An anti-nuclear forum spearheading the stir against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant on Monday said they would withdraw their protest if most locals favoured the project and demanded that the state government constituted panel visit all villages and towns affected by KNPP.
"We hope the team comes to our villages, talks to our people, respects their feelings and takes a decision after considering the sentiments of the people. We have no problem if a majority of people in affected area favour the plant. Our team will step out immediately," said S P Udayakumar, convenor of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy.
He said the PMANE would be happy to work with the panel if they took a decision in a democratic manner. They would then have to consult the PMANE expert team as it had come up with a clear study on the area and the project, he said.
Udayakumar warned that the PMANE would continue its stir if the locals thought the panel was not doing its job well.
He said they would submit a plea to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with a request that the panel have clear terms of reference, mandate and timeline.
He said he would file a criminal defamation case against Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy for alleging that he received money from foreign sources. Narayanasamy has not provided any proof nor replied to queries on where the money came from, on which date and which account the money was received, he said.
On Home Minister P Chidambaram's comments on the money received by him for protests, he said, "I welcome his statement. If I am proved guilty, I am ready to face any kind of penalty including the death penalty."
Asked if the PMANE had invited All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to their anti-nuclear meet on February 26, he said they had invited AIADMK as it is the ruling party, but not the DMK.
He denied charges of foreign funding for their protests, saying they were voluntary contributions in cash and kind by fishermen, farmers, merchants and women rolling beedies.
