The editorial in People’s Democracy claims that nuclear power generation is the most expensive energy option. It then makes a case for concentrating on hydro electricity as it says India has at least 50,000 MW of untapped hydro potential. Since Nepal has untapped potentialof 83,000 M, “On the basis of our friendly relations with Nepal and through international agreements, the tapping of such huge hydro potential will not only augment our energy capacities at half the cost of nuclear energy, but will also tame these rivers which regularly consume the lives of hundreds of people through torrential floods.”

It then says that the “more bizarre disinformation campaign is that the CPI(M) is opposing the deal at China’s behest.” It then says that the BJP’s opposition to the deal is mere posturing “and smacks of a ‘hurt’ that such a deal ought to have been concluded under its government and not under the UPA government”.

More of the same

Another article — “I have completed what you began” — refers to the 123 agreement. The article claims that this was how Manmohan Singh greeted Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a briefing on the nuclear deal. There is a basic strategic continuity with the previous regime’s nuclear policy that has carried on into this deal — “In particular, Vajpayee declared his government’s willingness to sign the CTBT... (it) would involve substantial concessions to the United States in foreign policy terms on a number of issues. It also soon became clear that this was a price that the NDA government was more than willing to pay,” it says.

... contd.