New Delhi:- Anti-nuclear group Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP) today opposed the Indo- Japan nuclear agreement, claiming it would fuel the nuclear arms race in South Asia besides leading to displacement and loss of livelihood and threat to environment.
Another advocacy group — Greenpeace India — alleged the deal will allow reactor equipment from Japan to make way into the Indian market and said the government should focus on renewable sources of energy rather than on “unsafe and economically unviable” nuclear energy.
“If it (deal) goes through than what will happen is this will free India’s uranium supply for military use,” CNDP founder member Achin Vanaik said, adding the deal will become the “final seal of legitimacy for India’s nuclear weapons and will further fuel the nuclear arm race in South Asia”.
Greenpeace India activist Priya Pillai questioned the signing of the deal, asking why India is focussing on nuclear energy when it has abundance opportunities of renewable energy which is safe and reliable.
On Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar comment on ‘no-first- use nuclear’ policy, she said it will lead to “more and more militarisation” and is a threat to peace in the entire Asian region.
Vanaik said what is being done here is to “actually bring into public discourse what is formally considered unacceptable… so as to legitimise through discussions”.
PTI
