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| CURRENT AFFAIRS |
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KOODANKULAM |
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Activists and civil society show support as protests continue
As poor villagers sit in protest against the nuke plant, lawyers, journalists and activists demand that the government stop repression
Janani Ganesan
New Delhi
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Locals congregate to protest the government's clearance to the controversial nuke plant
Photos: Kebiston Fernando |
Just as reports of more than 5000 people in the fishing hamlet of Idinthakarai protesting against the commissioning of the Koodankulum nuclear plant has been hitting the news pages, activists based in Delhi have started establishing their support for the protesters.
A letter signed by 30 prominent lawyers, activists and journalists including Arundhati Roy, Aruna Roy, Medha Patkar, Ramachanda Guha, Romila Thapar, Binayak Sen and Jean Dreze condemning police action in the village and the Centre’s pressure tactics on the state government, has been circulated.
While eminent citizens are brewing up an off-the ground protest on the one hand, students have also jumped into the fray on the other. Around 100 people gathered at the Tamil Nadu Bhawan in Delhi, reacting to a call for protest by the JNU Students Union (JNUSU). Sucheta De, President, JNUSU said, “Apart from students from DU and Jamia Milia, many activists had also come. In fact, an MP from Tamil Nadu, Thirumavalavan, was also present and so was activist V Geetha from Chennai.”
The principal demand from all quarters has been to immediately stop state repression on the protesting villagers in Tamil Nadu.
Janani Ganesan is a Correspondent with Tehelka.
janani@tehelka.com |
