Kudankulam agitation: Condition of fasting protesters worsens

Tirunelveli (TN), Mar 27: The condition of five persons including SP Udayakumar, who are fasting for the last eight days as part the Kudankulam agitation, worsened today with doctors advising shifting them to a hospital, officials said today.

The anti-nuclear power plant activists led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) are on an indefinite fast after the Tamil Nadu government gave its go-ahead to the Indo-Russian project on Mar 19, clearing decks for resuming the works, now in full swing. Dr RC Ramalingam of the Tisayanvalai Primary Health Centre, who headed the team of doctors that examined the five -- Udayakumar, Ponni Isakki, Prema, Anjana Jayaraj and Nehru-- said he had advised officials that they needed immediate hospitalisation, but the agitators were not cooperating.

The medical team had submitted its report to the district collector and it was for the officials to take a decision, Ramalingam said.

Udayakumar had yesterday said he was ready for talks with the government provided cases against PMANE members were dropped. The government had filed cases against 163 persons under various sections which are pending in local courts. A case regarding freezing of bank accounts of some NGOs, which were allegedly aiding the stir, is also pending before a court.

Udayakumar regretted that people who had been agitating against the KNPP were now neglected and let down by the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre. Those on fast last evening refused even medical examination and demanded that cases be dropped as a pre- condition. Some of the key organisers of the agitation are also behind bars.

PTI