'PM should direct TN to clear area near Kudankulam plant'

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy Wednesday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give a direction to Tamil Nadu government to clear protesters near Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

In a statement, Swamy said Singh should not hesitate anymore to give a "direction to Tamil Nadu government under Article 256" to clear the area around the nuclear reactor of all demonstrators after issuing an eight-hour warning.

"If the Tamil Nadu government does not act according to this direction, the Centre must declare the whole Tirunalveli and Kanyakumari districts as disturbed areas," he demanded.

He also alleged that the Chief Minister was playing politics on the issue.