Jaitapur N-project: ‘Govt trying to suppress people’s voice’

Retired Supreme Court Judge, PB Sawant, on Tuesday alleged that in a bid to suppress the voice of people against the Jaitapur nuclear power project, the state police have indiscriminately started arresting activists and Jaitapur residents opposing it.

To protest against the injustice, social organisations have planned to organise a Lok Adalat on March 6 and 7 at Mitgavane village near Jaitapur, Sawant told reporters. It will be attended by retired chief justice of the Delhi high court, Ajit Shah, and retired justice of the Tamil Nadu high court, K Sampat.

Sawant said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and industry minister Narayan Rane faced stiff opposition from the locals on the issue of the nuclear plant at a public rally on February 26.

He also alleged that the Ratnagiri police, on Rane’s instructions, have arrested at least 11 people who were in the forefront of the opposition. They were booked for attempt to murder and rioting under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Sawant said, “The activists are opposing the upcoming nuclear power project in a democratic way, but the government machinery is acting against them in a highly undemocratic manner and trying to suppress their voice without discussing the issue across the table.”

“We appeal to the state government, the Centre, the prime minister and the environment minister to answer our queries on the safety of the region,” Sawant added.