British MPs and members of the European Parliament have signed a letter from South Asian anti-nuclear groups to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing “deep concern” over human rights and environmental issues around the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) which they argue “violates” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety guidelines.
The letter, to be handed to the Indian High Commission after a protest planned outside India House on Friday, also demands withdrawal of police and court cases against the anti-KKNPP protesters, accusing the security forces of “intimidation” and “harassment.”
“Non-violent protesters are being intimidated, harassed, imprisoned, and falsely charged. We understand that from one police station alone, charges have been brought against more than 50,000 people including about 6,500 for sedition and ‘war against the State' in the last eight months,” it says.
Signatories include Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell; Green Party's Caroline Lucas and its MEP Keith Taylor; and Kate Hudson of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
A spokesperson of the South Asia Solidarity Group said more MPs were expected to sign the letter, a copy of which would also be sent to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
‘Quake-prone region'
Calling for a “halt” to the project, the letter says it is a safety hazard as it is located in “a tsunami and earthquake-prone region.”
“It is also in violation of the mandatory requirement for construction of fresh water reservoirs which are essential in case of a nuclear accident. This is significant, because fresh water is the only remedy in the event of a nuclear emergency. The primary cause for all major accidents such as at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima was lack of fresh water,” it says.
It demands that all reports, reviews and information related to the nuclear plant be “made transparent and accessible to the public.”
The signatories say that they “fully appreciate” India's energy needs but argue that security considerations cannot be brushed aside. “We implore that alternative measures be investigated and invested in, rather than resorting to nuclear power plants in ecologically unsound circumstances,” they say.
If Bhopal culprit Dow chemicals is sponsoring the london games, Chernobyl culprit ASE is vending the kudankulam nukes. Both mean only business and nothing else. Both are loggerwoods of the same pond. Before criticizing the protest, Can anyone show a concrete proof that it is powered by foreign funds? We see umpteen news reports of cash seizures during poll seasons. Is there single instance of such kind reported from idinthakarai? Our Fmr Hon. CJ of Madras HC has also sounded in a similar fashion. Will you say that he also needs to mind about his business? Christianity triggering, Foreign Funds, Naxalism link, False sedition charges. All these managed to be remain only at levels of allegations. Never crossed beyond that. The protest has been great shape for more than 250 days. The people have chosen the best weapon of non-violence. Urban folks who just get deceived about electricity benefits, Re-think. Anyways, Thanks for your condemns. Protests just got bigger. GOD IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!
Q.1. Mr. UK’s MPs have you gone through the Expert Group’s committee’s report of India on KKNPP?
Moreover
(i). If the world’s community is really anxious about human being then first & at prime level it should advocate to get evacuated Japan from the native population as the entire Japan is situated on a land of tsunamis & earthquakes. But the Japanese will never & never & never evacuate their mother land. Japanese have learnt how to live on this type land and they are smart so Japan is a well developed country.
(ii). Some month before Japanese published a report – “Without Nuclear Power No Japan”.
Currently it says “Japan is going to end its NPPs”. Which statement is correct & why this type statement is coming this time?
(iii). India has four decades’ successful experience in its Nuclear Electrical Power Program. Till the date no casualty has been occurred in this industry. India is very much sure about its duties to the biosphere as well as the Indians.
In India, even the sequel films are not accepted by the Public. Dear
UK MPs,the old trick of divide and rule will not work again in India.
As far as Nuclear Power is concern,India is not behind UK.
As far as Nuclear Power Capabilities are concern, India started
leading the world in 1950s itself with Dr. HomiJ. Bhabha represented
India in International Atomic Energy Forums, and served as President
of the United Nations Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy
in Geneva, Switzerland. in 1955. India started constructing its first
commercial power reactor in 1964. Though, India’s nuclear installed
power capacity is less as compared with UK, but the capabilities are
matching and ahead in some areas.
IAEA teams are regularly visiting Plant site. News report was there
for IAEA's recent visit also. Let IAEA do their work.
I don,t think UK can teach us even on human rights after the
Jalianwala.
Its better not to indulge in our internal matters.UC (Union Carbide)
of UK need them.
