US funded NGOs blocking India's energy programme - Indian PM

*Funds earmarked for leprosy treatment used for NGO backed protests

*India's genetic engineering projects too targeted

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lashed out at American funded NGOs for thwarting his country's atomic energy programme that could stall the development of the country's fast growing energy needs.

In an interview with Science Magazine, Singh did not mince his words when he said that Americans had a role in the crisis at the Russian aided Kundankulam atomic power station in Tamil Nadu, where local NGO led protests stalled the commissioning of two 1,000 megawatt nuclear rectors for months.

American NGOs fund the protests that hold India back from building the nuclear reactors it needs to meet fast growing energy needs, the Indian Premier told Science Magazine.

"The atomic energy programme has got into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the United States, don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply," he told the magazine.

According to the Hindustan Times, Dr Singhs' observations were amplified the next day by the Minister in charge of the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy who said the licenses of three NGOs were cancelled following reports that they had diverted funds to fuel protests against the nuclear project. "The people who are agitating near the plant are being brought there in trucks from various villages," he said.

The government official said NGOs had received foreign funds for implementing social projects' such as providing aid to the disabled or getting rid of leprosy. But they were used to organize anti- nuclear protests instead.

Meanwhile, Premier Singh's charge that civil society groups were misusing funds from America and other Western countries to stoke protests at the Kudankulam nuclear plant saw Russia, the joint venture partner, claiming it had suspected this all along.

Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadarin backed Singh's remarks stating that the Russian side had also been suspicious of foreign involvement in the plant's construction .The observed situation naturally gave rise to a variety of questions. he said

The India Times quoted Russia's envoy as saying six months after the Fukushima tragedy, all these protestors raised their voices. They were sleeping for six months and then all of sudden they raise their voices against the most secure, the best and safest (Nuclear power) station in the world.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of Centre initiating action against certain NGOs opposing the Kudamkulam nuclear plant, Congress' Maharashthra Unit demanded a probe into "motives and funding patterns" of private groups and Shiv Sena that are opposing the Jaitapur atomic power project. State Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant in his letter to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office VNarayansamy has sought a probe against the NGOs associated with the stir and Shiv Sena, who is spearheading the campaign against the project.

"If any body is working against national interests, the Centre will take action," he said

Premier Singh also blamed protests against genetically modified crops on groups he said were funded from the United States and Scandinavian countries.He hit out at the Americans when he was asked why the Centre had placed a moratorium on the release of BT brinjals.

"Bio technology has enormous potential, and in due course of time we must make use of genetic engineering technologies to increase the productivity of our agriculture. But there are controversies.

"There are NGOs often funded from the United States and Scandinavian countries which are not fully appreciative of the development challenges that our country faces."