For the first time in the past seven-and-a-half months, the police acted against the anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project protestors on Monday when the law-enforcers arrested nine anti-KKNPP protestors, including the two members of the anti-KKNPP struggle committee.
All the nine, including anti-KKNPP struggle committee members S. Sivasubramanian and K. Rajalingam, all from Kudankulam, were arrested at 12.45 p.m. when they were standing opposite Kamaraj Statue near the main entrance of the upcoming nuclear power project. Though Kudankulam parish priest Rev. Fr. Thatheus Rajan was also present at that time along with the protestors, he was allowed to go.
The protestors, who were detained based on the cases already filed against them ever since the anti-KKNPP struggle intensified in mid-August, were taken to an undisclosed destination for interrogation.
Speaking to The Hindu over the phone from Idinthakarai, anti-KKNPP struggle committee convener S.P. Udayakumar said Tirunelveli Collector R. Selvaraj had contacted him on Sunday evening shortly after the Sankarankoil by-poll was over and asked him and Rev. Fr. Jayakumar, parish priest of Idinthakarai, to come for talks at Tirunelveli for some clarifications on the doubts raised by the protestors over the hydrological, oceanographic and geological implications on the KKNPP.
"When I raised my suspicion over the intentions behind asking only two of us for the talks and that too immediately after the end of the Sankarankoil by-poll, the Collector allowed three more – M. Pushparayan, S. Sivasubramanain and Rev. Fr. M.P. Jesuraj – to participate in the talks and I turned down the suggestion since I had the apprehension that we could be arrested. Again we declined the offer for talks at Radhapuram travellers' bungalow, fearing arrest. Strengthening our fears, over 4,000 police personnel have been deployed in this region," Dr. Udayakumar said.
Even as deployment of police personnel at Chettikulam, SS Puram intersection, Kudankulam and the intersections at Vairaavikinaru, Thomas Mandapam and Kooththenkuzhi, all on the Kanyakumari – Tiruchendur Highway, and also near the main gate of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project were going on, the police smoothly executed the arrest of anti-KKNPP protestors, triggering tension at Idinthakarai, situated just four Km away from this spot, and other coastal villages.
Following the police action, St. Lourdes Church bell was sounded at Idinthakarai to alert the residents and to ask them to converge in front of the church. Speaking to the protestors, Dr. Udayakumar said that the Tamil Nadu Government, following the footprints of the Union Government, had started acting unilaterally without understanding the sentiments of the public on KKNPP. "Protesting the police action and the immediate and unconditional release of the detained protestors, we start indefinite fast immediately," he announced.
Against this backdrop, news of Tamil Nadu Government's Cabinet resolution favouring the commissioning of KKNPP reached Idinthakarai, triggering ripples among the protestors.
"We had complete faith in the Tamil Nadu Government… But, succumbing to pressure from the Union Government, the State Government has passed a resolution in favour of commissioning of the nuclear power programme and started acting against the (anti-KKNPP) protestors," Dr. Udayakumar said.
Keywords: Police action, Kudankulam protests, nuclear power, Tamil Nadu politics, Kudankulam nuclear plant, nuclear energy
we (i am German) adore Indians for their intelligence and spiritual wisdom but at the same time i am deeply shocked about so much agressive ignorance. what will you do with tons and tons of nuclear waste that will be dangerous to life for ten thousands of years! think ! there are other solutions for shortage of power. What a shame for the country of Gandhiji !
Good sense prevail at last. Great news for TN power crisis. TN should bargain and get a good share of power generated. I think Udayakumar needs to be put in a dark room without electricity for a week this summer.
Consider this- If we know and is proved that the plant is 100% unsafe, still if the government wants it to be commisioned it will and it can do.
Democracy is a just form of autocracy where a layer of lies 'for the people, by the people' hides its cruelty from the people.
Action now taken by the Govt of Tamil Nadu is a necessity since there
is no other way.So the people of Idinthakarai and and other local people
cooperate with the Govt to run the plant.
