NCCI demands ‘White Paper’ on Kudankulam nuclear power plant from Government of Tamilnadu

Nagpur, January 31, 2012: The National Council of Churches in India, the apex body of 30 Protestant and Orthodox Churches representing 13 million people,  is deeply anguished to learn that the women in Trinelveli, South India who had peacefully assembled this morning to submit a memorandum to the Chief Executive of the District Administration in his office premises, asking for  stopping the process of commissioning the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in South India, were attacked by goons belonging to Right Wing Fundamentalist Groups such as ‘Hindu Munnani’ and ‘Hindu Nationalist Congress’.

It is shocking to know that this attack was executed while the Chief Executive of the District Administration was seated in his office along with the Central Government’s Expert Groups who have been mandated to meet with the Peoples’ Groups and clarify their doubts over the Nuclear Power Plant. It is all the more appalling that the attacked was passively witnessed by the deployed police force. 

The NCCI strongly condemns such violent expressions, especially against women.

These assaults appear to be ‘pre-planned’, being executed in front of the police force and that too inside the District Administration Office while the Chief Executive of the District was there along with the Central Governments representatives holding a meeting with District Administration Workers and Representatives of the People’s Movement. Therefore, in the fitness of things, the NCCI calls for a Judicial Probe, headed by a Woman Justice, into the attack.

The NCCI urges the Government of Tamilnadu to ensure the security of the public who enter Government offices.

Furthermore NCCI demands that the State Government of Tamilnadu tables a ‘White Paper’ on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant’ and its strategy to solve the problem in this Assembly Session itself.

At the same time, the NCCI also insists that the State and Central Governments punish all individuals, groups and parties who involve in false propaganda against faith communities, thereby causing unnecessary suspicion and tension among neighbours of different faiths in our pluralist society.

– rev. er. roger gaikwad & rev. r. christopher rajkumar