Notice it is by the Japanese, by the French, and at Monterey, that the arguments are tracked. Only the occasional Indian newspaper butts in. To be fair, on May 7, 1997, AIR reports on me, speaking in officialese, as minister for science and technology, telling the Lok Sabha that “The government is open to specific offers for private sector participation in nuclear power generation... based on technical suitability, economic attractiveness, and conditions attached ...”. Since I was looking after the work on atomic energy also, the Monterey people and others dutifully reported this. On June 19, 1997 this newspaper reported that a private sector Indian group had planned cooperating with the public sector Électricité de France for a nuclear power plant, and reported that on a professional visit to France, as an economist, I had discussed nuclear cooperation with the French minister of science and technology. That this was not a party issue was brought out by the fact that the Left parties were in or supporting the then government.  

A few weeks ago, the minister of state for power said the private sector would not be involved in nuclear power generation, which would remain in the public sector. Kakodkar, however, told the CII a few days ago that the Indian nuclear market “should be opened to private and foreign players to fully capitalise on the opportunities available. A conducive environment, removing regulatory barriers and ensuring a level playing field would be required....” And then, on April 17, 2009, Montek is reported asking Canadians at a Toronto energy conference to sell nuclear reactors to India. By now the Indian and global press and media are savvy on nuclear issues, and we get full coverage. No wonder the world believes in Incredible India. Except, in this case, it is perhaps Incredulous India.  

... contd.