Anti-mining rally in Delhi

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, Oct. 2: The National Alliance of Anti-Nuclear Movements today organised a rally in Delhi, widening the ambit of the Khasi Students Union’s anti-uranium mining crusade.

The decision to take out the rally from Rajghat to Jantar Mantar on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace, was not without reason.

Nearly 200 NAAM activists carrying placards and banners were joined by some Khasi students led by KSU president Samuel Jyrwa. They blended anti-nuclear power plant protests with the uranium mining issue.

At Jantar Mantar, speakers from Meghalaya, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand highlighted the ill effects of uranium mining and the dangers of setting up of nuclear power plants.

The co-ordinator of NAAM, S.P. Udayakumar, said over phone that on reaching the samadhi site of the Mahatma, the activists shouted slogans against uranium mining in India and then proceeded towards Jantar Mantar.

Later, near Teen Murti Bhavan, the NAAM activists staged How to Kill a Man, a play that showed how uranium mining could kill thousands of people.

It was followed by passing of a resolution by NAAM members urging the government to prevent uranium mining projects in Meghalaya, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and stop the projects at Jaduguda in Jharkhand.

“We also vowed to say no to nuclear power plants in the country,” Udayakumar said.

“Uranium mining and nuclear power plants will do great harm to the people of the country; if America wants to carry out uranium mining, let it do so in that country and India should not succumb to the pressure of America.”

Talking over phone, Jyrwa said uranium mining and setting up of nuclear power plants go against the very ideals that Mahatma Gandhi stood for.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091003/jsp/northeast/story_11567822.jsp