India should take all pre-cautionaries to avoid any sort of eventualities in the wake of tsunami/earth quake.
There is absolutely high handedness by the law enforcing agency against the peaceful anti KKNPP protesters.The Govt should take the people into confidence,before full fledged operation of the KNNPP.We need power for the betterment of our people but it should not at the cost of their life.
who are those to argue anything about india's internal matters ? and the south indian group..i feel pitty for them...
First UK should abondon its nucler power programme. Currently UK is producing one sixth of its electric power from nucler power. why they are not shutting their nuclear power platns. it looks like that they are using a pressure tactic, so that they can sell their nucler power plants to india instead of Russia.
Union Carbide the Bhopal Killer company is DOW chemicals now. This company is a sponsor at London Olympics. These British MPs should first look in to this shameful British affair before telling anything about India related issues. We know what to do with Idinthakarai or KKNPP.
Is UK afraid that India might become a nuclear power?
India should not be thinking nuclear, when the rest of the world is very clear on no nuclear. We should instead invest and promote renewable energy. With our population rise, we sure will need more energy, and if nuclear is the easy option out, please do it properly, with ample safety precuations. Actually our policitians are imbecile to understand environment, cant blame them, we dont have minimum qualification to enter politics. The smart few are not 'leaders'
I think we have a right to pursue our own goal of energy self sufficinecy using all the means available. Our record to date has been good. There are worries though about lack of transparency in the decision making process.
Have the authorities taken all the precautions recommended ? Is there a plan of action should a natural disaster take place ? One wishes we could have a more enlightened and less emotional discussion from all parties. This is still possible and should be hoped for.
It's a shame on the part of british MPs to interfere in the governance of other nations. They can't even rule their own state properly and they're suggesting us to take care of safety, etc. Manmohan must send a strong message saying "Mind your own business". There ain't british raj in india any more.
It's a shame on the aprt of british MPs to interfere in the governance of other nations. They can't even rule their own state properly and they're suggesting us to take care of safety, etc. Manmohan must send a strong message saying "Mind your own business". There ain't british raj in india any more.
What were they doing when the project was started. If you have real concern for poor people or the environment, first ban DOW chemicals sponsor for the Olympics. Clear ur backyard first then point at someone.
The Indian government doesn't even gaurentee fresh water for citizens and doesn't have long sight of solving it's water needs & disputes. But spends billions on nuclear stations. Is water or is electricity essential need for the Indian citizens?? Power is requried for multi national corporations to run their BPO and manufacturing plants. Who cares about citizens dieing because of polluted water or farmesr commiting suicide as they don't have enough water to farm.
It is our late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who signed the agreement for Kudankulam with Russia 2 years after the Chernobyl incident. Which country leader would have dared to do this? Our leaders do not have any concern for the people. Overnight they have become nuclear experts and began to support nuclear energy. Just doing an analysis on the growth of these politicians wealth in short time and how they were earned will tell you whether to believe in these politicians or not. They will talk/do anything to be in power.
The moral and technical platform from which UK MPs choose to lecture us is on a mound of quicksand. Healer, heal thyself first! Why can't they go and lecture to their government to return all the stolen riches to colonies before coming here and talking to something we are paying money for and built ourselves. Representatives of oil spillers and thieves is lecturing to someone who is trying to build things themselves. And look at their presumptuous, half-baked, technically ill informed statements
The spooky "foreign hands" that our prime minister saw behind the protest against KKNPP has now come in full public view. It's MPs from different European countries that are egging the protestors on to derail the project and castigating government of India for its alleged highhandedness. Where were they when the project itself was at an inchoate stage? Kudankulam has not been built overnight. Why are they assuming that no risk assessment study has been conducted or the security aspect has not been looked into? In March 11, 2012 The Hindu published an article written by the Site Director and Chief Engineer that dealt with these issues to allay fears regarding the plant. I can understand the concern of the people living around the plant but I don't think they are being adequately informed by the vested interests who are stoking up fear of disaster by drawing analogy with Fukushima and Chernobyl. Instead of adopting an inflexible and nimby attitude they must listen to what scientists say.
I agree with Ganesh. Rather than protesting as an outsider, suggesting alternatives and offering help to make the alternative works might have been a better move.
