Hydro potential

The editorial in People8217;s Democracy claims that nuclear power generation is the most expensive energy option.

The editorial in People8217;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, 8220;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.8221;

It then says that the 8220;more bizarre disinformation campaign is that the CPIM is opposing the deal at China8217;s behest.8221; It then says that the BJP8217;s opposition to the deal is mere posturing 8220;and smacks of a 8216;hurt8217; that such a deal ought to have been concluded under its government and not under the UPA government8221;.

More of the same

Another article 8212; 8220;I have completed what you began8221; 8212; 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 regime8217;s nuclear policy that has carried on into this deal 8212; 8220;In particular, Vajpayee declared his government8217;s willingness to sign the CTBT8230; 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,8221; it says.

Basu8217;s vision

CPM patriarch Jyoti Basu spells out the need for the party to look beyond the three states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. He writes that 8220;the party has to be strengthened as an all-India force if a third alternative is to emerge and the way opened to build the Left and democratic front. We are trying with all sincerity to make a breakthrough. I believe that within the present bourgeois-landlord structure, we have to take whatever little opportunity is available in this system. Our aim is to build up a classless, non-exploitative society, and we have to continue our fight for achieving this goal.8221;

UPA8217;s choice

People8217;s Democracy also has a report on Prakash Karat8217;s public programme in Andhra Pradesh where he hit out against the government for its pro-US stance. 8220;He criticised the conduct of joint naval exercises with the US in the Bay of Bengal from September 4. He said that not only foreign policy, but also economic policies were being dictated by the IMF-World Bank-WTO combine and the Congress government was following the same. Within the coming few weeks, the Manmohan Singh government would have to decide whether it would go with the US imperialism or remain with the people of the country,8221; it says.

Compiled by Jayanth Jacob