pointed
out that IAEA is an organisation that has been founded by India and it is not IAEA that is going
to approve uninterrupted supply. He noted the fact the agreement was India specific considering
the specific energy needs of the country.

He also referred to the word confidential means differently in different contexts. It was referred as
restricted, classified in different contexts and pointed out that the text of the agreement was on the
website as the same had been sent to IAEA for further action. He referred to the constitutional
provisions required for getting all the agreements ratified by the parliament. He pointed out NDA
government could have done that as the commission to look into the constitution had been set by
in 1990. He questioned why this was not pointed out since 26 January, 1990 till today. Why not
Advani ji did asked the Commission to create a provision for the ratification by the parliament.
He noted the example of WTO agreement that was signed without ratification from the
parliament. Thus he explained why ratification by the parliament for the deal was not considered
necessary.

He noted that energy requirement across the country is increasing while the current capacity in
India for generation of is 145000 MW. Power is needed for everybody .According to the
projection for 2030, just 23 years from now, energy deficit would be 150000 MW. By 2050, this
deficit would be 412000 MW. He noted that these figures are considering the energy from all
source including coal, petrol, diesel and non conventional energy. He further pointed out that if
we initiate the action now we will be reducing the deficit only by 40000 MW from 2012 to 2020.
We will have to reduce the deficit to the tune of 450000 MW. He noted that India needed vision
for reducing the energy deficits.
‘We will have the ensure addressing 150000 MW reduction in deficit’. He noted the example of
France where energy security was planned immediately after World War II and that is the reason
it enjoyed 79% of the energy from nuclear energy.

“What happened in France? After devastation of 2nd World War Charles De Gaulle envisioned the
energy needs for the future generation in France. He envisioned nuclear energy and started work
in 1948. De Gaulle did not continue for long time but by 1974 France succeeded in getting
nuclear energy. Now, 79 % of the energy is coming from nuclear source”.

He further pointed that countries such as US and Russia are not yet working on this as they have
enough reserves of conventional sources of energy.

“Why US and Russia is not going for nuclear energy because they are floating on oil”

He further explained that India did not have the privilege of enough oil reserves. For us however
it is different “our primary energy source is much less in our country. We will have to import vast
quantities of coal. Hydel programme will be resisted. Uttrakashi resistance has blocked the hydel
projects”. Also, he pointed out that quality of uranium produced indigenously was not of good
quality.

“All of us are aware of the uranium mining in Meghalaya and Jadugoda are the only sources and
the quality of the uranium is not good and adequate”.



Therefore he appreciated the visionary step of the Prime Minister towards contributing in making
the country energy secure through following the visions of scientists “PM has taken a visionary
programme. Homi Bhabha, Sethna, Raja Ramanna believed that out scientists and engineers can
do the miracle.” He noted this cooperation will open the door of 30 years isolation from nuclear
energy and called for not making the mistake of 1947.

UPA has taken up an all round development strategy. Achievements of Bharat Nirman
programme, the brain child of the prime minister was described with all the achievements in the
implementation of the various programmes. 5948 km roads completed. Against the 120 contracts,
246 contracts have been awarded for completion of the work .TR Balu narrated achievements on
the infrastructure. Laloo jee kept on prompting him to mention achievements for minorities under
Sachar Committee report. It appears T.R. Balu did not get the signal to mention the initiatives
under Prime Minister’s 15 point programme for the minorities.

An opposition leader pointed out that despite all the achievements, 80% of the village does not
have electricity. Millons earn only Rs.12 per day and 30% of the Indian population is living
below poverty line. While 70% of the people live in the village, 50 % of the village does not have
access to electricity distribution systems.

We need to see the long term interest of the country and its children say the children of India in
40th century .Why do we need to support the government on the nuclear deal and why we must
not permit Mayawati to be become the prime minister she had supported Narendra Modi who
presided over the destruction of lives and properties of the minorities in Gujarat. She has not
apologised. She is a rank opportunist and now the atheistic communists have compromised their
position by aligning with her .She is the same Mayawati who had been condemned by the left for
aligning with BJP in Gujarat. Left thus does not appear to be adhering to the principles, in so far
as they are interested in seeking national leadership for a woman who has compromised on
principles.

