[Reader-list] OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER AGAINST THE WITCH HUNT IN KOODAMKULAM

[asit das]

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*OPEN LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER AGAINST THE WITCH HUNT IN KOODAMKULAM*



Mr. Prime Minister,



We are shocked to read your interview in Science Magazine on Feb. 24,
2012.  While drawing attention to India as a democracy, you have failed to
respond to the legitimate and widespread democratic concerns of citizens on
issues of genetically modified foods, and India’s aggressive nuclear
expansionist policies. To sideline serious concerns over the safety and
merits of both these programs as merely vested by funds from outside, is
incorrect, and does not befit a person in your office. One might cast
similar aspersions on the many ‘partnerships’ entered by Government of
India with foreign nations, which might not be considered by all to benefit
our nation.



We ask Government of India to respond to safety concerns posed by the
independent expert committee report on Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
(KNPP). Besides these particular safety issues with the KNPP project, there
are also high health risks associated with radiation exposures for
communities living around any nuclear plant. Two studies carried out in
Germany and more recently in France show a spike in incidence of leukemia
in children around nuclear power plants – a result that should not be taken
lightly.



In any democracy, the voice of opposition or dissent – if heard and
responded to seriously, strengthens the democratic process and yields
solutions that are more representative of people’s needs and concerns. Yet,
you have dismissed all opposition to your individual vision for the nation
as effectively ‘non-thinking’.



India is at a serious crossroad – to subserve a State-Corporate nexus by
siphoning off all national resources with processes such as SEZs,
commodification of water, industrial energy subsidies, encouraging GM of
our food security and promoting FDIs, or, to reassert the true sovereignty
of the citizens of this secular and democratic republic, so that even the
highest appointments of the State must first represent and serve people’s
interest.



We ask that you do not resort to potentially slanderous, repressive tactics
to gag discussions on nuclear or any other ‘development’ issues using any
un-mandated powers of your office, but instead adopt a consultative
approach with people of India, to resolve their issues and concerns.  While
this process may be slow, we must remember that we are not China, as you
pointed out in the interview to Science.



Sincerely,



Arati Chokshi                 Secretary PUCL, Karnataka



Ajit Jha             Samajwadi Jan Parishad



Kiran Shaheen              Media Action Group, Delhi



P.K. Sunderam Research Scholar, JNU



Asit Das                       Writer Activist, Delhi



Rajni Kant Mudgal       Socialist Front, Delhi



Ranjeet Thakur Journalist, Uttrakhand



Rita Kumari                  Pravasi Nagarik Manch, Delhi