Chomsky backs anti-Kudankulam stir, warns of another Bhopal

The anti-Kudankulam nuclear plant agitation just found itself a very influential friend. Eminent author, philsopher and linguist Noam Chomsky has expressed his support for the agitation in Tamil Nadu and said that given India’s record of industrial disasters, the plant could well become the next Bhopal gas tragedy. “Nuclear energy is a very dangerous intiative particularly in countries like India which has had its share of industrial disasters, Bhopal being the most famous. I would like to express my support for the courageous people’s movement protesting the opening of the Koodankulam (sic) Nuclear Power Plant,” Chomsky said in a letter that was part of a press release circulated by the Koodankulam Solidarity Group on the website countercurrents.org. [caption id=“attachment_512279” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chomsky has backed the protest against the plant. Reuters[/caption] Chomsky’s letter was among many others that was published by the group in support of the protests being held against the plant that is being led by the group People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE). Among others quoted in the press release include Nobel Peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire, author Arundhati Roy and activist Binayak Sen. Even former Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan found mention in the document despite the fact that he had been earlier censured by his party for attempting to join the protest. “We do not need this nuclear bomb,” Achuthanandan was quoted as saying. Read the complete press release here