Reassuring that Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant was 'safe', chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday evening fervently appealed to the people to maintain peace and not indulge in violence.
“There is no threat to the fishermen’s livelihood from the Koodankulam nuclear power project. I appeal to the fishermen not to fall prey to the ‘illusion’ of anti-nuke lobbyists,” she said.
She also urged anti-nuke lobbyists not to indulge in agitation but to “come forward and extend their cooperation for the commissioning of the plant”.
The appeal comes in the wake of renewed protests on Monday at Koodankulam, in Tirunelveli district, leading to police firing teargas shells at the agitators.
Reviewing the situation following violence during the agitation, she justified police action in which a fisherman was killed in Thoothukudi, saying the policeman fired in self-defence. She announced a solatium of Rs 5 lakh to the fisherman’s kin.