Kejriwal calls for public debate on Kudankulam

IAC activist Arvind Kejriwal who travelled to Kudankulam to express support for the people’s agitation against the nuclear power plant called for a public debate to allay the fears of the villagers.

Speaking to media personnel at the Idinthakarai village which has been the site of a sustained anti-nuclear protest, he said, “Rather than hiding, the government must have dialogue with its own people. Make its papers public. Isn’t it true that this nuclear power plant has no back-up water supply? If something goes wrong, both Tamil Nadu and Kerala will be affected”.

He added that the government should bring down their own experts to Kudankulam and have them engage in a public debate with experts chosen by the PMANE. “I am from IIT Kanpur. I also believe in the importance of power and development. But not like this. There has to be inclusive development”, he said.

Kejriwal also said he had convinced PMANE convenor Udayakumar not to court arrest.

“We are exploring bail options. He is doing a commendable job and needs to stay outside jail”, Kejriwal said, adding that the PMANE convenor had 300 cases filed against him, which made him the most wanted man in India by the police. “I am proud to be standing by him in this struggle”, he said.

He also slammed what he called ’terror tactics’ by Jayalalithaa and the Tamil Nadu police. “Police came and broke idols in the church in Idinthakarai and also urinated on the stage. They destroyed motorcycles and boats: What law gives them the right to destroy property? These are terror tactics by Jayalalithaa - how can she do this to the people who voted for her?”, he said.

In addition to physical intimidation, Kejriwal charged that the people were also being targeted by the law, pointing out that the charges framed against the villagers included that of sedition and attempt to murder. " These unarmed people have been charged under sedition! Everyone in this country is being charged with sedition!", said Kejriwal, who also made a reference to jailed Mumbai cartoonist Aseem Trivedi.