10th October, 2016: President Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS), Senator Sehar Kamran (TI) has raised strong concerns over reports of a radioactive leak at the New Delhi airport. The airport was reportedly sealed off ‘after officials suspected a consignment containing radioactive material had leaked.’
Senator Kamran said this incident raises further serious question marks on the credibility and reliability of the Indian state machinery when handling radioactive material. She highlighted that unfortunately, this was not a stand-alone incident, but merely an ‘add-on’ to the list of nuclear and radiation-related accidents which have occurred in India. The world has not yet forgotten the death of the scrapyard worker in Delhi in 2010 due to radiation poisoning, an accident that also injured an additional seven people, she added.
Senator Sehar Kamran also called upon the global community, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member states to look into India’s abysmal track record of nuclear-related accidents as they move towards the next NSG plenary session where discussions will be held over the Indian bid for full, unilateral membership. The core premise of India’s application is its claim to being a responsible nuclear power, but what we continue to witness, even if the past is ignored, is contrary to such assertions. Senator Kamran further state that a formal investigation ought to be launched to investigate this matter properly.
Same version of the article appeared in The Nation