Kudankulam: Protesters held on way to TN House

A host of political parties and outfits had pledged support for this

The struggle against the nuclear plant at Kudankulam came closer to the centre of power on Monday,with the anti-nuclear protesters,the numbers of whom was bolstered by political parties,staged a protest meeting in Chennai. The leaders of the outfits along with hundreds of cadre were arrested when they marched towards the State Secretariat to gherao it as announced earlier.

The Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) spearheading the agitation at Kudankulam had resolved to lay siege to the secretariat after their protests in and around the plant site in south Tamil Nadu failed to stop the commissioning of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project. A host of political parties and outfits had pledged support for this.

On Monday,the anti-nuclear protesters and cadres of MDMK,PMK,VCK,MMK,TVK and other political parties with members of outfits including fishermens associations staged a protest,demanding closure of the plant. This was perhaps the first time these leaders were coming together on a platform since the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

Story continues below this ad

Leaders including MDMK general secretary Vaiko,VCK leader Thol Thirumavalan MP,Tamil nationalist leader P Nedumaran,MMK leader Jawahirulla and others took on the authorities for clamping down the peaceful protests by the villagers near the plant. Such efforts to muzzle public protests would not succeed,said the leaders and demanded that the police personnel deployed near the plant site should be removed.

The police detained leaders and hundreds of protesters at the protest site on Monday.

Modi will address a rally in the district and open the Purnea airport that will provide air connectivity to several metro cities, fulfilling a longstanding demand in the Seemanchal region.

PM Modi to open Purnea airport, launch Makhana Board in Monday’s visit to poll-bound Bihar

India2 hr ago

PM Modi will visit Purnea, Bihar, on Monday to inaugurate projects worth Rs 36,000 crore, including an airport and launch the National Makhana Board. The visit is aimed at boosting development and addressing the neglected Seemanchal region. PM will also announce projects worth Rs 35,461 crore and distribute benefits to beneficiaries under different schemes.

View all shorts

Live Blog