Civic groups, A-bomb survivors blast Japan-India nuclear power deal

The dignitaries of Varanasi also presented gifts made by local artists to Mr Abe and Mr Modi during the banquet. “It tells you the seriousness with which Japan looks at its economic prospects in India”, he said.

The ancient temple town, situated less than 15 kms from Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first sermon upon attaining enlightenment, boasts of a special place in the religious and cultural consciousness of Japan as well as most of the South East Asian countries with sizeable Buddhist populations.

“This enterprise will launch a revolution in Indian railways and speed up India’s journey into the future”, Modi said.

“The two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to work together for India to become a full member in the four worldwide export control regimes: Nuclear Suppliers Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group”, said the statement.

CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat condemned the Indo -Japan nuclear agreement and said that this agreement is against the sentiment of people of not only India but also of Japan after they witnessed the Fukushima disaster.

Japan’s deputy chief cabinet secretary, Koichi Hagiuda, insisted to reporters Saturday that cooperation under the pact – the negotiations for which have lasted five years – would come to an end in the case of India carrying out a nuclear test, Kyodo news agency reported.

The Indian prime minister said Japan’s decisive role in India’s economic transformation will matter the most in realising its economic dreams.

The two sides also inked agreements – one concerning the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology and another related to Security Measures for Protection of Classified Military Information.

Bilateral relations between India and Japan have been strengthened through efforts of successive governments in both countries, he said.

The Prime Minister mentioned recent economic indicators in both India and Japan, and said these were extremely encouraging, especially in the light of the global economic slowdown.

Announcing the India-Japan Railway cooperation, Modi said India greatly appreciate Prime Minister Abe’s extraordinary package of approximately 12 billion United States dollars and technical assistance, on very easy terms, for this project.

“Japan also has agreed to implement the concept of Japan industrial townships in India”, Jaishankar said. He stressed that the close relationship between the two countries was important from the strategic point of view.

Modi also welcomed the setting up of “Japan-India Make in India Special Finance Facility” of $ 12 billion by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japan will assist India in training of personnel for HSR.

He also said that this year Japan has made a decision to offer 600 billion yen ($5 billion) under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) to India for infrastructure development.