Kerala - Alappuzha   

Indo-U.S. nuclear deal need of the hour: Ravi

ALAPPUZHA: Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has said that the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal will not in any way compromise national security and that such deals are necessary for the country’s development.

Inaugurating a district-level study camp of the Congress at Pathirapally near here on Saturday, the Union Minister said India was moving forward to be among the world’s top five countries by 2010 and for that, it was necessary for the nation to develop its nuclear strength.

Nuclear power did not necessarily mean nuclear bombs, he said, pointing out that India’s electricity requirement was estimated to be around 2.3 lakh MW by 2010. The domestic production was only 1.3 lakh MW now. With some of India’s nuclear power plants facing shortage of raw material, it was necessary for India to sign such deals.

“Even Left countries such as Korea, Vietnam, China and Russia have changed their attitude in accordance with the changing times and benefiting from such changes. The communists in India should change with the times and should not hinder the country’s development, which they have been doing all these years,” he said.

The Left parties’ attitude would lead to the downfall of the nation as had happened with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics earlier, the Minister said.

P.J. Kurian, MP; K.C. Venugopal, M. Murali, and B. Babu Prasad, MLAs; Alappuzha District Congress Committee president A.A. Shukoor; and others were present at the inaugural session.

Congress leaders from various parts of the district are attending the two-day camp.

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