PM sees foreign hand in TN nuclear plant protests

The ubiquitous 'foreign hand' theory to explain the protests against the Kudankulam nuclear power project in Tamil Nadu has now been endorsed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself.

In an interview to US-based Science magazine, published in its issue released today, Singh blamed American non-government organisations for fuelling protests, which have spread from the plant site to the entire district.

"What's happening in Kudankulam ... the atomic energy programme has got into difficulties because these NGOs - mostly, I think, based in the US - don't appreciate the need for our country to increase energy. The NGO-led protests have stalled the commissioning of two 1000mw nuclear reactors," the prime minister said.

Other officials connected with the project have been blaming foreign-funded NGOs for escalating the protests – notably Nuclear Power Corp (NPC) chairman and managing director S K Jain, who made similar allegations in October last year (See: PCIL chief sees 'foreign hand' in TN anti-nuke protests).

Technocratic icon Abdul Kalam, former President of India, virtually echoed these views after a visit to the site in November. He said all safety aspects had been fully taken care of, and the protests were unfounded (Kalam declares Kudankulam nuclear plant as totally safe).

According to a report, top officials of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) have also said the Intelligence Bureau has expressed suspicion of a foreign hand behind the protests, but without naming any country.