In a memorandum to the Resident Commissioner of Maharashtra, the protesters demanded that there be no interruption in the route of the yatra and also an end to harassment by the police and the State of those participating in the yatra. The Memorandum was addressed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister.
According to INSAF, the national anti-nuclear yatra from Tarapur to Jaitapur (April 23-25) started off in Tarapur this past Saturday. “A number of scientists, academicians, intellectuals and activists from across the country are participating in the yatra. Anti-nuclear activists from the existing and proposed nuclear plant areas and uranium mining areas are also participating in this first-of-its-kind anti-nuclear struggle in the country.”
The INSAF said after the meeting at Tarapur, on the morning of April 23, the Maharashtra police detained 100 participants of the yatra heading towards the “largest proposed nuclear power park” at Jaitapur for seven hours at the Boisar Police Station.
“Intention of the police and the administration was to stall the yatra. This is an act of violation of peoples’ rights of peaceful, democratic protest and to suppress the citizens’ voice against nuclear power in the country. This act was clearly made to disrupt the whole schedule of the yatra,” it added.