PMANE has written a letter to Chief Minister Jayalalita after talks with the central government’s expert committee have failed. Dr. S P Udayakumar has written a detailed critiqueof the Expert Committee’s report and underlined how it did not care to respond to some very significant concerns.Dr. S P Udayakumar and 3,015 other protestors have been charged with sedition under section 121 IPC (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging war against Government of India) for organizing a mid-sea protest on the occasion of the World Fisheries Day (see pictures) on November 21, 2011. The other charges slapped against protesters are 153 (A) IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race and language), 143 of IPC (unlawful assembly), 124 (A) IPC bringing or attempting to bring into hatred or contempt or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards Government of India and Section 447 IPC (criminal trespassing into the prohibited area).The Koodankulam struggle is entering a crucial phase. The initial talks between the 15-member committee appointed by the Central Government and the Tamilnadu State Government’s 6-member committee, which also has 2 members from the people’s movement, have failed. Mr. M. Pushparayana, the movement’s representative in the negotiations, told DiaNuke that the government seems reluctant in sharing the crucial documents and white papers that the people’s movement have asked for. In place of providing concrete answers to the specific questions asked by the protesters and prociding them the necessary information and documents, the government experts are offering mere assurances.

Meanwhile, the Union Government’s emissary in the episode and the minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy accused the protestors of being ‘motivated’ and ‘unjustified’. He is reported to having said that the agitator’s questions “were demanding information which were extraneous to the issue on hand and not connected with safety aspects.” Mr. Narayanswamy said PM will take the final decision soon. S P Udayakumar, spearheading the Koodankulam movement, has expressed his disappointment with the government’s attitude and again highlighted the importance of questions and documents being asked.

The Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Lavrov has also joined the pitch in assuring the protesters about safety of the KKNPP.

The Union Minister of Shipping, G K Vasan, has come out in full support of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP), saying it is essential for the growth of the nation.