Seeking Tamil Nadu government’s cooperation in the commissioning of the stir-hit Kudankulam Nuclear power plant, the Centre today said the anti-nuclear protestors should be dealt with an “iron fist”.
“In the name of protests, these persons are creating roadblocks against the welfare of the country and Tamil Nadu even as the Centre is taking all steps to help the people of the state by providing electricity,” Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said.
Speaking to reporters at a function here to mark the release of a 30-minute short film on the need for Kudankulam power plant, Mr. Vasan said the State government should control the protesters.
“The protests are going on for about nine months now. Tamil Nadu government should control them and deal with them with an iron fist,” he said, adding, all doubts and apprehensions about the safety of the plant and related issues had been addressed.
On the budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Mr. Vasan said it laid the foundation for future growth. It had provisions for shipping sector which would help in its growth, including capacity expansion of ports and more import of dredging vessels due to the various sops announced, he said.
On the issue of the U.S.-supported resolution against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes at UNHRC, Mr. Vasan said the State unit of the Congress had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking New Delhi’s support for the resolution.
Keywords: G.K. Vasan, Kudankulam protests, nuclear power, Tamil Nadu politics
Only goes to show that politicians are brokers with no real committment to anybody but themselves. One day they will hob nob with protesting people the next day once their deals are made they shamelessly swith sides with the oppressors of peoples rights.
For Vasan all things which is not pleasing in Sonia or MMS sight we
should deal with Iron Fist.Mr Vasan lets first built houses for all politicians next to nuclear plants then we are sure safe.If a CBI inquiry on the money spend on Kundankulam is made many will be behind
bars.(KK Power Plant is in construction for approx 20yrs.Built by
Russia, a country which has most number of nuclear accidents)
This anti nuclear protest is illogical and impractical. Why protest only in kudamkulam? Being democratic india, then it should be protest against all nuclear installations.
Nuclear power is a must for electricity and we can only demand for safe and clean use.
Vasan is right,( may be slightly undipolmatic), this agitation must be stopped and power plant opened immediately.
case of few holding development is unfortunate and is a bane for indian democracy--read petty politics, holding the development.
Exactly, Mr Vasan, why bother with democracy? Let's just get rid of all those people we don't like. And as for the budget, you are also right Mr Vasan, its a wonderful budget. Increase tax on gold industry and reducing subsidies is a fantastic way to promote growth. (Note: I am being sarcastic)
I am neutral on the project, but these are some shameful statements that reflect the central government's colonial mindset. Why do you consider us your slaves, Mr. Vasan?
even our houses won't withstand a quake but we do live in it.kudankulam has state of the art safety features even the hindu supporting it.even recently an engineer from kalpakkam said that he has been there for more than 20 years and he is completely safe. people over there get cancer due to smoking.already many companies have started moving towards gujarat.im a college student.i can even accept that i have to go to other states if i want a job but my most favourite cities chennai and coimbatore are deprived from developing.trivedi hiking prices so that railways will get an additional 7k crore but we dont take steps to bring 25lakh crore black money.personally have a great affection to that k plant.nobody is taking a serious effort to commission it.i thank mr.vasan and request narayana swamy to continue their efforts in commissioning it at the earliest.udayakumar should die in a bad way for making innocent +2 students to study with mobile lights.but the scenario will change one day!!!
I understand that the words used by the minister are bit non-democratic, but i am in complete disagreement with the people protesting this project. I don't know what people want? We have got the technological robustness approval and safety measures from nnone other than but the most credible person in the field of science i.e. Ex-President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam. This project will not only aid the Tamil Nadu state to tackle the demand-supply gap in electrity issue but will also set a benchmark for further development of nuclear plants, which have helps in fighting against the climate change. The protestors making hue & cry over the safety but nobody has asked for details on the safety comparison with international benchmark, ridiculuos.
I feel the ongoing protest totally misuse of democratic power given to citizens. Any right under constitution should not be excercised in a manner that hampers the growth of state or country. Lets excercise our powers to help country grow only.
Vasan, First spell out your stand on the Genocide of the SL Tamils. Deal the local Tamils with iron fist and provide red carpet welcome to Murderers who killed more than 500 Indian Tamil fishermen and one lakh SL Tamils. If by any chance accident happens in Kudankulam, I see a similar attitude by the central congress government and DMK. These guys are good at flip-flopping and do not be surprised if they blame the locals for any accidents at the NP site.
I am shocked, though not entirely surprised, that a Union Minister
should use such language. Our ministers and MPs need to be educated in
how democracies function. To protest is a right. Moreover this rhetoric
of 'growth' used so liberally by the government cannot override concerns
of nuclear safety, especially in the wake of Fukushima.
@Sentil Kumuran: Activism is the beauty of any Democratic Sate, but when you overstep the line and start comitting crimes is when the State has to take action, it is high time these activists stop these criminal activities as they are not considered civil anymore. It is very clear the plant is safe and we have acute power shoratge hiting every working person's life-so I think Mr. G.K Vasan is right.
"Deal with anti-Nuclear activists with iron fist: Vasan". I doubt we are living in communist China or Former Soviet Russia, and this words shouldn't come from the Union Shipping minister. He must realize that in democratic India everybody has the right to protest, if they realize that something that gonna hurt them, and so they did, against the nuclear power plant. Every nuclear scientists in the world are well aware that no nuclear plant in any part of the world is safe, and the paltry benefit that we achieve from nuclear plant must be commensurate with grave consequence. The job of a democratic government is make sure the safety of its people rather than making its people as guinea pig for the pharmaceutical giants.
Dear Mr Vasan! Don't act like a dictator. In a democracy the rights and security of common man must be safeguarded. The villagers of Koodankulam area want 'safety' only. Don't threaten them like a monarch. The congress regime neglects the rights of poor man. Congress leaders are not at all worried about the lives of common man. That's why they are supporting the 'MURDERERS 40,000 innocent civilians (mostly women and children killed mercilessly by the shelling at hospitals and schools against all international norms). I doubt the intention of congress leaders whether they want to eliminate entire Tamil community!
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