Manmohan Singh blames US NGOs for anti-nuclear demonstrations

[God of Death]

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Manmohan Singh blames US NGOs for anti-nuclear demonstrations

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh blamed US non-profit groups in an interview published on Friday for whipping up anti-nuclear demonstrations that have stalled two new atomic plants.

Singh told the American journal "Science" that "the atomic energy programme has got into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the US, don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply."

India's fast-growing economy is heavily dependent on coal, but the government hopes to raise the proportion of power produced from nuclear from less than three percent to 25 percent by 2050.

"The thinking segment of our population certainly is supportive of nuclear energy," Singh said in the interview with "Science," a copy of which was posted on his website.

But plans to construct a massive atomic power station using Russian help in the southern state of Tamil Nadu have been thrown into disarray following angry protests led by local villagers and activists.

The government was forced to stall its programme to build two 1000-megawatt nuclear reactors in Koodankulam and Russia's ambassador to India, M. Kadakin, has voiced frustration with the delays.

"We cannot allow our scientists to remain idle endlessly. For months together, they are without work," Kadakin was reported to have said earlier this month by local media.

In western India, violent demonstrations against the government's proposal to build a huge atomic power station near the Jaitapur port saw one man killed and several injured when police opened fire in April 2011.

Environmentalists have steadily campaigned to stop construction of new nuclear plants in the country, especially after Japan's Fukushima crisis last March, but the government has vowed to press on.

Singh also backed genetically modified crops to increase farm yields, despite pressure from "NGOs, often funded from the US and Scandinavian countries which are not fully appreciative of the development challenges that our country faces."

In 2010, India halted its plans to introduce its first genetically modified vegetable into the market, following resistance from citizens, scientists and state governments.

The ban is due to be reconsidered by the government this year, following further research and public consultations.

Manmohan Singh blames US NGOs for anti-nuclear demonstrations - The Times of India

[Abingdonboy]

It's not unlikely especially as the landmark 2008 nuke deal has actually offered very little returns for the US with the French and Russia cleaning up in the nuclear sector/

[saurabh]

Manmohan Singh blames US NGOs for anti-nuclear demonstrations

The famous "Videshi Hath"..

[Tshering22]

The famous "Videshi Hath"..

Now that is what you call irony.

[JanjaWeed]

try giving some contracts to American companies & see if these NGOs crawl out of their hole same way as they are doing now. Afterall US must be bitter about the fact that India is using & abusing them. They are not used to that kinda treatment in this part of the world.

[RoYaL~GuJJaR]

Okay....And what his Gov. doing about it ?

It is true that US based NGOs are supporting this,but what the hell is GOV. doing to curb it ?

Russian scientists/engineers are returning home because they can't sit idle in India just because of this paid protest.

[Deepak123]

Some One decade back, foreign Pharmaceutical companies hired the Animal Protection Right Groups to annoy or block research done by Indian Pharmaceutical Companies. I don't know if these foreign companies still playing their dirty games to annoy research in Indian Pharmaceutical sector.

[CaptainJackSparrow]

try giving some contracts to American companies & see if these NGOs crawl out of their hole same way as they are doing now. Afterall US must be bitter about the fact that India is using & abusing them. They are not used to that kinda treatment in this part of the world.

Let us leave the task of elating oneself over the accomplishments of looters and pillagers to others, mate.

India is not using or abusing anybody.

India is merely following its own interest. We'll take the best deal. US/Russia/France, it does not matter where it comes from.

[illuminatidinesh]

Let us leave the task of elating oneself over the accomplishments of looters and pillagers to others, mate.

India is not using or abusing anybody.

India is merely following its own interest. We'll take the best deal. US/Russia/France, it does not matter where it comes from.

Correct but the state and center are waiting for each other to take action....... ****** politics

[Alfa-Fighter]

yea , reliable sources told that its US base NGO is funding money to Indian NGO which is turn leading the protest, why protest suddenly came up , why was they sleep which construction going on?

Are they fool that in earth quake any nuclear reacted can destroy and in world no where any one can claim they that reacted is earth quake proof.

From time US companies uses NGO /research institute fund them to permute US companies.

[JAT BALWAN]

When it comes to matter of $$$... US always behave like cheater-cocks...

they are not gonna give us a deal..lets spoil the fair one... is policy of US..

[JanjaWeed]

Let us leave the task of elating oneself over the accomplishments of looters and pillagers to others, mate.

India is not using or abusing anybody.

India is merely following its own interest. We'll take the best deal. US/Russia/France, it does not matter where it comes from.

Agree India has to look after it's own interest, & it's doing what it has to. I'm not holding on to that argument about 'using' & 'abusing'. Just a bit of spice & humor.. that's all!

[God of Death]

Its 100% true.

Manmohan singh is known pro USA he have asked for a full investigation by IB and as per the reports he is saying this.

Its doesn't came out of thin air, its a fact.

[lynx]

So what is Govt doing about this?

The only losers here seems to be Tamilians who have to bear 8 hours of powercut.

[trinity]

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After the incident in Japan, it doesn;t take a genius to realize that there are some serious safety concerns with such designs. Tamilians are pretty smart ppl, and they also know the Indian gov;t cannot also be trusted everytime in what they say or promise. I don;t think it should be stopped but much more research should be poured into it for safety. NGO's almost alwasy receive foreign funding and like others pointed out there can be nefarious purposes for the funding. Tamil Nadu already suffered from a Tsunami and its coastal areas were affected. Could be the reason for such "protests." Its easy to blame foreign this, foreign that but let's also analyze the situation from a balanced, and fair approach.


My biggest issue with these politicans in India is that they operate with very little checks and balances. Whatever happened to Anna Hazare? He made some pretty remarkable points about the state of corruption and why it goes unchecked in the gov;t level. Sonia Ji refuses to part with her income taxes which was filed by a Tamil RTI activist. Kickbacks, corruption and cronyism are very serious matters yet the gov't is bloody quiet about that. How come they cannot pass and implement some those laws at least

---------- Post added at 11:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 AM ----------

So what is Govt doing about this?

The only losers here seems to be Tamilians who have to bear 8 hours of powercut.

They don;t mind they care more about their lives and land than power? YOu cannot harvest food in a land contaminated by Nuclear waste. You forgot how folks used to live in India not too long ago?