Anti-Koodankulam protesters resume fast

Tirunelveli (TN), Oct 19: After suspending their stir for two days in view of Tamil Nadu civic polls, about 100 persons on Tuesday resumed their relay fast here to protest against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant.

About 1,200 people from various villages gathered near the fast venue to express their support to the agitation, Pushpa Rayan, a convenor of the anti-nuclear energy movement, told PTI.

The activists had suspended the stir for two days to enable people to participate in the local body polls, the first phase of which was held on Monday.

He welcomed Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's statement which blamed the Centre's inaction for the stalemate on the KNNP issue and dismissed DMK chief M Karunanidhi's remark accusing the state government of adopting an ostrich-like attitude on the issue.

He said the DMK should withdraw its support to the Centre if it was serious about the issue, which affected the livelihood of people in the southern districts.

The activist condemned the reported statement of Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee that the plant would be commissioned by the next month.

He wondered how the plant could be commissioned without a mock drill and trial run. "It will be a criminal offence if they straight away commissioned the plant without following the procedures," he said.

PTI