New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday found an
unusual ally in VHP leader Ashok Singhal on the issue of
interlinking of rivers when the latter agreed with his views.
"River interlinking is a dangerous project," Singhal told
reporters here, adding VHP had been protesting against the
project in the past too.
The plan to interlink rivers across the country was
initiated by the BJP-led NDA government which said this would
ensure equitable distribution of water and thus deal with
recurring floods and droughts.
However, last week, Gandhi had said he was against
interlinking of rivers as "it is a disastrous idea. It is an
idea that will be extremely dangerous to the environment of
the country".
In a veiled attack on NDA, Singhal described supporters
of river interlinking projects as "non-serious".
However, in reply to a question on whether he supported
Gandhi`s reported contention that investment in small water
bodies and reservoirs should be encouraged, Singhal expressed
doubts about the depth of his knowledge on rivers and Indian
culture.
"Rahul has said what his father Rajiv Gandhi used to
say. He initiated the Ganga Action Plan. Rahul is not wiser
than his father...Rajiv had some knowledge but his son has
nothing. He has no idea of river Ganga and our culture," he
said.
Singhal, who was addressing the media on behalf of
Ganga Raksha Manch said large hydro-electric projects on
rivers were creating a havoc on the ecology.
"Instead, we should concentrate on smaller projects
which will not stop the flow of rivers, including Ganga and
help produce electricity," he added.
He said more investment was required in alternative
source of energy, including atomic energy, wind energy and
solar energy.
To a question on whether he supported the Indo-US
nuclear civil agreement which will help country produce
nuclear energy, the VHP leader said "thorium and not uranium
was the future fuel to run power plants in the country".
"A former President has also said that we should
invest in thorium as we have large reserves. There is a
conspiracy being hatched against India to invest in uranium
plants," he added.
Criticising the Prime Minister, he said Manmohan Singh
agreed to US` plans to use uranium as fuel for power stations
without raising any questions.
Bureau Report
