Ahmedabad: Farmers and anti-nuclear plant activists organised a vehicle rally in Gujarat's Bhavnagar district yesterday against a proposed nuclear plant in Mithi Virdi village of Bhavnagar district.
“Close to 2,000 people from the village participated in the 40 km rally from Mithivirdi to Jaspara, protesting against a proposed nuclear plant in Mithi Virdi.
“Farmers are against the reported move to dilute the Nuclear Liability Bill. The dilution is being touted as a gift to the US government,” said Sagar Rabari, an activist associated with the protest.
“Bhavnagar Zilla Gram Bachao Samiti, Gujarat Anu-Oorja Mukti Andolan and Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Bhavnagar Collector against the nuclear plant,” Rabari said.
“We are shocked at media reports indicating Government of India's (GoI) reported move to further dilute the Nuclear Liability Act to seal the nuclear deal with the US government,” Rabari said, adding that farmers don't wish to part with their fertile land.
“To register our protest, affected people of Mithi Virdi, Jaspara, Mandva, Khadarpar and other 50 villages organised a massive rally today from Mithi Virdi to Jaspara,” he said.
“The dilution of the Nuclear Liability Act is being touted as a ‘gift' to the US government and international nuclear corporations. We strongly condemn this brazen contempt for an adopted Act by the sovereign parliament of India,” he said.
