Anti-nuke activist meets V S Achuthanandan

Tirunelveli: PMANE coordinator S.P. Udayakumar, who came under severe criticism by some of his colleagues in the anti-KKNPP movement for joining the Aam Aadmi party and contesting the elections along with two of his close associates, M. Pushparayan and M. P. Jesuraj, once again started his campaign against the nuclear power project on May 6, when he along with three other anti-nuke activists met veteran communist leader and former Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan to mobilise his support against the installation of two more nuclear reactors at Kudankulam.

Speaking to DC, Udayakumar said, “I am happy that we (himself, Pushparayan and Jesuraj) have  utilised the parliamentary elections as a platform to further make people aware of the faulty nuclear policy of the Central government.”

He added that he along with Jesuraj, Peter Milton and Antony Kebinston personally met V.S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday and sought his support against the undue haste of the Central government and the Department of Atomic Energy in signing the agreement with Russia for two more units at KKNPP.

The PMANE leaders requested Achuthanandan to oppose the neutrino project planned at Thevaram in Theni district. The veteran communist leader, according to PMANE activists gave them a patient hearing and expressed support to both the anti-KKNPP and anti-neutrino campaigns.

The anti-nuke activists also met Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop Rev Soosai Packiyam the same day and sought his solidarity with the anti-KKNPP movement.  “The archbishop personally sympathises with the aims of PMANE, but expressed his inability as a clergy attached to a congregation to give a public statement in support of the struggle,” said Antony Kebinston who added that their campaign against KKNPP would continue.