New Delhi: The Congress party launched a scathing criticism of the Central government over the passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill in Parliament.
Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh alleged that the bill was “bulldozed” through Parliament to serve American interests and help the Prime Minister “restore SHANTI” with his “once good friend”, without taking the name of US President Donald Trump.
Trump recently signed the US National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, which makes specific reference to joint assessments between India and the US on nuclear liability rules.
Ramesh said the US legislation includes a section that refers to consultations with India on aligning nuclear liability norms.
“President Trump has just signed the National Defence Authorization Act for the US Fiscal Year 2026. The Act is 3,100-pages long. Page 1,912 has a reference to the joint assessment between the United States and India on Nuclear Liability Rules,” the Congress leader posted on X, sharing screenshots of the section that talked of the above-mentioned clause.
“Now we know for sure why the Prime Minister bulldozed the SHANTI Bill through Parliament earlier this week that, among other things, did away with key provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. It was to restore SHANTI with his once good friend,” Ramesh stated.
“The SHANTI Act may well be called the TRUMP Act – The Reactor Use and Management Promise Act,” he claimed.
The SHANTI Bill, passed by both Houses of Parliament after prolonged debates, will introduce sweeping changes to India’s civil nuclear framework.
President Trump has just signed the National Defence Authorization Act for the US Fiscal Year 2026.
The Act is 3100 pages long. Page 1912 has a reference to the joint assessment between the United States and India on Nuclear Liability Rules.
Now we know for sure why the Prime… pic.twitter.com/bGdAOXh9pA
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 20, 2025
Earlier in the day, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi also hit out against the BJP-led Union government over “bulldozing MGNREGA.”
“It is very saddening to see that the government has now run a bulldozer over MGNREGA,” Sonia said in a video message, adding that she was “determined to fight this black law”.