Karat finds Nuke Bill compromising on the citizens’ right to life and health
By ANIWednesday, March 31, 2010
LUCKNOW - CPI-M General Secretary Parkash Karat on Wednesday reiterated his party’s stand on the Nuclear Liability Bill, saying that the bill compromises on the citizens’ right to life and health.
“We have decided to oppose the bill. During the introduction of the Bill, the opposition had united to oppose the bill. But if the government brings it again, we will oppose it both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as it compromises on the citizens’ right to life and health,” Karat said.
The Nuclear Liability Bill pertains to compensation in case of any accident involving civil nuclear plants.
The Indo-US nuclear deal that was concluded in September 2008 has not been operationalised so far pending enactment of liability law, one of three key requirements.
India has offered to tender construction of two nuclear power plants, a business opportunity worth 10 billion US dollars, to American firms such as General Electric Company and Westinghouse Electric Company, presently a subsidiary of Japan’s Toshiba Corporation.
In one of the world’s worst industrial disasters, a gas leak in a Union Carbide factory killed about 3,800 people in India. (ANI)