India should politely remind British MPs not to get involved in the internal afaairs of India. They may better look into their archives and learn more about the autrocites commited in India when they colonized it. All those treasures looted from us including the Kohinnor,Tippu's sword etc are to be returned to India. We did not see this MPs reacting when Bhopal caused thousands to die. Their own prime minister vouched for the presence of wepons of mass destruction in Iraq. Spoiled the future of thousands of Iraquies by telling lies. India can be taken care of by Indians. Whether it is due to the influence of church or genuine wish to keep Indians in perpetual poverty, your getting involved in this is not correct.
An Indian middle class citizen after all only need power to cool him off during hot summer. If the British MP's arrange for a British Govt or private sponsored training workshop in Cities and villages to produce electricity cheaper cost using solar panels at roof tops it could be a welcome move. Instead plain objection is not worth.
Its now high time that the whole world should unite against existing and proposed nuclear power plants through out the globe. Only because of the powerful nuclear lobby the leaders of the weak nations are ready to kill their own people by accepting nuclear power. It is now proved beyond doubt that nuclear energy is dirty,dangerous and obsolete. Powerful nations like Amerika, Japan, Germany, Switezerland,Sweeden, Italy even France have decided to phase out nuclear power from their country. The countries like Japan ,Germany,USA having
half sunlight hours/ year than India trying to shift their electricity generation to sunlight. India fortunately has innumerable renewable resources of energy like sun,wind,bio-mass,bio- gas,tidal-waves etc. With very little honest reaserch our scintist can make India self-sufficient in electricity generation. Even India can,because ample sun-light available,supply electricity to nebouring countries. Why kill our own people for selfish motive of a few?think!
India should go ahead with its own need. Dont heed what others say....Only India know what it need. The people who oppose developmental plans like going nuclear energy or tie up with middle east for the oil/energy are actually stopping India's growth. Its like kicking away the developmental ladder.
Those who are indulging in demonstration.....hey, people you know what kind of disservice you are doing to the nation?
Go India, go......Be a leader of your own
oh okay, so the unnamed foreign NGO are British! Next we need to see who
is helping them, need to see the majority in that constituency where
these Labour party members are from.
I am sure this letter was signed by UK MPs after taking money from the lobbyist, this is a common practice in UK and many of them including ministers have lost their jobs for being very close to lobbyist. So this letter does not really mean anything and all they care is about their own bank accounts. Who are these MPs to give lessons to India? Had the reactor been built by UK, they would have said its absolutely safe to have. the government should give a damn to these guys, go ahead and commission the nuclear plant. That's the only way to secure India's growing energy needs
As suspected for long,it now becomes evident that foreign groups played an active
role in disrupting the KKNPP,a vital requirement for our country's ever growing
power demand. Its astonishing to see the guts and arrogancy these colonial countries
trying to dictate India and meddle in its internal affairs. These countries have
nuclear tipped war heads positioned against many countries, including India.Trivial
reasoning by these rogue nations should not stop our country's progress.Extreme
stress for that matter by mother nature can't be compared here.
Look who is preaching peace. Scoundrels and war mongers of the west,stay away
from India. You have caused enough blood path,poverty and economic destruction
all over the world.These hypocrites will not raise a finger against China for all the
atrocities on human rights and Tibet for all the best reasons they know.
who the hell are these MPs? India is free country and no longer a british colony.
the fact is we need energy and nuclear energy is one of the best options. I will believe more in the assesment done by dr. APJ Kalam which this paper had published.
The people who don't even belong to our country can understand the
consequences faced by people if something happens at kundakulam
nuclear power project(kknpp), but why dont our politians understand
the problems occurs due to these plants..........please look at the
siutation, other alternative resources can be utilised apart from this
dangerous plants which are causing many effects to human and
environment....... mr.prime minister you are for the people, not
against the people. Coming to its safetyness "you know how much our
country is safe? this is india........mr.prime minister"
The British, it seems, do not like India to become prosperous. Why don't you "knowledgeable MPs" suggest alternate methods of energy conversion? Do you think the scientists in India are not interested in the welfare of the people around Kudankulam? We know the human rights records of the British very well. Please keep away from the internal affairs of India.