Mayawati is woman who has cheated Dalits by abandoning Ambedkar who called for radical
transformation of the personal identity for Dalits. It is interesting that she has stopped calling
upon the writings of Manu for getting the support of Brahmins led by Satish Chandra Mishra. She
has presided over the process of self aggrandisement that would not be forgiven by Dalit
ideologues who wish to chart an iconoclastic future for Dalits. She wouldn’t oppose her worship
even by Scheduled castes looking for role models and seeking a life of dignity. We cannot
support such self aggrandisements while there are millions of Dalits who are forced in usurious
debt traps. She in undoing the dream of all those Dalit leaders and others who seek non-ostensible
pious leadership for themselves and country.

Opposition of Congress has not been useful till now as the parties opposing the Congress have not
provided complete solutions for the problems .They have not addressed the issues and just wish to
be in control of the affairs without addressing the issues of corruption comprehensively as they do
not have the solutions and they along with others even after recognising the problems do not wish
to address the root cause that lies in absence of social boycott of men and women, tolerance of
black money by the politicians, delay in persecution of officials involved in corruption, absence
of concern of the temple leaders and religious leaders.

Deal is important for cities and its energy needs, it is important for securing energy security in the
short term as a basket of energy source, though in the long run posterity will have to reckon with
renewable sources of energy only .France has been using nuclear energy. China has no problems
with India getting nuclear energy as they would not like to seen adopting double standards. UPA



government is aware of the high energy needs in the future. Nuclear energy is carbon neutral but
not ecologically sustainable as it is based on the extraction of mines that would not last long.
Climate Action plan released recently has been cognisant of the all the alternatives. Leader of
Indian Lok Dal Ajit Singh’s suggestion for getting ethanol and constructing pipeline with Iran is
laudable but then he also does not a plan for reduction of emissions and transforming energy use
patterns in the urban areas with glitzy advertising consuming energy that could be used for
essential needs. He does not a vision for preparing for the end of petro-modern times like all
other parties.

The government has unveiled climate policy that has been supported by the chairman of IPCC.
UPA government has followed the model of inclusive growth and its 15 points programme is the
best articulation for making the nation stronger with concrete measures for all the social groups.
There is an urgent need to get ecological safety integrated as a cross cutting concern as expanding
ecologically habitats and securing energy may appear to be the smartest move, but in the long
run, when all the energy sources have exhausted, what would the posterity do with ecologically
hostile habitats and living quarters, shopping malls as there would not be much energy for
supporting the critical systems.

Prabhunath Singh of JD (U) pointed out that US has been supporting terrorism. US can’t be
trusted as they are responsible for killing Saddam Hussain. US can’t be a friend. United States has
been concerned about the terrorism only because they have been attacked. He is very much right
as US has been seeking an end to the negative outlook in business and would like to secure its
own economic interests. US has played a partisan role is seeking destruction of nuclear
installation of Iraq and Iran while paying lip service to non-proliferation.

Comrade A B Bardhan, Mohammad Saleem and Gurdas Gupta rightly suggested the need to
revalidate the Essential Commodities Act that was used to control the prices. Revalidating the
essential commodities act could be anti-farmer as well as the controlled prices did not always
reflects the costs involved in agriculture. The government is addressing the concerns but, it has to
be a basket of measures including support to ecologically sustainable agriculture with protection
measures for reducing the cost of agriculture. The formula of the Left for controlling the inflation
needs to accompany by measures for eliminating ecologically hostile finance system that is
fuelling the expansion of environmentally unsustainable habitats. Inflation is a result of too much
demand generated by lots of money created out of thin air created by the ecologically hostile
banks that are competing to get more and more business for themselves. US is interested in the
deal for its own economic interests and then for pursuing a racist policy on nuclear weapons and
nuclear energy.

