Koodankulam project: PMANE opposes Prime Minister's comments

CHENNAI: People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, spearheading the stir against Koodankulam Nuclear Power plant, today rejected as "baseless" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that foreign NGOs are behind its protest.

"It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister has made the allegations without any documentary proof. We strongly deny his observation that the agitation is being funded by other countries," PMANE convener S P Udayakumar told reporters here.

He demanded that Singh provide documentary proof in support of his allegation or withdraw his remarks.

Udayakumar said Prime Minister Singh does not understand people's protests regarding the project.

In an interview to 'Science' magazine yesterday, the Prime Minister appears to have blamed some US-based NGOs for difficulties at Koodankulam.

"The atomic energy programme has gone into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think based in the United States, don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply," he had said.