Kudankulam hots up over PM's letter to Jaya on nuke plant

Increasing pressure on the Centre, protesters at the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant intensified their stir demanding the closure of the  facility. The protest gathered more steam after the Prime Minister’s strongly-worded second letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in support of the plant. [caption id=“attachment_107596” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Over 100 people have been fasting for the last 6 days demanding the closure of the plant”]  [/caption] The Prime Minister told Jayalalithaa that halting work at the plant would affect industrialisation in the state. Over 100 people have been on a fast against the plant for the last six days. The protesters have blocked all entry to the site. Around 25 people, a part of the essential services team at the plant were escorted into the premises at 5 am by the police. The plant that employs  1,000 people per shift has been running on skeletal staff over the last few days. The Prime Minister had written for the second time in a month to Jayalalithaa on 12 October, seeking to resume work at the Rs 13, 000 crore nuclear plant. Jayalalithaa on her part has passed the buck to the Centre to salvage the situation. On Thursday, 13 October 2011, Jayalalithaa extended support to the protesters, saying that the sentiments of the protesters would be respected. Agencies