Anti-nuke activists stage protest

The eastern entrance to the Dadar railway station became an anti-nuclear protest site on Wednesday evening, as nearly 100 people belonging to several groups gathered to protest against police repression and violence against villagers opposing the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu.

Environmental activists from the Konkan fighting against the Jaitapur project, and respected health rights activist Binayak sen, were among those present at the protest.

Arun Velaskar of the Konkan Bachao Samiti, a group opposing the Jaitapur nuclear power project, said, “Nuclear energy is destructive. It is not in the interests of the public, which is why the plant should not come up.”

Uday Bhatt of the Sarva Shramik Sangh said, “Struggles against the Kudankulam and Jaitapur plants should not be looked at in isolation. It’s a policy issue. After the protest, state-wide awareness initiatives will be initiated.”

Prakash Reddy, Mumbai secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), said, “Whatever position one may have about nuclear energy, the police repression of those against power project just cannot be tolerated.”