Govt probing Kudankulam activists’ fund source
In a sign of Centre toughening its stand vis-a-vis the agitation against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) nuclear plant, a central minister said on Saturday that the government has begun to inquire into the source of funding for the movement.
V Narayanasamy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, the first central minister to touch “ground zero” to cool tempers at Idinthakarai village, when the “People’s Movement Against KNPP” led by peace activist S P Udhayakumar went on an indefinite hunger strike in September, during an interaction with the media at Tirunelveli, talked tough.
“As the agitation is continuing, questions about how the protest groups are able to mobilise people and from where funds are flowing to them have arisen,” Narayanasamy said. The government is probing the origin of the resources sustaining the agitation that entered its 27th day. Narayanasamy said the 50 questions raised by representatives of the Kudankulam area people with the Department of Atomic Energy team during their first meeting recently, will be answered soon.
It should help to dispel all the fears faced by the people against the KNPP where two units of 1,000 MW each are coming up with Russian assistance. The minister’s remarks have taken the “Struggle Committee” by surprise, coming as they do in the backdrop of Atomic Energy Commission chief S Banerjee already raising concerns over the movement of foreigners in the area and intelligence agencies probing the same.
Narayanasamy said it is the responsibility of the Centre and State governments to ensure that the plant is safe.
Other groups backing the KNPP have also jumped into the fray, the latest being the top industries associations at Coimbatore. Narayanasamy also made it clear that there is no need for the agitation to continue, when efforts are underway to address all the issues.
Only maintenance activities are on in the plants and other works had been stopped at the request of the Tamil Nadu government.
