Church group express anguish at crackdown in Kudankulam

An ecumenical body has written to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa expressing anguish at the crackdown on protesters in the vicinity of Kudankulam nuclear plant project in Tamil Nadu.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) on Friday criticised the state government for imposing Section 144 on the Radhapuram taluk, prohibiting assembly of five or more people and holding of public meetings.

"We have been informed that implementation of Sec 144 by the State authority has caused road blockades, thereby creating a situation in which the people of Radhapuram are starving for food and suffering because of inaccessibility to essential commodities. Even little children are subjected to suffering for want of milk, water and other necessities," NCCI stated in the letter.

The letter urged to reconsider using the law and order methodology. "Such activities do not lead to a lasting solution. Therefore we advise you and your government to go for a mutually respectful dialogue with the objective and spirit of seeking a responsible solution," it stated.

The Tamil Nadu government last week cleared the nuclear plant in Kudankulam, and mobilized a massive police force to control the villagers and activists protesting against the plant.

Over a hundred protesters, including 11 key activists were arrested and charged with sedition and waging war against the country.

The government's decision to give the go-ahead to the power plant has made the people "more vulnerable than ever since their 30 years of struggle and has created restlessness and hopelessness among the women, men, young, children and old of Radhapuram region," said the NCCI general secretary, Roger Gaikwad.

Giving examples of previous nuclear power plant projects put on hold, he pointed to the projects in Jaitapur in Maharashtra, Chutka in Madhya Pradesh, Gorakhpur in Fatehabad District in Haryana and Haripur in West Bengal, which were brought to a standstill after considering the sentiments of people.

In the letter to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, Gaikwad said the go-ahead action for the Kudankulam plant will portray her "as an anti-people political leader".

He urged the Tamil Nadu government to "respond wisely and compassionately thereby leading the state on the path of environmental and social justice".

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has dismissed a petition seeking lifting of prohibitory orders around the Kudankulam plant.

The petition contended that depriving people of their fundamental right of free movement was a violation of constitutional norms.

Several anti-nuclear activists are currently observing an indefinite fast demanding immediate withdrawal of the cabinet resolution which has given a nod for the Kudankulam nuclear plant.