"It is sad to call the people of Koodankulam who are agitating against the nuclear plant as illiterate. They are very sensitive as well as smart to understand that they have a big issue before them. I would invite those who call them illiterate to visit Idinthakarai and spend a day there and understand the facts,’’ said Meera Udayakumar, wife of Koodankulam protest leader S P Udayakumar.
She was inaugurating the meeting organised at the Shanghumugham beach here on Tuesday to express solidarity with the ongoing agitation against the Koodankulam nuclear plant.
“In Tamil Nadu, we have not been successful in mobilising people on vital issues for a long time whereas Keralites are quick to respond to issues and fight controversial projects. The experience of Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan has made us realise that nuclear plant is not the right option for us,’’ she said.
Meera said that the common people especially women of Idinthakarai have been exhibiting great vigour and commitment while participating in the agitation.
“These people exude a lot of confidence and whenever I am overcome by fears and doubts, I would sit with them for a day to get recharged. Their efforts are likely to bear fruit soon,’’ Meera added.
N Subramanian, who presided over the meeting, said that nuclear power plants carried considerable risks.
“Apart from the inherent danger of an accident, the aftereffects of any atomic plant mishap will persist for several years,’’ he said.
Prior to the meeting, a human chain was formed on the beach led by poet Sugathakumari. A play highlighting the dangers of atomic plants was also staged on the beach.
Among those who attended the meeting were Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop M Soosai Pakiam, Swami Sookshmananda, B R P Bhaskar, Kanayi Kunhiraman, G Shankar, R V G Menon, Gopinathan Nair, Binoy Viswam, V Viswambharan, N K Premachandran, Mathew T Thomas, Neelalohitadasan Nadar, D Vinayachandran, S Rajeevan, Fr Eugene Pereira, Ninan Koshy and J P John.
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