The police foiling the CPI (M) from commencing its jeep jatha to explain the people about the dangers of establishing a nuclear power plant at Kovvada in Srikakulam district, at the RK beach on Sunday evening and taking into custody the party leaders, was condemned.
The CPI (M) held a silent rally with the participants tying their mouths with black bands at the Maddilapalem junction. Party leader P. Mani said Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was not able to tolerate protest against his actions and using police to brutally suppress dissent. Undeterred, the CPI (M) decided to start the jeep jatha on Tuesday morning. Mr. Narasinga Rao would flag off the jatha at Maddilapalem junction.
The Human Rights Forum (HRF)’ district committee said it was highly undemocratic to forcibly stop a peaceful campaign which was meant to convince and sensitise people on the perils of nuclear power.
District president M. Sarat and general secretary N.N. Srinivasa Rao said HRF wants nuclear power rejected because it is intrinsically hazardous, extremely dangerous and is a deadly legacy for future generations. Accident at Fukushima plant was the recent chilling illustration and the Kovvada plant is a great risk to a vast area. Nuclear power was actually more expensive than power from conventional sources, HRF said and demanded that construction of all new nuclear power plants as well mining for uranium stopped and the existing nuclear plants decommissioned.
The All Pensioners and Retired Persons Association said it was not proper to suppress one’s opinion in a democracy. Its president B.T. Murthy and general secretary PVSLN Sastry said it was imperative on the part of the government to clear doubts about the Kovvada nuclear power plant because not a new plant was established after the disaster at Chernobyl N plant in Russia and why the plant was shifted to Kovvada from Gujarat.