On 22nd July, Mr. P Chidambram started referring to the six principles of the CMP and argued
how the principles have been adhered by citing the achievements of the government. He cited
growth figures in the year 2007-08 growth is close to 9.1%. He made a special reference to
watershed growth in agriculture. He noted the farsighted vision of UPA led government for
restoring the water bodies through forming a special mission for the same. Capital formation
increased to 12.5%. 50000 crores worth of proposals have been sanctioned. He challenged anyone
to point out if there were any point of common principles that were not adhered.

To enhance the income of farmers and poor, he informed about the loans waivers and
procurement prices while recognising that the farmers had to restore to suicides due to several
problems. He however informed that government had extended farm credit to the tune of 250000
crore while 280 000 crore is the target for the year. NREGA scheme has covered 597 districts.
Old age pension increased to Rs.200 and for unorganised workers a bill is being debated. After



describing the achievements of the government in the various fields he reflected on the current
debate was with reference to deal signed with US. He called that agreements in this regard has
been already signed with Russia and France. He called for the agreement with IAEA and waiver
from NSG as India had not signed Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty and this had been necessitated due an act US adopted in 1954. It was Nuclear Energy
Act. Section I of the Hyde Act permits the president to cancel the agreement. 123 agreements
have been signed after Hyde Act. He said that we are not concerned with the decision of the US
president in this regard as the 123 agreement has been signed after 6 months. He noted that India
has gained from the agreement and it has noted by US analysts as well. Many US analysts said
that a lot was being conceded to India without any binding commitments on non-proliferation and
test ban.

He cited the Geneva Conventions where it is noted that as and when there is a dispute between
the international treaties and the domestic law, treaties will prevail over the domestic law.
Therefore, he emphasised that Hyde Act is a law that would not influence the 123 agreement
between India and US. According to the Vienna conventions, domestic law will not prevail in
case there are dispute between the provisions of law and the treaties. It ensured that all treaties
will be the supreme law. He meant to say that provisions of the Hyde Act would not work in case
there was conflict with the provisions of the 123 agreement. Further he pointed out that Left were
not opposed to separation plan. He referred to the text that was made available on the site. He
could not understand the oppositions of NDA as Government of Vajpayee accepted moratorium.
India is prepared. CTBT is not delayed beyond December 2009. Discussions had taken place. He
noted that some people do not want to see India to compete with China. He cited comparative
figures with reference to China and urged for higher and higher growth.

“I want India to become an economic superpower. We must aspire for heights. We must grow.
We must produce more and grow more”

He found Left parties and BJP voting together on the issue of issue of deal to be bizarre as NDA
was neither opposed to the nuclear nor did they oppose to strategic relationship with US.

“BJP and NDA agree that we need nuclear energy. NDA has no problems with strategic
relationship with US. NDA believed India to be nuclear power. Left is saying it will do whatever
it can to scuttle the deal while NDA says it will renegotiate the deal. He wondered if we have
seen anything bizarre than the two groups voting together. Out there are millions of young boys
and girls watching? Rajiv Gandhi made India stronger”. He invoked the interest of the youth as
they were the future of the country and suggested that youth were watching the entire deliberation
and they would indeed be in a position to judge as to whether the UPA government was taking
the right step in signing the deal.

He appealed the house to consider the leadership of Manmohan Singh and help the country grow.
Competing with China was presented to be major reason for the deal. It would indeed be a
question for the posterity and, whether this would be helpful for interest of youths for
ecologically safe future of India and China.

Mr. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, senior leader of BJP referred to the statistic of the UPA leaders and
the elections lost by Congress in the states. The statistics become white lie. Four years of the
government of the Congress, he alleged that PMO office has become a place of horse trading. He
noted that the MPs who have been convicted are voting for confidence. He wondered whether the
prime minister could be. Vijay Malhotra objected to the presence of convicted MPs. But he
forgot that his party is led by a man who is charge sheeted in the case of demolition of Babri



Masjid in Ayodhya. He was referring to the abuse of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Singling out the beneficiaries of the deal, he pointed out it were the US contractors who would
benefit from the deal and Comprehensive Test Ban treaty (CTBT) and Non Proliferation Treaty (
NPT) for which India has been maintaining an critical stance favouring total disarmament would
be signed compromising nuclear research and innovation in India. He called for exploring
indigenous development of nuclear energy.

