The Crossbill Team
The Congress on Monday (February 10) accused the Modi government of making a policy reversal by announcing amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010.
The party alleged that the move was aimed at appeasing French and American companies, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visits to these two countries.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh in a post on X, recalled that on February 8, 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs had released a booklet titled ‘Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010 and Related Issues’.
He also stated that when asked whether India had agreed to amend the CLND Act or its 2011 Rules, the government had explicitly stated: “There is no proposal to amend the Act or the Rules.”
“Q3 said the following: ‘Has India agreed to amend its Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 (CNLD Act 2010) and the CNLD Rules of 2011? If not now, would they be amended in the future?’ The Answer given to this Question by the Modi Govt then was the following: ‘There is no proposal to amend the Act or the Rules.’,” Ramesh said on X.
However, Ramesh pointed out that in the Union Budget speech on February 1, 2025, the Finance Minister announced plans to amend the Act, marking a sharp policy shift.
"On Feb 1, 2024, the Finance Minister in her Budget speech announced that this Act will be amended. The U-turn has been done clearly to appease French and American companies since the PM is travelling to these two countries over the next four days," he alleged.
He further noted that negotiations with these companies had been ongoing for over 15 years.
The Congress leader also emphasized that the CLND Act, 2010, was passed after extensive debate both inside and outside Parliament, with the late Arun Jaitley playing a crucial role in shaping the law during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
“The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, was passed after considerable discussion both in and out of Parliament. As Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the late Arun Jaitley, had played an important role in crafting this law,” Ramesh pointed out.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit France from February 10-12, where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following this, he will travel to the United States for a two-day working visit from February 12, during which he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and engage with business leaders and the Indian diaspora.
The party alleged that the move was aimed at appeasing French and American companies, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visits to these two countries.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh in a post on X, recalled that on February 8, 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs had released a booklet titled ‘Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010 and Related Issues’.
He also stated that when asked whether India had agreed to amend the CLND Act or its 2011 Rules, the government had explicitly stated: “There is no proposal to amend the Act or the Rules.”
“Q3 said the following: ‘Has India agreed to amend its Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010 (CNLD Act 2010) and the CNLD Rules of 2011? If not now, would they be amended in the future?’ The Answer given to this Question by the Modi Govt then was the following: ‘There is no proposal to amend the Act or the Rules.’,” Ramesh said on X.
However, Ramesh pointed out that in the Union Budget speech on February 1, 2025, the Finance Minister announced plans to amend the Act, marking a sharp policy shift.
"On Feb 1, 2024, the Finance Minister in her Budget speech announced that this Act will be amended. The U-turn has been done clearly to appease French and American companies since the PM is travelling to these two countries over the next four days," he alleged.
On Feb 8, 2015, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a booklet called Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010 and related issues.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 10, 2025
Q3 said the following:
"Has India agreed to amend its Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of… pic.twitter.com/3b2N3ppZxR
He further noted that negotiations with these companies had been ongoing for over 15 years.
The Congress leader also emphasized that the CLND Act, 2010, was passed after extensive debate both inside and outside Parliament, with the late Arun Jaitley playing a crucial role in shaping the law during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
“The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, was passed after considerable discussion both in and out of Parliament. As Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the late Arun Jaitley, had played an important role in crafting this law,” Ramesh pointed out.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit France from February 10-12, where he will co-chair the AI Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following this, he will travel to the United States for a two-day working visit from February 12, during which he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump and engage with business leaders and the Indian diaspora.
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