Uddhav Thackeray slams Jairam over 'u-turn' on Jaitapur nuclear project

Reacting to Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh's statement that there would be no rethink on Jaitapur nuclear power project, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today said it was a "mockery".

Shiv Sena has sided with the local people in the coastal Ratnagiri district who are opposing the project.

Thackeray described Jairam's statement here as a "mockery". The Sena leader recalled the minister's earlier letter to the prime minister raising environmental and security-related concerns about the project.

"Why has he done a u-turn within a week? This is nothing but antics and it has to stop," Thackeray said.

Thackeray said the environment ministry would not be Jairam's domain forever. "He will carry on comfortably even after he is no longer environment minster. But the people of Konkan will suffer for generations if his decision to go ahead with Jaitapur is implemented," the Sena leader said, reiterating that his party would stop the project at any cost.

Thackeray also criticised the minister's comment that decision of Gram Sabha (village council) -- which has passed a resolution opposinng the nuclear plant -- was not applicable. "You get elected by cashing in on people's sentiments and after you win, you forget the same people who have voted for you. This is not right and the people will teach you a lesson."

In a sarcastic tone, he said there should be a "joint parliamentary committee" to find out what knowledge Jairam had about environment.