New Delhi, Apr. 19 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday criticised the Shiv Sena for politicising the Jaitapur nuclear plant issue.
Speaking as the opposition in the Maharashtra State Assembly sought a debate on the protests in Jaitapur and moved an adjournment motion, Ramesh said nuclear energy is the only clean energy option and the Shiv Sena had no business to politicise the issue.
The comment came as the situation in Jaitapur took a turn for the worse a day after one person was shot dead in police firing during the protests outside the plant.
The Jaitapur nuclear power plant is being dubbed as the biggest in the world, and the government is unwilling to stop completion of the 9,900 megawatt power project that is coming up in Maharashtra's Ratnaagiri District.
On Friday, Ramesh ruled out a "rethink" on the project.
The Shiv Sena is spearheading a Ratnagiri shutdown call on Tuesday to protest against Monday's police firing.
It is being supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is led by Raj Thackeray. All three have accused the central and state governments of not taking the protests against the project seriously.
In all, six plants of 1650 megawatt each are expected to be built.
The protesters have said that they are ready to travel roughly 500 km (in vehicles) from Tarapur to Jaitapur demanding the complete scrapping of the project.
Prominent environmentalist Vandana Shiva, former Minister of State for Home Affairs Bhai Vaidya, journalist Praful Bidwai, educationist Anil Sadgopal, ex-Naval Chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagawat, are some of the prominent activists expected to participate in the protest journey. (ANI)
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