Fissures in Parivar on n-plant

Differences between allies BJP and Shiv Sena over the Jaitapur nuclear power plant came to the fore.

Differences between allies BJP and Shiv Sena over the Jaitapur nuclear power plant came to the fore on Tuesday with the BJP making it clear that it was not opposed to the project.

While discussing an adjournment motion in the Maharashtra Assembly on the death of a person in police firing in Ratnagiri district,the Leader of the Opposition,Eknath Khadse of the BJP said his party supported the project. The BJP is not opposed to Jaitapur project but we want the government to take the local people into confidence. We dont support projects that are bulldozed like this at gunpoint, he said.

Khadse pointed out that his party had never opposed development and there was no question of opposing the Jaitapur project. He said that his party was concerned about the manner in which the government was pushing the project,despite protests from locals.

The Shiv Sena,on the other hand,has been open about its opposition to the project and protesters who clashed with the police on Monday were reported to be led by the local Sena MLA Rajan Salvi.

Incidentally,the central leadership of the BJP,a strong votary of nuclear energy,on Tuesday appeared to have slightly nuanced its position as it suggested there was a need for a debate on the safety aspect. The main Opposition party said such a debate was relevant in the light of the Fukushima crisis in Japan and the unrest in Jaitapur.

It said that a debate on the safety of nuclear reactors has already begun after the Fukushima incident. In Jaitapur,although the protests were mainly against land acquisition,there were environmental issues as well. Against this backdrop,BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said there was need for a debate on nuclear energy and on the safety aspect.

Meanwhile,MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar also said that his party was not opposing the Jaitapur project,but would not support the manner in which the government was bulldozing it.

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The division among the Opposition parties prompted Home Minister R R Patil to point out to Senas group leader Subhash Desai in the Assembly,It appears that neither your elder brother (the BJP),nor your younger brother (the MNS) is with you on this issue… do some introspection.

With ENS,New Delhi