An anti-nuclear forum spearheading the ongoing stir against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant on Saturday said it would intensify the agitation by laying a 'permanent siege' to the plant if it goes critical.
"The government should respect the sentiments of the local people. If they don't, they will not hesitate to lay a permanent siege of the plant," S P Udhaykumar, convenor of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) told reporters here.
He said there is no compromise on PMANE's stand that the Centre should shelve the project.
He demanded that the Centre cancel nuclear deals with all countries, including USA, Russia, France and Japan. "People should not be made scapegoats for the sake of multinational companies," he said.
Denying charges that the stir is being organised by some organisations, he said some Congress leaders are levelling such charges in a bid to scuttle the anti-KKNPP stir.
Udhaya Kumar requested the Centre to allot an additional 1000 MW from the central pool to Tamil Nadu to overcome the power crisis and also grant financial aid to generate power by alternative sources.
"Central ministers representing Tamil Nadu should insist on it. We are going to stage a series of agitations in support of our demands this month," he added.
On Union Minister Narayanasamy’s remarks that the Centre would probe funding sources of six NGOs and anti-KKNPP protestors, he said they are ready to face any kind of probe and punishment if Narayanasamy proved his charges.
He said PMANE is also opposed to the proposed Nutrino project in Theni district and said they would extend full support to the locals if they sought it.