Where's the proof, activist asks PM

SP Udayakumar, coordinator of PMANE, speaking exclusively to HT.com, said that he would seek legal advice on suing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his remarks on foreign NGOs funding the protests against Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s charge on Thursday that foreign NGOs were stoking protests at the Kudankulam nuclear plant was vehemently opposed by the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), which is spearheading the stir.

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Speaking exclusively to HT.com, SP Udayakumar, coordinator of Peoples Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), said that he would seek legal advice on suing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his remarks on foreign NGOs funding the protests against Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

He also categorically denied receiving any money from foreign sources, stating that if any such allegation is proved, he and his organisation are willing to face punishment, if not, the Prime Minister should retract his statement and resign.

"The Congress is not considering people's sentiment and is only interested in kickbacks and profits."

"Earlier, the PMO minister had alleged that PMANE received Rs 1.5cr as funding, but when I filed a case against him, he denied making any such allegation."

The government has been belittling our protests and has never understood the needs of the people of this country.

Singh, in an interview to the Science journal, accused non-governmental organisations that received support from abroad of leading protests against the nuclear plant.

Rejecting Singh’s remark as baseless, SP Udayakumar of PMANE said, “It is unfortunate that the PM has made the allegations without any documentary proof. We strongly deny his observation that the agitation is being funded by other countries.”

Former Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar shared Singh’s sentiments, saying “a nuclear power plant cannot be put under siege the way it has happened now”.

PMANE had in a recent statement alleged that the Centre and its intelligence agencies were sending spies into villages to divide communities, create fear and panic among the people and to instigate violence.