Jyoti Basu stuck his neck out a bit. But the approach is still diffident. As he feels nuclear energy is needed, he could have been clearer.
1. We are not self sufficient in technology or fuel. 2. There are over 400 nuclear reactors producing 400,000mw in mostly developed countries, about 4 times our energy output. 3. The safety aspect has improved, though nothing is 100%. The lessons of Chernobyl & Three Mile have to be studied. 4. If we are not interested many others, even oil rich Indonesia & Malayia are going ahead. 5. It is not that uranium is overflowing. It has to be mined. The shortage in supplies is met by decommissioning of uranium rich nuclear weapons mainly in Eastern Europe. So we still have to fight to secure the supplies. 6. The grand standing of Karat & Yechury seems out of reality. I am reminded of an activity in college, when we put up certain "demands", we had to watch all others in action when we were sidelined. It is only a matter of time Pakistan & Bangla Desh will be big players, while we try to catch up.
The only solution will be for Karat & Yechury to step forward to solve our energy problem and wean us away from oil, as we are 70% dependent on Middle East. As they are in govt still, let them give clear road maps, and they need not necessarily go after nuclear energy. If they do, they can even secure it from China.
It is time they put real efforts in nation building. I will be first to bow my head to them.