This is an extremely disheartening situation and more disheartening are the comments! It doesn't really take that much of an effort to understand the gravity of a situation like Fukushima; yet the nationalistic fervor being evoked to support the 'go-ahead' to nuclear reactors. If you just goggle the debates on energy alternative from nuclear sources, it is clear that what Manmohan or his pack of nuke-hounds like APJ or Kakodkar or Srinivasan (whose deceitful proactive 'solution-to-everything' attitude epitomise the analogy of pimps in the market)publicly claiming as nuke energy as solution to energy crisis, is grossly misleading. It is not economically viable (see the global dataset compiled in the scholarly publications of MV Ramanna et al.). And precisely that's the reason why there's a significant global decline in last couple of decades in commissioning new plants (Germany has completely withdrawn). And the questions of safety can't be left aside with pimps' assurances at least!
Foreign NGOs are the culprit. I recommend Ragiv Malhotra's "Breaking India" and "Being Different" to everyone here. These are must read books for everyone including College kids, corporate leaders, politicians in India. We can understand how US and other countries have undermined India's growth in the past and are continuing to underming us now. These NGOs play the role of "hunter/gatherers" as per Shri Rajiv Malhotra and they are a willing tool in the hands of these foreign Academics and Judeo-Christian institutions and enable the undermining of India. We should all be better informed about it.
Finally Ms Jayalalitha has proved herself as coward; a traitor! If she
is bold, why did she not utter any word about KKNP before the
Sankarankoil Byelection.
During her previous tenure, she tried to demolish Queen Mary's college
(India's First Women College) at Chennai; removed the Kannagi Statue
from Marina Beach.
In this tenure, she gave a big obstacle for learning in schools for 3
months; attempted to block Equitable Standard Education in Schools.
No distinguished Scientist around the world gave a clean chit to
Nuclear Power Plant; No NPPs are with 0% risk. Evacuation of people if
a disaster happens is a huge problem in a densely populated nation.
The protesters are requesting for the safety of even the future
generations. Once the effluent mixes the sea, aquatic animals can not
survive. A situation will arise forcing the Koodankulam fishermen to
go in search of good catch of fish thereby they also may be prone to
the attack of Lankan forces!
Sethusamudram Project was suspended under superstitious belief. That
project will not destruct any human being; but Ms Jayalalitha blocked
the project under superstitious belief. Crores of money were spent in
the project; SS project will not bring any disaster to the mankind; if
it is implemented South Tamil Nadu will be flourishing. But many
politicians including Ms Jayalalitha has blocked the project.
It is an established fact that Nuclear Power Plants are not at all
safe; very vulnerable to disaster; without disaster also it will infect
the people with many fatal diseases. This is not superstitious belief.
Why the govts at the centre and the state are interested to commission
the disaster prone Nuclear Power Plant at Koodankulam. The people are
protesting for a genuine and noble cause. The Govts. can not threaten
the poor villagers with its police force.
It’s shame that the govts. at the centre and state are undermining the
established facts for superstitious belief. Hence Ms Jayalalitha gave a
RED signal to SETHUSAMUDRAM project and shows a GREEN signal to
DISASTER PRONE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
In a democracy, the people representatives must work as per the
aspirations of the people. They can not function as a dictator. If they
function as a dictator , time wil teach them a good lesson.
Time to Occupy Kudankulam forever - to prove that the spark of sense prevails over quarks and nonsense.
My dear people.
If you all are thinking that this would stop power Cuts , then I am sorry , it is wrong. Nuclear plant is a
Central Govn Property.
TN will get only a part of the production, and that too will solve only <20% of the actual needs of TN.
No body knows correctly, "Whos i Udaya Kumar". Just by hearing the Media News Sont curse him. I am not
supporting him.
But, I am supporting the poor people staying around the Nuclear Plant. For sure they will have some kind of
problems because of the radiations. That is 100% true. People like u all staying away from Nuclear reactors can
talk all Rubbish, but your back will burn only when it is near your stay.
The CM has shown extreme political acumen in biding her time to curb the
unpatriotic protesters.This decision earlier on would have posed law and
order problem for the conduct of bye-poll in the district.All would be
aware that the result of this would not have any impact on her party or
govt.Hence the dragging of feet.Persons in positions have perceived this
and waited and watched.
