Team Anna today asked for a public debate on the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), which is being set up in Indo-Russian collaboration. Meanwhile, in a development the S P Udayakumar, who was heading the anti-KNPP, decided not to surrender to the Police.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the local people, member of Team Anna Arvind Kejriwal questioned that why the Government or KNPP officials are not coming forward for a public debate if the Plant is safe. “Why the Government is shying away, it shows something is wrong,” said Kejriwal, who asked for honest and open dialogue and for a public debate infront of Media on the project.
Attempts made by this Correspondent to reach out to KNPP officials also failed. The top management led by NPCIL’s Chariman and MD K C Purohit are camping there as fuel loading is expected to begin in the next 48 hours. Officials at KNPP said that they are advised by the Government not to speak to Media.
Kejriwal, arrived for the second time on Wednesday in this fishing village, around 650 kms away from Chennai, and close to the KNPP. Earlier on Tuesday late evening he visited the village, after S P Udayakumar one of the top leaders of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is spear heading the protest against KNPP, said that he is going to get arrested infront of a national leader on Tuesday evening.
However, the man leading the protesters, did not turn up after the emotional villagers hijacked him away from the protest site in a boat. The authority is still clueless about his whereabouts. On Monday, Udayakumar took the searoute to escape after a clash between Police on the shores of Idinthakarai.
“I met him (Udayakumar) today Morning and he agreed that he will not surrender infront of the Police,” said Kejriwal, who managed to meet Udayakumar, who still giving sleepless nights to over 4000 police personnel, who are campaigning in around KNPP. He managed to escape from the Police and coast guard patrols in air and sky on Tuesday for the second time after Monday clash.
It may be noted, around 300 cases have been filed against Udayakumar by both Centre and State Governments. One of the major allegation is he was funded by foreign agencies to fund the protest. Cases were also filed against the villagers, one of the major one is “raising war against the Government,” said Kejriwal.
To a question on Government’s allegation against Udayakumar, who is heavily funded by foreign agencies, Kejriwal said, “let the Government proves, whoever opens their mouth against the Government they will come under such allegation. Same allegation on us also”.
Earlier on Wednesday Morning, Kejriwal took journalists to Tsumani village, a nearby village of Idinithakarai, who also came heavily on the Police attack on Monday and Tuesday, and met the local people, who were injured in the Police action.
