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India’s anti nuclear activists are still patriotic Indians

Anti-nuclear stand is not anti-national: activist, Manorama Online, November 17, 2011  Chennai: “Being anti-nuclear power does not mean one is anti-national,” an anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) activist said Thursday referring to police cases slapped on protesters and the allegations of foreign backing for the stir.

“Police have been registering cases against those who are participating in the anti-nuclear power plant agitation, including the church priests. We request the cases to be withdrawn by the state government,” M. Pushparayan, convener of the Coastal People’s Federation, and a member of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) that is spearheading the anti-KNPP movement said.

Pushparayan is also one of the members of a committee constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to allay the fears of the local people.

Police have booked 78 cases against agitators including MDMK leader Vaiko, activist Medha Patkar, Bishop Yvon Ambrose of Tuticorin and PMK president G.K. Mani.

Top brass of Indian nuclear establishment alleged that the activists were supported by foreigners.

Queried about some the questions PMANE had given to the central government-appointed expert committee, Pushparayan said: “All our questions are related to the livelihood of the fishermen and their safety.”
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. is building two 1,000 MW nuclear power reactors with Russian technology and equipment in Kudankulam, around 650 km from here.

Villagers fear for their lives and safety in case of any nuclear accident and the long-term impact it would have on the population.

Their agitation has put a stop to the project work, thereby delaying the commissioning of the first unit by several months.

In order to allay the fears of the public, the central and the state governments have formed two separate committees. The state panel includes representatives of the PMANE, including Pushparayan.

Pushparayan said the second meeting of the two committees was slated for Friday.

http://english.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/mmonline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?channelId=&contentId=10450855&programId=1073750974&tabId=1&contentType=EDITORIAL

November 19, 2011 - Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear

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