INDIA: Legislators begin blame-game over nuclear plant protest in western Maharashtra state
Record ID:
1374166
INDIA: Legislators begin blame-game over nuclear plant protest in western Maharashtra state
- Title: INDIA: Legislators begin blame-game over nuclear plant protest in western Maharashtra state
- Date: 20th April 2011
- Summary: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (APRIL 19, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIOR OF VIDHAN SABHA (LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) IN MUMBAI A SIGNBOARD READING 'VIDHAN BHAWAN' (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SUBHASH DESAI, SHIV SENA LEADER, SAYING: "See, this is incorrect. Our gathering, which is to be held sometime next week, it will be a very big event and would be a success, and the Congress leaders have lost their cool it seems. And the thoughts of this meeting have affected their minds. And they have most probably reacted like this and we condemn it. We have already said this that we will go by what the public there feels and says. From the very first day, Shiv Sena has said that we will stand by the public and if they don't want the (nuclear) project then we will not let lend any help to the government." NAWAB MALIK, NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY (NCP) LEGISLATOR, STANDING ON A PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NAWAB MALIK, NATIONALIST CONGRESS PARTY (NCP) LEGISLATOR, SAYING: "The Jaitapur incident is very saddening. We have asked the government to inquire about it. And they should include terms of reference in their inquiry on why shooting was carried out and who is at fault. And with the term of reference, it should also be found out if there was anyone's conspiracy. For the last one-and-a-half months, the workers of Shiv Sena were plotting that they would hamper the law and order situation there. The kind of environment they have created, and the Shiv Sena working President, all the MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly, or legislators), corporators, and over thousand people from Mumbai were taken there, and they forgot about the welfare of the people, and created and we have demanded an inquiry into all this." (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BHAU SINGH JATAV, LEGISLATOR OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, SAYING: "In Jaitapur today, Shiv Sena organised a violent protest and pelted stones and marbles at the police. And to stop them, the police had to forcibly take charge of the situation and a casualty has taken place but now the situation is under control." JATAV TALKING TO REPORTERS JAITAPUR, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (APRIL 18, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) POLICE OFFICIALS POLICE OFFICIALS WALKING POLICE OFFICIALS BEATING A PROTESTER POLICE OFFICIALS STANDING
- Embargoed: 5th May 2011 05:26
- Keywords:
- Location: India, India
- Country: India
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAAKWZ7PBUAKBNE88FZQY7KJIF1
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Subhash Desai, a leader of the radical Shiv Sena, on Tuesday (April 19) slammed India's ruling Congress party after police fired at a mob protesting the construction of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP) in western Maharashtra state.
Speaking to mediapersons after a legislative assembly session in Mumbai, Desai said the Congress was probably scared of the Shiv Sena meeting, which would be held on April 23.
"See, this is incorrect. Our gathering, which is to be held sometime next week, it will be a very big event and would be a success, and the Congress leaders have lost their cool it seems. And the thoughts of this meeting have affected their minds. And they have most probably reacted like this and we condemn it. We have already said this that we will go by what the public there feels and says. From the very first day, Shiv Sena has said that we will stand by the public and if they don't want the (nuclear) project then we will not let lend any help to the government," he said.
A rally was organised on April 9 by the radical outfit to protest the setting up of the plant.
Police opened fire at the mob protesting the construction of the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP).
The protesters had entered the site and indulged in widespread vandalism, setting some semi-constructed sheds on fire.
As per local media reports, one protester was killed in police fire, and at least eight protesters and more than 40 policemen were injured.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) blamed the Shiv Sena for carrying out the violent protest.
"The Jaitapur incident is very saddening. We have asked the government to inquire about it. And they should include terms of reference in their inquiry on why shooting was carried out and who is at fault. And with the term of reference, it should also be found out if there was anyone's conspiracy. For the last one-and-a-half months, the workers of Shiv Sena were plotting that they would hamper the law and order situation there. The kind of environment they have created, and the Shiv Sena working President, all the MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly, or legislators), corporators, and over thousand people from Mumbai were taken there, and they forgot about the welfare of the people, and created and we have demanded an inquiry into all this," said NCP legislator Nawab Malik.
The nuclear project at Jaitapur, which would be built in collaboration with the French firm Areva, has run into opposition as protesters have argued that it would harm the local environment and put people at risk.
Bhau Singh Jatav, a legislator of India's ruling Congress party, condemned the violence and said police had to take action as the Shiv Sena had become unruly.
"In Jaitapur today, Shiv Sena organised a violent protest and pelted stones and marbles at the police. And to stop them, the police had to forcibly take charge of the situation and a casualty has taken place but now the situation is under control," he said.
The nuclear project site is 25 metres above sea level, which makes it prone to a Fukushima-like nuclear disaster that happened in Japan.
In the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan, India is planning urgent steps to review safety standards in its nuclear power plants in case of any emergency and to withstand natural disasters of the magnitude witnessed in Japan.
India has 20 nuclear reactors in operation in six power plants, generating over 4,000 megawatts of electricity.
Five other plants are currently under construction. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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