The divide within the Left Front appears to be deepening as West Bengal Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee came out in support of nuclear energy in India.Bhattacharjee today said the debate was more technical than political. "As far as I am concerned, we should go ahead with nuclear power, it just cannot be avoided," he said. Bhattacharjee's response was to a direct query on whether he supported the Indo-US nuclear deal and nuclear power as a source of energy at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) national council meeting - a gathering of some of the biggest industry captains of the country.Even as the Left parties warned the central government on Sunday that only a government without their support could go ahead with the deal, Bhattacharjee came out in support though he mentioned that there were some doubts on environment impact, cost of setting up nuclear plants and pricing of power. "These will have to be properly assessed by scientists, planners, economists and corporates," he said. He also said that the power supply in West Bengal would have to increase. "Problem in our state is 96% is thermal power. India is basically dependent on thermal power, it may be different in the northern parts of the country," he said.Speaking specifically on the prospects of nuclear power in the state, he said : "Let the scientists debate for some time, and then we will take a call."Nuclear deal apart, Bhattacharjee had to field many uncomfortable questions from the industry captains on the dichotomy in the stance of the Left Front at the centre and state levels.On Left Front at the centre versus state, Bhattacharjee said in a lighter vein, "Relations between Delhi and Kolkata are not that bad.""We always debate among ourselves on FDI, SEZ, retail, and try to get a consensus. In the last five years, there are some very important issues that have come up at central committee meetings," he added.Responding to a query on whether the changing face of West Bengal had brought about change in the mindset of people, he said serious mistakes were committed in the 1960-70s but that is history. Communist parties across the world "in China, Vietnam -are changing. We are also changing."
