Bangalore: Kalam Backs Nuclear Deal with U.S.


The Hindu

Bangalore, Jun 26: The former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Wednesday said the nuclear deal with the U.S. will prove beneficial to India.

“Until the time that our scientists produce thorium-based nuclear reactors from our thorium deposits which are second largest in the world, we will require uranium to sustain our energy requirements for which the deal will be important to us,” he said.

Mr. Kalam was speaking here at the monthly alumni meet of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB).

As he spoke to the gathering of students, parents, alumni, and the press, he spoke about various problems that India faced, which could be solved with the help of creative leadership.



(Former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at special elite event at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore on wednesday)

In the area of agriculture and agro-processing, he emphasised the need for technology and innovation so that the chain could generate employment in rural areas. “In the field of energy, we should gain energy independence by 2030,” Dr. Kalam added.

He said that to use solar and wind energy was important and set the goal for production of 65,000 MW through the renewable energy sources by 2030 for India.

Dr. Kalam said that his mission of Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) would be to penetrate to six lakh villages throughout the country with the help of 7,000 PURAS. Another point that he highlighted in his speech was the interlinking of rivers which he considered India’s largest project ever so that it would facilitate easier travel through waterways and help build energy sources.

As part of his Vision 2020, he said: “If through the next 10 years we had a sustainable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 10 per cent and brought the inflation rate down by 5 per cent, we will be economically developed by 2020.” However, answering a question he said that it was not enough to take the GDP as marker of growth.

“Ideally, we will require a National Prosperity Index which equals our GDP plus the percentage of the 220 million people below the poverty line that we are able to lift up every year,” he added.

In response to a question from a child about development in the face of environmental degradation, he said “With solar and nuclear power, and bio-fuel we will be able to envision a future wherein cars can stop at a bio-fuel gas station and fill ethanol or bio-fuel.”

Linking the IIMB graduates to this process of development, he said, was crucial. By being creative, having a vision and being noble managers, they could transform India into a knowledge society, he added. IIMB director Pankaj Chandra and chairperson Abhoy K. Ojha were present.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • A.D'Cunha Shenoy, Mangaluru

    Fri, Jun 27 2008

    Pro-tech, Pro-nuclear and and perhaps Pro-US Ex Pres.Kalam now appears to be endorsing the the nuclear deal with US as beneficial. But is it beneficial? Perhaps, yes and perhaps no. No body knows including Kalam. While I am not a nuclear scientist, based on what I know nuclear energy is non-renewable unlike wind and water power and solar. It is expensive,unsustainable and could be deadly if proper safeguards are not in place.

    The nuclear waste generated cannot be disposed off safely and require thousands of years of storage. The fine details of this deal has not been made public but the opponents perhaps know the details and so they are opposing.

    Besides any deal with US is in the best interest of US and not India. US will ever not sign deals with any nation unless they benefit out of it. India has huge amounts of garbage, may be billions of tons and energy can be produced out of it like Switzerland and Sweden which is enviornmentally friendly. Solar and wind are other viable sources and India has plenty of it. Major oil companies are opposed to development of nuclear energy in US and US has only perhaps under 20% of its emergy coming from this source.

    US wants to sell its Uranium to India and this is the best bet it has and other vested interests. Again India's national security is in jeopardy by disclosing many details of our nuclear programme to US. CTBT signing may be another requirement. So overall unless all details are made public we have to depend on the opposition as a safeguard and a deterrent to signing this deal with US.

    So again Pres Kalam has to step back and ask politicians to disclose the fine details to the public because it is the public interest, national security and enviornment which is more important than the deal with US.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • donfrank, Mangalore, India

    Thu, Jun 26 2008

    I fully agree with our former President, Mr. Kalam. The Left parties should support the UPA Govt on this issue. The nuclear deal with U.S is good for India in all respects. The Left parties are infected with some kind of "anti-US Virus". Even Communist China has got a very good relationship with US, eventhough both are ideologically opposed to each other.

    Let us be more practical and support our Government on those issues which are beneficial to all citizens. Eventhough BJP has initiated the nuclear deal(when they were in power), they are opposing it, purely for political reasons. It is really a pity! A responsible political party should not play dirty politics. I admire the courage of Congress who are ready to sacrifice power for the sake of this important and useful nuclear deal. Jai Hind.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Alfred J. Rebello, Kundapur/Dubai

    Thu, Jun 26 2008

    Our ex-President Sir APJ Kalam is a person of Vision which our honourable politicians are lacking. If they had, then Sir APJ Kalam would have still be our president. Our politicians do not have vision but division. They only think how to make quick money by dividing Indians, be it religious, caste or rich & poor.

    If they had vision, the nuclear deal would have signed by now so India could generate ehough energy it needed to devlop the nation. But some polititians think otherwise, the nuclear should be used only to kill. Yes, if somebody attacks or thinking to attack us by nuclear, we have the right to use it at any time irrespective what agreement we make to procure nuclear material to develop the nation.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Shrinath Shet, Udupi / Muscat

    Fri, Jun 27 2008

    Its true...India will get more benefits / advantages as it signs to teh deal with America. People who protest this deal should analyse this once again, and should think about the development of the nation.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Captain Stanley Latif Correa, Urwa Stores/Jeddah,Saudi Arabia

    Fri, Jun 27 2008

    President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has given a wonderful speach at IIMB. Now all politicians & Govt. must come to the conclusion & listen to Dr. Kalam advice & go ahed with Nuclear deal with US as soon a possible. Politicians must listen to Scientist & his recommendations. Thank you.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Max E Rasquinha, Mangalore/Houston, Tx

    Thu, Jun 26 2008

    The prevailing Thorium deposits in India as well as the research that has already been carried out by India is perhaps the best trump card that India possess while negotiating the Nuclear deal with U.S. This is the best turning point in the history of India/U.S. relations. God bless India and America.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Bangalore: Kalam Backs Nuclear Deal with U.S.



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.