The people from Tamil nadu who approached the British MP's need to be
arrested for sedition. If all the citizens of India approached Britain
to solve local issues where is the sovereignty of our country ?
The main antagonist is an Indian Christian. Maybe he is now getting
Christian support from around the world.
Mind your business Europe.Just because it is a Russian project you try
to hamper it.We know about our problems better than you.Help else keep
mum and get lost!
Even though Britain has not given up nuclear power, she has come forward to recognise the gross rights violations of our government in suppressing peaceful protests and refusing to part with vital information. With nuclear power programmes the world over, from year to year being only gigantic consumers of high quality energy, with none forthcoming to society outside the nuke industry, it is legitimate to pause and reexamine the wisdom of nuclearisation.
The true mischief makers behind the protests have now emerged out in the open,
nations troubled by the rise of the BRICS nations
to all foreigners(anti-nuclear)
it is my humble submission that we are sovereign state, and we will decide the energy alternative keeping our resources and demand in mind.
i think that you have funded those anti nuclear NGOs, people of India know about their needs. let me tell all anti nuclear agents that it is the best nuclear power plant in the world.
MYOB - Mind your own business and stop your anti-India activities.
This is absolutely an unnecessary involvement by the British MPs in the
Indian affairs. They should first stop the London Organizing Committee
of Olympic Games from taking the sponsorship of Dow Chemicals.
There are a number of nuclear power plants in the EU and UK. The West seem to gang up to prevent India getting more electricity in order to curtail its progress. There is is no war, agression or human right issues. The MPs should mind their business and should not interfere with the internal matters of another country. Bin the letter.
Seems to be a desperate attempt of U.S. motivated protests to choke the
country which is already facing lots of problems on economic front
(think about the large trade deficit, negative industrial growth among
other problems). And who says, that boron loaded seawater cannot be used
to cool reactor. For an accident of level 5 or above on INES scale (as
with the case of three nuclear accidents mentioned in the article), we
are anyway not going to use the reactor again. So the question of the
seawater rendering the reactor unusable is meaningless.
Dr. Singh should shred it and Mail back Mr. Cameron. It is India's internal affair which no should meddle in. If it is violating IAEA regulations, IAEA knows how to handle the issue.
India needs energy. Next Western Governments are going tell India it burn too much coal, petroleum and India is polluting the environment. It is all ploy to keep and other developing countries poor so the old Western powere can exploit them and feel superior.
Appreciate the safety concerns, but foreign countries must not use this as an opportunity to arm-twist Indian Govt.
These British MP's are delusional and still thinks that the "Raj" is still there, if they
think that any Indian gives a dam about them, they are mistaken.
These British MP's are delusional and still thinks that the "Raj" is still there, if they
think that any Indian gives a dam about them, they are mistaken.
These British MP's are delusional and still thinks that the "Raj" is still there, if they
think that any Indian gives a dam about them, they are mistaken.
This is not colonial period. Who are these UK MPs to give orders to
Indians. At first they have to make their house in order.
Members of Parliament in U.K or in any other country has nothing to do with development projects, that too a power plant in the southern corner of the country. The hand of the Church is quite visible and it is well known that the agitation is spearheaded by the priests in the southern district. Church is putting pressure on the MPs in U.K. and the church and the NGOs supported by the Church have started to spread the agitation outside the country as they were doing till recently in Sri Lanka. It is high time these elements are snubbed by the secular government in India.
Looks like the blasted bomb issue is gonna blow up ion his face, metaphorically. The Blue Turbaned PM has a very good secret plan and agenda to cut down the population of the subcontinent to a manageable 600 millions. That means wiping out 50% of the population by the shortest and most effective method. The guy , I mean MMS is in his 70s, and he has got one foot in the grave already. He has nothing to lose at this stage in his life. He doesn't give a damn if 600 or even all the 1.2 billion beings in India live or perish like ants and maggots. He sounds like maniacal Reverend Jim Jones of Guyana, who killed nearly a 1000 poor believers in his revival tent, forcing them all to drink Cool Aide laced with cyanide.
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