Social activist Medha Patkar and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko spearheaded the campaign against India-based Neutrino Observatory Project in the district, at several villages here on Sunday.
During her campaign in nine villages between Andipatti and Thevaram, Ms. Medha Patkar was keen on mobilising rural women to fight against the project. Victory would not be ensured unless women joined the stir, she said. At many villages, she asked the rural women whether they knew about the INO project. “What did you know about the project? Do you know about its effects?” she asked the women. When the village women blinked, she explained about the project to them in a lucid manner. She said women were very powerful. They should use their power effectively to protect their rights over the land, water and livelihood activities, she noted.
Even when the crowd was very thin at many places, she was enthusiastic in discussing with rural women. Mr. Vaiko was very much upset at some places where the crowd was so thin. Reacting strongly to the absence of the panchayat president at a village, he recalled that the president was present in his last meeting. She might have been threatened by some persons, he said.
Mr. Vaiko also warned traders in Theni that they would also be affected by the project. There were huge crowds at Pudukottai and Thevaram. Mr. Vaiko cut short his speech in many places and allowed Ms. Medha Patkar to speak.