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A week ahead of the government's trust vote, he strongly defended the nuclear deal, saying it will be beneficial for the country in the long run.
Questioning opposition to the deal, Gandhi said it was similar to the criticism his late father Rajiv Gandhi faced when he introduced computers in the late 80s.
"At that time all thought it (decision to introduce computers) was ridiculous. The argument given that time was how will it benefit farmers," he said at a press conference in Amethi.
Gandhi said the Prime Minister has shown ‘vision, tenacity and leadership’ by deciding to go ahead with the nuclear deal.
"If the nuclear deal involves risk, I will tell the Prime Minister to take this risk again and again," he said.
Gandhi said, "The nuclear deal is fundamental for India's future. It is fundamental for energy, the power situation here (Uttar Pradesh). It is fundamental for the nuclear industry. It's important for India to become a large player. No right thinking person will argue that it is bad for the country."
He said across the political divide there was support for the deal.
"There are people in BJP and other parties who are 100 per cent for the deal. I don't understand why there are people opposing the deal. So if somebody argues that it is bad, then there is a feeling it is political."
"It is not only Rahul Gandhi but every young person in the country who is bound to support the deal because it is going to change the future face of the country," he said.
When it was pointed out that this had led Congress to align with Samajwadi Party, a party it had opposed earlier and the new alignment may hurt Congress in the long run, he said, "My point is, we will stake whatever we can."
On the opposition to the nuclear deal, Gandhi said the telecom and IT revolutions- launched by his late father Rajiv Gandhi-- in the 1980s had faced similar opposition.
Gandhi said, "The deal would make India a global player in the nuclear industry. The situation today is the same like the 1980s when the telecom revolution was set in, followed by the computer and IT revolutions."
"I remember during my childhood when my father was doing this (ushering in the computer and IT revolution) people used to say it is completely ridiculous. Various arguments were given. Some said how do the farmers gain from it and today almost everyone has a computer. And some have it on their watches," he said.
The scion of the Gandhi family said he considered the nuclear deal ‘fundamental’ for the country as it goes into future.
"It is a landmark for the energy situation and the nuclear industry is going to benefit all of us in employment, especially for the youth," he said.
He praised the Prime Minister for his stand on the nuclear deal. "I am proud that Manmohan Singh has given the country vision, tenacity and leadership. Today you may say that it only involves generation of 3 percent of energy but you never know our bright scientists would make it 70 per cent. I believe in this," he said.
"The young leaders across the party line who have talked to him have been supportive of the deal. I have talked to many young leaders across the parties. They support the deal and are convinced about it. They say they don't understand why their leadership is opposed to it," he added.
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Nuclear energy has waste disposal problems but it is manageable. France is doing an execellent job. Solar energy is not exactly cheap energy. People in USA are spending lots of money to put solar panels on their roof before thay get any benfit out of it. Over time they also need expensive repairs. Nuclear energy if used properly is clean and cheap. It will also help in India in future to get access to other high technology which is also part of the deal. The issue is about economic progress of India. This trust vote has become a pure political issue. Those who are voting have only their selfish political interest at heart. Just for a change they should think about India's progress or else no body should vote for them again. Advani knows very well that if BJP is in power he'll sign exactly the same deal, he cannot do better. As I said in India political interest is more important then India's progress. It is a sorry spectacle of democracy. Vote should be in favor of UPA.
I agree with Rahul, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ‘vision, tenacity and leadership’. I add 'sincerity'. Rahul shares similar traits. Stop painting him as a typical seasoned politician basking on or exploiting family name. He is not. His views and actions are progressive and timely.
BUT NOT OK TO SIGN NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY.NOT OK TO SIGN UNDER PRESSURE, YOU DID NOT EXPLORE SOLAR ENRGY FULLY, NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPING IN USA COST 50 BILLION DOLLAR, HOW AND WHEN IT WILL CREATE JOB? SOLAR WILL CREATE JOB TOMORROW AND INDIVIDUAL WILL CONTROL THEIR OWN JOB......................RAJESH DHARIA -----USA.
Dear Advanaji,Lets show some political maturity and kindly ask your party men to abstain the vote on 21-22 July in parliament. As for the elctions which shall come in another four months evenafter the Congi wins the trust of the house. By this astute move the BJP will throw the hammers,spanners and name it in the game plan of the Laloos,Chats*,Red Brigade and the likes. We do really require a nuclear non-apertheid regime for India and this would be the initial steps to go through when the iron is hot. Who says that you have to be fed by the Yankies all the time, this a CPM slogan. Please, I repeat please show political maturity and mark my word this oppurtunity if lost will never bestow the BJP with power for atleast another couple of decades. The commies are gone. Just abstain and criticise the Congi about the loopholes and let trust goto PM Manmohan. Have you thought what will be the BJP's response when our friend RahulJi comes on the scene?? Imagine.Doubtless, you'l have fodder?
if you have seen two demo of bomb blast one for benazir and another one in afganistan,...................RAJESH DHARIA .....USA
Kudos for Rahul, for supporting the nuclear deal, he is the face of young india. He surely spells the future of india which looks beyond conservativeness and boring old ideology about envisioning a future and always assessing everything thats in the past. Thats what the thinking of parties of BJP and CPM are! Living in the past and always keeping personal interest more important than India's interests. Cool! way to go
Our PM is a pro American.he proved it many times.this deal is against to india.a politician can be a good "economist" but a economist never ba good politician.
