Anti-nuke protesters take to sea

The intensified protests was launched by PMANE to prevent loading of fuel for which regulatory authorities gave the approval recently

PTI | September 13, 2012



Stepping up their protest against the atomic power plant here, anti-nuclear activists on Thursday stood in sea waters forming a human chain off nearby Indinthakarai coast.

Taking a leaf from 'Jal Satyagraha' activists in Madhya Pradesh, the activists of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) stood in the waters close to the shores in a new turn to their year-long protests.

Police, whose presence has been strengthened in and around the sea shores with additional forces, have beefed up security along the coast to prevent any untoward incident during the day-long protest.

The agitators have put forward four demands - stoppage of the process of fuel loading in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, drop the plan to arrest anti-nuclear movement leaders, adequate compensation for those who suffered losses and release of those already taken into custody.

The new form of protest came even the whereabouts of PMANE leader S P Udayakumar remained unknown after he did somersault on his offer to surrender before police after the protest turned violent that led to police firing claiming the life of one fisherman in Tuticorin district on Monday.

The current bout of intensified protests, including the failed bid to lay siege to the plant, was launched by PMANE to prevent loading of fuel for which regulatory authorities gave the approval recently.

On September 10, the Madhya Pradesh government had agreed to the main demands of protesters who undertook a 'Jal Satyagraha' in Khandwa district, saying they would be given land as compensation and height of Omkareshwar Dam would be reduced.

The entire Kudankulam town had almost been sealed by police since yesterday with the personnel taking positions at strategic places, especially around the KNPP where the preparations for loading of enriched uranium are underway.

Police said they conducted a house-to-house search for PMANE activists, wanted in connection with Monday's incidents, in the Tsunami village near here last night.

Comments

 

Other News

Gandhian movement after Gandhi failed: Ram Guha

The Gandhian movement in India, after Gandhi’s death, failed, says Ramachandra Guha, and blames Vinoba Bhave for it. But the movement found new, fertile grounds around the world and succeeded in bringing about a change in South Africa, the US and elsewhere. It is high time it returned home. Of cour

When religion, politics and Bollywood come together

Tavleen Singh, noted journalist and political commentator, has turned to fiction, with her debut novel ‘The Actor’ (HaperCollins India). Set in the near future, it has a superstar, Amit Singh, turning to politics, when the political landscape is dominated by prime minister Guru Gaynendraj

Cabinet approves setting up of Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority

The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the setting up of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), called Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority (ITLA), to strengthen research, planning, appraisal, monitoring and impact assessment within the broad domains of Transp

Why foundational literacy and numeracy is key to school education

Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) are often described as the building blocks of education. Yet, their significance goes well beyond a child’s ability to read a sentence, write a response or solve a basic mathematical problem. These foundational skills shape how children understand the world,

When police data becomes the algorithm

For decades, policing has followed a familiar sequence: a crime occurs, the police respond, an investigation produces records and those records become part of the institutional memory of the criminal justice system. Artificial intelligence is beginning to alter that sequence. Instead of merely recording

Before India voted, the framers worried about the referee

“We are making a Constitution forever and not only for today.” Shibban Lal Saksena said this in the Constituent Assembly on June 15, 1949. He was warning that a ruling party might one day choose a loyalist to run India’s elections. Seventy-seven years later, the Supreme Court is wrestli

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter