Chennai: Leaders of various political parties and tens and hundreds of anti-nuclear protestors were arrested on Monday when they attempted to march towards the State Secretariat as part of the ‘lay-siege’ stir demanding scrapping of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, the first unit of which was expected to go critical soon.
Among those arrested were MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, Vidhuthalali Chiruthaigal Katchi President and Lok Sabha Member Thol Thirumavalavan and Tamil Nationalist Movement Leader P Nedumaran.
Apart from political leaders, a large number of anti-nuclear activists and members of fishermen associations were also arrested. More than 2,000 people, including political party leaders assembled at the sprawling Rajarathinam Stadium at Egmore in the city.
After addressing the agitators, they attempted to take out a march to the Secretariat leading to their arrest.
It was a sea of huamnity at the stadium as people and activists from more than 20 organisations and outfits gathered to press the demand for scrapping the KNPP as it would affect the livelihood of the fishing community.
A large posse of policemen, who were deployed in the area, acted swiftly in arresting the protestors and took them to a community hall.
In a separate stir, Nam Thamizhar Party, led by Film Director Seeman and over 100 of his supporters courted arrest at Pudupet in the city demanding scrapping of the KNPP.
Meanwhile, a report from Idinthakarai Village in Tirunelveli District said anti-nuclear activists, led by People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), locals and various fishermen associations launched a Jal Satyagraha’ demanding closure of KKNP.
PMANE Convenor S P Udhayakumar, who has been spearheading the anti-nuclear agitation for more than a year, described the agitation in Chennai as a major victory.
He claimed over 25,000 people participated in the protest in Chennai. “It is a major victory”, he added.
Reports received at the police headquarters here said, hundreds of people from various parts of the state, who attempted to enter the city to participate in the anti-nuclear power project protest, were arrested by the police at the district borders.
Workers of MDMK, VCK and the PMK were detained at Villuppuram, Ambur, Arcot, Tiruvallur and various parts of the state, as they assembled to march to the city. (UNI)