Indo-US nuke deal came at the right time

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MUSCAT --The nuclear deal with the United States will help energy-starved India a great deal, and the Indians by and large support the controversial deal, claimed K.B. Ganesh Kumar, a regional party leader in the state of Kerala in India.

In an exclusive interview, the actor-turned-politician, who is in town said the deal would help in shoring up the shortfall in energy in India.

"Many of our plants are now starved off uranium. There is no other way to get uranium except by entering the mainstream," he said, adding that the political positions taken by parties, particularly the Communists, do not represent the mood of the country.

"Such political leaders do not necessarily represent the mood of the nation. I strongly believe that Indians support the deal," he said adding that the deal would certainly help states like Kerala that needs energy in large quantities. "If you take Kerala for instance, the amount of power required is huge and this deal will certainly help the state to overcome the crisis," said the gentle, likeable and friendly former transport minister.

Criticising the Communist parties for their stand on the deal, Ganesh Kumar said the Communists had been opposing every step taken by Prime Minster Manmohan Singh. "It has now become a hobby of the Left to oppose everything. They were against the deal with the US but did not raise a word against France when India signed a very similar deal with that country. We cannot understand their ideology. Left parties are not the nationalists we thought they were," he said.

Ganesh alleged that the Left parties had one set of parameters for their government in West Bengal and Kerala and another for the country. He claimed the ruling Congress party-led government was instrumental in building a strong infrastructure for the country which was the reason for its development. "Now students from abroad are coming to India for higher studies while a few years ago it was vice-versa," he said.

Asked what had forced him into politics suddenly, the veteran actor who became the youngest minister at the age of 34 in the A. K. Antony's Cabinet, said it had not been a sudden decision and he had always wanted to serve the people.

"I always wanted to do something good for the people and I thought politics was the best way for it. I could use my position for the benefit of the people. That is what I am doing now. I am doing charity through politics."

Son of veteran politician K. Balakrishna Pillai, Ganesh started his film career in 1984 in the movie Irakal.

Asked why, unlike other actors he had not got a hero image in the state, Ganesh pointed out that Mohanlal and Mammooty had already established themselves as ultimate heroes when he came in, and during his early days and there was no scope for publicity as it was against the law.

"Mammooty and Mohanlal were already established and it was very difficult for yet another actor to become a hero. Moreover, in those days, publicity was against the law. After few years Jayaram came in as the hero. He was lucky because by that time they had scraped the rule against publicity," he said.

About his upcoming projects, Ganesh said he was doing three movies with Mohanlal. Asked how he managed his time between movies and politics, the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) said that when the assembly was in session he wouldn't commit to act in movies.

By Nishad Anwar

© Times of Oman 2008