Kudankulam villagers resume anti-nuke fast

MADURAI: The Kudankulam protesters have resumed their stir against the construction of the nuclear plant, which was suspended last month after the Tamil Nadu cabinet passed a resolution asking the Central government to stop works at the plant till the villagers' safety concerns are addressed. The People's Movement Against Nuclear Power on Sunday launched a three-day fast protesting against the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that the government intended to go ahead with the nuclear power plant project in Kudankulam in Tirunelveli district.

The members of the anti-nuclear group as well as thousands of villagers began the fast near the Lourdes church in Idinthakarai in the vicinity of the power plant. Lambasting the "anti-people" stand of the Central government, they threatened to launch a full-fledged protest of greater dimensions if their demands are not heeded to by Tuesday.

Speaking to TOI, convenors of the People's Movement, S P Udhayakumar, S Sivasubramaniam and M Pushparayan said that they were disappointed that the Central government had not taken steps to implement a resolution passed by the government of Tamil Nadu. "We urge the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that its resolution is enacted upon and the works on this nuclear power plant are stopped immediately," they said. The speakers also thanked the Tamil Nadu government for the efforts taken to support the activists in their cause.