‘US contractors will get jobs and they will be benefited. CTBT and NPT will get signed. No
atomic energy plant is being installed. We have thorium reserve more that 50%. Australia has the
largest reserve why they are not using the reserve. Northeast has 150 lakh MT capacity. We can
explore that. Poor are getting poorer. PM has assured many times about the need to control the
prices. He called for not raising the prices. Mrs.Sonia Gandhi was worried about the price rise.
Consumer Price Index has increased’.

Japan had 8% inflation rate, Germany and all non-producing countries have controlled prices. He
noted that someone has suggested that the number of Billionaires in India have increased. He
cited Mani Shankar Ayer who had pointed out that the growth is not reaching the poor. Only 3%
is reaching the poor.

Citing an abservation of Mani Shankar Iyer, Prof. Malhotra argued that course correction should
have been taken. Course Correction has not been taken. “Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) has
been withdrawing. MK Narayan has advised elimination of ISI. POTA has been repealed as that
was the only law for containing terrorist activities. The day 400 crore subsidy is given. We are
giving subsidy. Shrine Board was given 100 acre and the same was taken away. Former Prime
Minister went to a Gurudwara that has been font of the Khalistani movement. He questioned
whether it is it is a virtuous to get behind the US”.

Rahul Gandhi referred to a simple conclusion. He decided that he would not speak as a member
of the political party but as an Indian. I also decided because you are also an Indian. You do
speak as an Indian. I would take a step; I decided to make a central assumption. All speak in the
interest of nation. Why we are meeting today? Why we are meeting? We are meeting because
there is the issue of energy security. Poverty is directly linked to energy security. Three years ago,
he went to Vidarbha and referred to his conversation with Shashikala, whose husband committed
suicide three years ago. For resolving her problems she dug a pond, diversified cropping pattern.

Rahul Gandhi noted that Sh. Vajpayee also worked for the solution. He stated about the energy
security. He noted that senior leaders have also pointed out that a balance portfolio of energy is
required. The magic of what Sh. Manmohan Singh has done is the opportunity two countries are
going to use how energy moves. Instead of looking at the energy as a problem, we start looking
energy as an industry. Energy has destroyed nations and built nation. UK grew because they
controlled coal. US grew because it controlled oil. He called for halting the worry about being
impacted by the world and called for thinking on how we can impact the world.

“Let us stop worrying how we will be impacted by the world. Let us start worrying how we will
impact the world”.

He noted the achievements of the technology missions that were possible with visionary
leadership of Late Shree Rajiv Gandhi.



“We developed the IT and telecomm industry. Very few believed that India would be able to play
a role globally. We all see the impact of computer. We see the revolutionary impact of IT and its
impact on the employment and technology generation in the country”.

Referring to the current situation he noted that we were in the similar position. He called for
looking at the big picture on energy and pointed out that we have problems because we are
dependant on hydrocarbons. He called for liberation from dependence on the hydrocarbons for
energy and found nuclear energy to be the one ensuring independence from hydrocarbons.

“If we look at the big picture then we know that the current problems have been caused by the
hydrocarbons. We can’t be dependant on the hydrocarbons. We must not underestimate the
connection between the energy and poverty”.

The difference between the powerful country and the other weak is that a powerful country thinks
about the way they are having an impact on the world. He underlined the fact that it is the weak
nations who worry about the way they are being impacted by the world. He noted that he spoke as
an Indian and called for thinking as Indians who will influence the course of the nations:

“We stop being scared about how the world will impact. We sit in this room together and solve
our problems. I am proud of the fact that everyone can be heard. We must act with courage and
conviction. 70% of this country is young. This country is brimming with confidence. We have to
have confidence. Act with confidence and courage”.

He supported the Prime Minister for showing the confidence and courage in moving ahead with
the times and seeking a powerful role for the nation. His words are indeed impressive. I wish he
could have also looked in the ecological safety concerns for development. His vision indeed fuels
the young minds and expands the horizon for the power of Indian youth for influencing the world.

Mr. Arun Kumar recalled that deal would be carried on only after the trust vote. He asked the
straight questions:

1. Whether government is committing to permanent moratorium on all tests
2. Homi Bhabha called for thorium based reactor. Why we are going with uranium based
reactor for which we will always remain dependant?
3. Whether India is going to be treated as a non-nuclear state?

He called upon the Prime Minister to stay true to the oath for upholding the sovereignty of India.
Talking about energy security, he pointed out that this is going to cost a lot for nation.

“We all know that energy will cost 8 lakh crores of rupees and this deal will contribute in the
price rice”.

He observed that UPA was leading to another price rise and quoted from P Chidambram about
the inflation and said that inflation is the worst form of taxation. Rich are getting richer and poor
are getting poorer as the poor are getting squeezed. He requested all to vote with conscience.

Lalu Prasad Yadav referred to the way left who are in depression. He referred to the discussions
that were held on drafts. Referring to the independent foreign policy, he took a swipe on the
position of the BJP government that had agreed to send Indian troops in Iraq for pleasing the
Americans. He referred to Lathi rally that was held in Patna for opposing the decision of
Vajpayee government to send Indian army in Iraq. He pointed this out to underline the fact that



UPA was not selling out to any nation and it was only concerned about the energy security. He
expressed the resolve that we are one to keep the independence of the foreign policy. Explaining
the rationale for agreements with US and IAEA, he referred to hydel projects in Uttrakhand that
could not be started due to resistance.

Around 4.30 p.m. the whole parliament came to a standstill as some BJP members Phaggan Singh
Kulaste, Ashok Argal, Mahabeer Bhagora flashed wads of currency notes in the parliament. They
alleged that Ahmad Patel sent them the money voting in favour of government.

Leaders condemned the alleged bribing. Ms. Mayawati condemned the bribing. She called for
resignation of the Manmohan Singh. Convergence was observed by the political analysts and
BJP, BSP and left were seen together in seeking the dismissal of the government.

I have been noting the discussions since yesterday for getting a picture of the whole
parliamentary debate. These two days are the most memorable in my life till now as like many
Indians I stayed glued to the TV. I understand the Lok Sabha TV got the best viewer ship during
these two days.

Amar Singh challenged the allegations and argued why not these BJP MPs called the police and
get the person arrested. Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen, National Conference supported the motion
and they lambasted those who felt that the deal was against the Muslims. Omar Abdullah
established the fact that the factors that affected the lives of the Muslims were poverty,
unemployment, corruption in the public life and there was nothing that was against Muslims as
such in the deal. Government has won the motion with a handsome margin .More votes are
waited on the slips from MP who have not been allotted seats. UPA got new lease of life. UPA is
pleased. MPs are congratulating Manmohan Singh for winning the motion.

But this victory on motion of Prime Minister may not be recalled pleasantly by the posterity as
the congratulatory mood is based on perceptions of urban development that would not sustain
itself for long time. Development policy based on foreign supplies of energy will not sustain itself
even if there is abundance of energy in the short term. Some body may respond tongue in cheek
suggesting that in the long term we are all dead.

Analysis

The debate demonstrated the best and the worst in the Indian politics, it recalled the nationalist
struggle and the dream of the nationalists who sought liberation from the yoke of British rule and
how this was getting frittered away through a deal with a country that had invaded sovereign
nations in the name of protecting democracy, it presented the various visions of political parties.
Left parties were distinct in leading the opposition to nuclear deal and being aware of the nuclear
hazards and immoral foreign policy priorities of US, they did not want India to go on a path of
dependence on US for energy needs. The arguments could have been made stronger if they have
called for ecologically safe model for India as in the long term, entire world would not have
access to fossil fuels for energy and even the nuclear fuels would be available for a limited time
considering the thousands of years of human existence. Labour League Foundation working for
the rights of workers in the organised and unorganised sector and seeking ecologically sustainable
future of all children and women called for the following in a letter to the Prime Minister for
keeping the prices under control, making the currency stable and ensuring ecologically
sustainable and socially inclusive growth through the following demands:



