Indefinite fast against Kudankulam project called off

The People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is leading the protest against the Kudankulam nuclear plant, Tuesday announced its decision to call off the indefinite hunger strike that began on May 1.

PMANE in a statement said it was calling off the hunger strike, as requested by former chief justice of Madras and Delhi high courts AP Shah and others.

"Although 25 men and 302 women were on indefinite hunger strike from May 1 and May 4, respectively, neither the Government of Tamil Nadu nor the Government of India invited us for talks or any kind of negotiations on our 11 demands," the statement said.

It said the "central and state governments rushed to talk to Maoists who kidnap and kill officials and politicians. They even grant their demands".

"But these governments completely dismiss the legitimate demands of our fishermen and farmers who have been waging a peaceful, non-violent and democratic struggle for the past nine months. This is definitely not a healthy trend and it could send wrong messages to our youth and children," the statement added, as reported by IANS.

It said that with the termination of the hunger strike, its relay fast protest had resumed.

A month after concluding its hunger strike at the behest of the Madurai Archbishop Peter Fernando, PMANE resumed the same on May 1 after the government failed to address the major concerns.

"Almost a month has passed after this negotiation, but no promise has been fulfilled so far. More than 56,000 people have been charged with false cases until December 31, 2011 including some 6,000 sedition cases," PMANE said.

"No step has been taken to withdraw all the false cases that are foisted on us; instead, fresh murder charges are framed against the leaders of the PMANE."

According to reports, over 70,000 anti-nuclear protesters are agitating against the Indo-Russian nuclear collaboration in Tirunelveli district. The protesters include local fishermen, women, church leaders and activists

The first unit of the protest-hit nuclear power project at Kudankulam is about to be commissioned.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court AP Shah told reporters he would take steps to take up the Kudankulam fight with the National Human Rights Commission.

While presiding over a public hearing on the controversial Kudankulam nuclear plant issue, Shah observed that the government cannot file sedition charges against people for protesting against nuclear energy.

""I am surprised that the State Human Rights Commission in Tamil Nadu has not taken it up," PTI quoted him saying.