Protesters soften stand on Koodankulam plant
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In the wake of the state government constituting a panel to resolve the Koodankulam nuclear power project (KKNPP) issue, the people’s movement against nuclear energy (PMANE) on Monday offered to withdraw the protest if most locals favoured the project. It also demanded that the panel visit all villages and towns that may be affected by the plant.
“We hope the team comes to our villages, talks to our people and takes a decision after considering the sentiments of the people. We have no problem if a majority of people in the affected area favours the plant. Our team will step out immediately,” PMANE convenor S.P. Udayakumar told reporters here.
The anti-nuke activist said his organisation would be happy to work with the panel if it took a decision in a democratic manner.
However, he warned that PMANE would continue its stir if the locals thought the panel was not doing its job well. He said they would submit a request to chief minister Jayalalithaa that the panel have clear terms of reference, mandate and timeline.
Mr Udayakumar said he would file a criminal defamation case against MoS in PMO V. Narayanasamy for alleging that he received money from foreign sources.
The minister has not provided any proof or replied to queries on where the money came from, on what date and which account the money was received, he said.
On home minister P. Chidambaram’s comments on the money received by him to run the protests, he said, “If I am proved guilty, I am ready to face any kind of penalty, including death penalty.”
Denying charges of foreign funding for their protests, he said they receive only voluntary contributions in cash and kind from fishermen, farmers, merchants and women beedi workers.
Asked if PMANE had invited the AIADMK and DMK to their anti-nuclear meet here on February 26, he said they had invited the AIADMK, as it is the ruling party, but not the DMK which was for nuclear power and whose MP Kanimozhi recently supported the Indo–US nuclear deal.
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