Amritsar, July 26 (IANS) The India-US nuclear deal should be signed at the earliest to secure the country’s future energy needs, former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Saturday.
“We should sign the nuclear deal at the earliest if the energy needs of the country are to be secured. This energy will be environment-friendly and cheaper in the long run,” said Kalam, who arrived here in the evening.
The former president will Sunday attend functions here and then go to Kapurthala district, 100 km from here, to visit the godman Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, who has been instrumental in cleaning up a rivulet.
Supporting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for pushing the nuclear deal despite domestic hurdles, Kalam described him as a visionary.
“Like his predecessor (Atal Bihari Vajpayee), he is taking these steps in national interest. I was shocked to see what happened inside parliament,” Kalam told reporters at the Rajasansi airport here.
He was referring to three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs waving wads of cash alleging that they were offered bribes to support the government in the trust vote over the nuclear deal.
Kalam said the showing of currency notes inside parliament was in bad taste.
The former president, who is an eminent scientist, said most politicians were not concerned with development issues.