Warkaris take on new mission - oust nuclear power

After successfully stalling the project of Dow Chemicals in the state, the warkari community is now preparing for a bigger battle — stopping the nuclear power project planned by the Central
government near Jaitapur, in Ratnagiri district.

Unfolding their plans of agitation against the upcoming 9,900-MW project, Shriram Shinde Maharaj, president of Shri Sakal Sant Warkari Sangh, said all warkaris spread across the state will undertake an awareness campaign in order to build public pressure against the nuclear power plants.

Members of the warkari organisation will educate the common man in the state through kirtans, bhajans and various forms of awareness programmes. Maharaj said, “Our members will organise protest marches and sit-ins before various government offices across the state. Also, various documents on the side-effects of nuclear projects will be screened and news items will be displayed around market places,” he said.

The government had to face the ire of warkaris and the public in the setting up of Dow Chemical plant in Chakan and ultimately the multinational had to abandon the project. “In the same manner we are going to stall the nuclear project through a peaceful, but strong agitation, even if the government tries to repress it,” Maharaj said.

Reiterating their support to the statewide agitation against the the power project by various social organisations, Maharaj said,  “We are very much with the activists and the project affected and will go to any extent to oust the project from Konkan.”