Foreign agencies behind anti-KNPP agitation: Narayanasamy

Accusing foreign agencies of fuelling anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy on Thursday said bank operations of six foreign-funded organisations have been frozen.

"It is clear that foreign agencies and some vested interests are fuelling the agitation. We have already identified some organisations funded by foreign agencies for this," Narayanasamy said.

Hundreds of people stood in the water of the sea of Indinthakarai coast forming a human chain during the day to demand halting of preparations for fuel loading into the reactor of the nuclear power plant.

Stating that 'a lot of information' about foreign hand in the agitation had come to light through probe by the Union home ministry, he said bank operations of six organizations funded by foreign agencies have been stopped.

Claiming that local people are convinced about safety of the nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu, Narayanasamy said a foreign national was found loitering in the plant site.

Moreover, the opponents of the project have announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to each of the families of protesters who died in the course of the agitation.

"I asked them about the source of their fund, but I am yet to get a reply. All this shows vested interests and foreign forces are behind the agitation," he said.

Narayanasamy, who was on a day's visit, said Tamil Nadu government had already registered cases against 157 persons, but many of them are absconding.

Claiming that a seven-layer safety provision had been put in place to prevent any hazard at the proposed nuclear power plant, the minister said experts and scientists sent by the Centre as well as those engaged by Tamil Nadu have made it safe and secure.

Stating that Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has been supervising the first phase, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been keeping an eye on the development at Kudankulam.

"The Centre is working in tandem with Tamil Nadu government with regard to corporate social responsibility near the proposed nuclear power plant," he said.