1. Rejecting the recommendations of the Gupta Committee report calling for strengthening
the institutions of money lending for profiteering out of miseries of borrowers.
2. Eliminating usurious debt based money and calling for the creation of interest free and
debt free money
3. Calling upon World Bank and IMF to delete servicing charges for the loans and accepting
only interest free loans
4. Regulating the expansion of private and public sector banks through strict
implementation of monetary instruments such as CRR
5. Charging demurrage for the holding of saving and reserves so that circulation of money
is promoted for strengthening renewable resource based livelihoods
6. Liberating land from bio fuels utilising the best of ecologically sustainable agriculture
methods for augmenting production of food
7. Promoting culture of prayer 5 times a day for moderating the consumption of green house
gas emitting services and utilities
8. Promoting adoption of interfaith commons for ecological safety, national and global unity
9. Organising interfaith meetings for addressing the challenges of global warming,
desertification, drought, AIDS and other global security challenges
10. Halting expansion of non-renewable resource based vertically oriented urban habitats 3

It is proposed that our generations and future generations at least till 2500 AD work for the
children of the 40th century and see the merit of the deal in the light of the energy requirements of
the children in ecologically hostile cities. I wish to write in supporting the case of the
government based on the following assumptions:

 Government is cognisant of the short term supplies of nuclear energy considering the
interests of children in 40th century
 India will stay committed to renewal energy based consumption and production patterns
 India following the tradition of Nehru would not be supporting special strategic interests
of US
 It would form its own moral axis for exhortation and intervention in the affairs of
neighbours and other nations far and near
 India would not follow in competing the ecologically unsustainable infrastructures and
habitats that are responsible for global warming , intolerable inflation, hunger, poverty
,disease and insecurity
 India would lead the world toward ecological sustainability, social equity, social
inclusion and justice
 India would not give in the demands of the empires that are supporting evil designs on
pious men and women.
 India would support the pious government of Iran and not follow the designs of nations
that are not adhering to the standards of justice, piety, compassion and peaceful
coexistence.

Mr. Chidambram cited the example of China that is experiencing growth rates that are historic.
Indeed there are the growth rates that have left India far behind. He called for competing and
reaching the heights of China. But, he did not quite analyse the sustainability of the resources that

3
Kapil Sibal’s call for ecologically sustainable horizontally spaced out habitats is welcome. We
must stop expansion of non-renewable resource based unsustainable urban habitats as there is no
guarantee for full scale replacement of fossil fuel based power and energy in the future



are fuelling the growth of China. The pace of economic activity is furious. Vincent Lau is the
great architect with interests in several cities of China. Lots of construction activity is going on in
China. A new China is merging from decades of atheistic communist sloth and despair. There are
restive social groups Eighur Muslims in the West and Buddhist Tibet in South are restive and
wish to create separate future rooted in their religious and cultural traditions. US architects are
being called who are supporting new form of lifestyles imported from West. There are changes
that are obvious in the creation of new urban spaces. Earlier people used to eat in close door. Now
open spaces are being created for ushering in new era .People of Shanghai are getting in the
ecologically hostile trap. ‘Sintiandi’ are very much westernised. Common Chinese are simple and
their food is based on soup and vegetable. People fear losing the common culture.

Communist China is creating equity for ecologically hostile spaces and forcing millions to work
in sub-human conditions without liberty for spiritual wellbeing. Mr. Chidambram does not
understand all this and wants to copy China that would last long with the ecologically hostile
consumption and production patterns. In beating China through meeting their production and
export targets, we might get some more earnings for some years, but in the long run, we need to
ensure the protection of ecologically sustainable livelihoods and habitats.


Nuclear Debate: Securing India's Energy Future

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