Now it is accepted that MMS is just a PM for namesake, all powers rest with Sonia and Rahul.
WHOLE COUNTRY IS WITH HON'BLE PM. CONGRESS WILL WIN FOR SURE. WE NEED THIS DEAL FOR POWER.JAI HIND, VICTORY TO INDIA.
Everybody should see the IAEA site. India is the only country planning Nuclear Power in a big way. US established only one plant after 1996. EU countries except France are not at all showing ant interst in Nuclear plants. Here US just trying to dump their old technologies into our country . WE slaves simply appreciating. What a fate !!!!
U shut up Sreevalsan, go to China with u r very very limited knowledge. We don't need people like u.
It is good that Rahul has comeforward to defend N deal how PMO office and Amar Singh are not enough to this job.George Bush may not be happy to know it.
All Indians are to be welcome the Nuclear deal betwen India
Since when did Rahul, a failure at everything he has touched, become an expert on nuclear engineering? The power shortages are due to failed economic policies of his family starting from his great grandfather!Also he will "tell" the PM? Interesting!
guess please,who is pappu in the movie jaane...I believe the song suits rahul gandhi..
The bold steps taken by the PM is really appreciable. Go ahead, the whole Nation is with you Sir
One wonders if the issue now is the N-deal or toppling of the governemt? Commies never pretended that they don't support the N-deal because it is anti China and pro USA. They forget that they live in a democratic country where majority don't like the Chinese. BJP ignores the N-deal and they have only one aim to topple the government. They don't care if the N-deal is good for India. Akalis don't support the N-deal because they don't like the Congress party but they believe that N-deal is good for India. Smaller parties say " N-deal is good for India if we get what we want from the UPA and if we don't then N-deal is bad for India". All these assholes are ready to sell out their nation for their own greed. I wonder what the people of India think that is if they can think without prejudice?
"I wonder what the people of India think that is if they can think without prejudice?", can you ? Try yourself first. Is it only Congress which think in national interest ? Amazing logic.
If congress wants national interest then they should have discussed Nuke bill with all parties , evolved consensus.
pappu kaunI guess rahul gandhi
We know that you are a converted Christian by your Italiano mother. You were long baptised before the congress and recently the SP
Now the Richi Rich speaks and how audaciously. He will tell and not request. After all Congress workers know who is the boss.
Now, super PM of India has given its clearance to MMS. Rejoice MMS ji. But what about soaring inflation, internal security, division of society on religion/caste lines, taslima fleeing from country, periodical snubbing of China etc. Super PM is silent on these issues. Indian Express is also helping these floc of politicians. You may see pictures of Rahuls, Amars and so on now a days in abundance.
I wonder if Aks is aware of the inflation rate in rest of the world? If he were an educated man he would know that the food price inflation in China is over 20%. In the UK it is well over 8%. In Thailand it is over 13% and so on. Indian food inflation is less than 7%. It is easy to criticize without knowledge and without having to answer. In Uk inflation is well over 11% whereas India is better placed to keep inflation low than any other country.
What is any one creditable performance whivh UPA can show? To say inflation,fuel prices are global phenomenon are escaping points. They want to show this nUke deal as one point but its being done in a manner which puts all democratic principles to shame. Open bargains, lists , bribes, cajoling,threats, corporate help-> all for a national cause.
Congress supporters always fall back on lies. Inflation rate in US is 5%, Australia is 4% EU is 1.9%. People also read overseas newspapers not only your comments in IE. I live overseas and I know the inflation rates.
To "Wow", To educate you further the reason why inflation rate is low in US is because they do not add price increases associated with fuel and transportation to the inflation rate! If we add the fuel price increase the inflation rate in US is almost 15%. I have been living in US for a very long time. The price of petrol has gone up from $2.50 to $4.10 in ONE year. That means just the fuel inflation is 90% in a year. What do you say now? If you go to a grocery shop the price of almost every single item has gone up by 20% to 25% on average. So "wow" is totally wrong and "Anant" is right!
Many pens have roared at Rahul for saying he must say.But frankly out of 542 odd MP's how many actually understand about this deal or atleast do they know any thing about this deal. Very unfortunate to leverage personal gains for national security.
Let's make it very clear here that all our politicians inclduing the corrupt ones are fully aware of Nuke deal or any other topic of current affairs. They pretend to be ignorant but they are not. We should not underestimate them.
Where was he before ? Eating in dalit houses ? Could Congress ass suckers tell us how this illitrate parasite has become "nuclear scientist" ? India has degraded itself to insignificant country, even Chad doesn't give two hoots to India. Congress walas, keep sucking to Muslims for votes.
Computors came in use in India before Rajiv become PM. Whan Rahul talks of his father....he has to start how he was made PM, How Bofors scandal happened, How collected funds from feuding Gujarat famine victims...etc. And the best of all is he ready to work under Manmohan Singh defying his grooming as next PM?
Instead of telling the poor, nominated PM Rahul should have advised his mom long before to take the risk again and again. He can advise her now also but the question is whether the country will listen to his advice. For the time being it is better if he sticks to family fiefdom Rai Bareily and Amethi.