I am happy at last that the Chief minister of Tamil nadu has taken a
very wise decision which would make Tamil nadu a place where industries
would glow.
A complete"U"turn By Ms.Jayalalitha CM of Chennai,however for the benefit of Chennai in the power front at this hour of need.The KKNPP protesters might have been taken aback by this sudden change in her decision to go ahead with the commissioning of the power project.But the mute question remains and still to be answered on the issue is why the CM kept quiet all the time in restraining the agitators from their war path for long when the project was safe in all aspects and benefits the sate in the power front as per the versions of eminent persons like Dr.Abdul kalam and Mr.Kakodkar.
Finally some action. Welcome it whole heartedly !!
All those people who are inciting the pooor farmer and peasants should
be lodged inside the jail indefinitely so that the project could be
commissioned right away. The people are being misled by these religous
organisations for their own personal interest. The people would benefit
in a huge way after the plant is commissioned and brought online.
Vilappinsalai Protesters against dumping of waste from Trivandrum City
was won by the peoples power last month. Even the High Court of Kerala
order of sending the police did not work. High Court wanted army to
come. But the people kept fighting NON-VIOLENTLY. Ultimately people
won. Here the power of the women is bigger than Jayalalitha and
Mammohan Singh. The People of Indinthakarai are saying that we do not
want to be the Victims of Nuclear Plant, like the Vilappinsalai
people. PEOPLES NON VIOLENT AGITATION IS MORE POWERFUL THAN POLICE AND
ARMY. THIS WAS WHAT MAHATMA GANDHI TAUGHT US TO FIGHT AGAINST THE
BRITISH EMPIRE AND GLOBALIZATION.
thomas kocherry,thomasksa@gmail.com,www.thomaskocherry.com.
If one fails to understand the language of Mahatma (Gandhi-Non Violence) after all attempts have failed then one has to speak the language of PUT-IN (Law-Corrections)even if that fails I think any state is left with no choice but to speak the language of Stalin(Violence & Murder) lol
At last a welcome move and a sigh of relief to the people of tamilnadu. let kudankulam protesters shed their ego for good of tamils
Good decision by the government. Hope the instigators are arrested and put behind bars. They can continue their fast from there.
Political game has caused a delay over seven months in commissioning of a power plant which would provide safest and quality power at an affordable cost. It would lead to economic development and social uplift.Ths hindarance to India growth story is petty politice biggest
Let Udayakumar fast unto DEATH. No tears only Cheers!
Kindly Request Media Not to give any Oxygen to People like Udayakumar
i think the decision of tamilnadu government is excellent in the interest of the country !
Enough is enough! This irrational and illegal agitation went for too long while the state starved for power. Police should act farm but measured while detaining the misguided protesters.
And finally the truth prevailed. Succumbing to the public pressure and
taking into consideration the acute power crisis the State is facing,
the State Admn. had no other way but to act tough against the Anti
nuclear lobby. The extensive coverage received by the anti nuclear
lobby did not have any takers finally and those who took law in their
hands will feel the heat soon. A determined administration under the
leadership of Madam J with the support of hon'able PM at the centre
will soon resolve the power crisis being experienced in the state and
will place the state in the first position as far as development is
concerned. The anti developmental activists masquerading as the
wholesale dealers of environmental issues are no one but enemies of
our motherland. Realise their evil designs and let the history throw
them to the dust bin of history.
Long live Nuclear Power! Long live Madam J and PM Dr.Singh.
Anti nuclear protesters ought to have realised that in a democratic
set up few disgruntled cannot hold rest of the community to ransom on
fanciful and imagined grievances. The action of the Government of
Tamil Nadu does not comes a day too early.
A good dat for the people of Tamil Nadu reeling under power cuts and power holidays!!
Relief at last !
Though a correct decision was taken at last - however the way the whole drama was enacted and waited for the byelection to get over and then pass the cabinet resolution - reflecting the cunning attitude of the party in rule should be condemned - which some people will sometimes call as shrewde politics!!!. One has to be true to what we do and say to get peoples support for ever!!.
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