Khangura to PM: Akali-BJP foolishness should not deny Punjab nuclear power - 02/12/2009
CHANDIGARH, December 2: Qila Raipur MLA Jassi Khangura today urged the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to seriously consider the plea for a nuclear power plant for Punjab as the state was faced with severe power crisis. Khangura also sought to clarify the stand of the Punjabis towards the Indo-US Nuclear deal in view of the opposition to the deal by the Akali and BJP MPs when it came for voting in July 2008.In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, Khangura assured him that most of the Punjabis, including some MPs of the Akali Dal were also in favour of the deal and wanted to support it. “Let me assure you that he (Badal) did not speak for all Punjabis when he pressured his MPs, many of whom were inclined to support or abstain, to stand against you during the trust vote last year”, he said, while adding, “he (Baddal) simply spoke for himself and his son, Sukhbir Badal, and against progress for the State”.
The Qila Raipur MLA said, vast number of people in Punjab recognise the desperate power deficit status of the state and appreciate the efforts to alleviate the power issues of the nation through the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. “When the common man struggles daily to run his business, the farmer to irrigate his fields, and the student to do her homework, all due to a lack of power, it is time to seek action”, he observed.
Khangura said, “it is high time to plead with the Prime Minister not to ignore the otherwise unheard voices of Punjab which are drowned out time and again by the despotic shouts of the father son duo who profess to be leading us to a brighter future, but in fact are consigning us, quite literally, to darkness”.
Making a passionate plea for a nuclear power plant for Punjab, he urged the Prime Minister to re-consider the case (for nuclear power plant) and also re-assess the situation and, if necessary on grounds of border issues or population density, allow Punjab to place its nuclear power station outside of state boundaries.
Khangura urged the Prime Minister to constitute an exploratory committee that will research and recommend on providing nuclear power, and, therefore, a future, to the people of Punjab.