Political parties, other outfits to stage protest against KNPP

CHENNAI: Various political parties and other outfits will stage a protest here on August 5 demanding closure of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), MDMK leader Vaiko said today.


"We will hold a demonstration to condemn the Centre and demand closure of the Kudankulam Nuclear plant," he told reporters here.

Vaiko, a critic of the Rs 17,000 crore Indo-Russian Joint Venture, said protests have been going on for over 700 days peacefully by locals citing various safety concerns but the government had not heeded to the locals' demand to close it.

The 1,000 MW reactor attained criticality on Sunday following Atmoic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) clearance.

The protests will be held under the banner, Anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project People's Federation.

Kolathur Mani, convenor of the federation, said that besides Vaiko, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) leader M H Jawahirullah, MLA and many others would participate in the demonstration.

He said it was being held on August 5 to coincide with Hiroshima Day on August 6.

The first nuclear bomb was dropped on the Japanese city during World War II, which has since emerged symbolic of anti-nuclear ideology.