nuclear-news

Indian police intimidating Jaitapur anti nuclear protestors

“In a democracy, we reserve our right to express our opinion against the project. But, the authorities can in no way prevent the people from opposing the project. My party stands solidly by the villagers opposing the JNPP,”

Uddhav to CM: Rein in cops riding roughshod over Jaitapur protestersThe Pioneer (India), March 4, 2011, Mumbai, — Shiv Sena’s executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday evening lodged a vehement protest with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan against the manner in which the Ratnagiri district police were trying to “intimidate” the villagers crusading against the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project.

Three days after he contested Chavan’s charges that “outsiders” were fuelling opposition to the JNPP and that the Sena was making “political capital” out of the situation, Uddhav met the Chief Minister and asked him to “rein in” the police officials indulging in “atrocities” against the villagers opposing the 9,900 MW nuclear power project.

During his hour-long meeting with the CM, Uddhav said that while the people of Madbhan and surrounding villages in Rajapur taluka of Ratnagiri district were peacefully opposing the JNPP, the district police were trying to “suppress” their agitation through “intimidation” tactics like the arrests of those leading the protests.

The Sena leader said that his party not only condemned the “atrocities” by the police officials against the anti-JNPP villagers, but also stood solidly behind the project-affected villagers. “In a democracy, we reserve our right to express our opinion against the project. But, the authorities can in no way prevent the people from opposing the project. My party stands solidly by the villagers opposing the JNPP,” Uddhav told the chief minister.

http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/from-the-wires/wire-news-display/1371505820.html

March 5, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, India