“Shashi Tharoor” Asks for Shanti Bill in Parliamentary

December 17, 2025

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday strongly criticized the SHANTI Bill, 2025 proposed in the Lok Sabha, saying that in its current form, the law could pose a serious threat to public safety and national security.

Demand for Parliamentary Inquiry

Tharoor demanded a detailed and bipartisan review of the bill, urging it to be referred to a parliamentary standing committee. While acknowledging the importance of energy security, he questioned the government’s approach to “hasty privatization.”

“We are discussing a framework that will determine India’s strategic direction for decades to come,” he said, adding that the bill creates ambiguity in areas where complete clarity is necessary.

Questions on Safety Standards and Compensation

Tharoor expressed concern over provisions that relax safety standards. Citing Section 44, he said it empowers the government to exempt nuclear plants from licensing, which could create a dangerous regulatory vacuum.

He also criticized the compensation system, saying that despite global inflation and lessons learned from nuclear accidents like Fukushima, the compensation limit remains at around ₹3,900 crore. He also called the 10–20-year claim limit unreasonable, as radiation-related illnesses often manifest too late.

Privatization and Civil Rights Concerns

Tharoor also objected to the proposal to open the entire nuclear fuel cycle to the private sector without strict standards. He warned that this could create a “systemic risk,” where profits would be private but responsibility would fall on the government in the event of an accident.

Raising the issue of civil rights, he opposed the provision that gives only the central government the authority to file criminal complaints against erring operators. He argued that this would deprive affected communities of their right to independent justice.

Tharoor appealed to Parliament not to rush through the bill and to conduct a fair and thorough review, prioritizing the safety of future generations over political expediency.