The People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, which is spearheading the stir against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power plant, on Friday rejected as "baseless" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks that foreign NGOs are behind its protest.
"It is unfortunate that the prime minister has made the allegations without any documentary proof. We strongly deny his observation that the agitation is being funded by other countries," PMANE convener S P Udayakumar told reporters.
He demanded that Dr Singh provide documentary proof in support of his allegation or withdraw his remarks.
Udayakumar said that Dr Singh does not understand people's protests regarding the project.
In an interview to 'Science' magazine on Thursday, the prime minister appears to have blamed some US-based NGOs for the protests at Koodankulam.
"The atomic energy programme has gone into difficulties because these NGOs, mostly I think are based in the United States, they don't appreciate the need for our country to increase the energy supply," he had said.