CPM veteran and Opposition Leader of state Assembly V S Achuthanandan on Tuesday had to shelve his plans to visit Koodankulam halfway, as he crossed the state border and reached Kaliyikkavila, 30 km from here, only to be stopped by the Tamil Nadu Police.
The former Chief Minister set for the trip from here by around 9.30 am to express solidarity with the agitating people of the coastal town against the Koodankulam nuclear project, but returned an hour later saying that he ‘did not want to create a law and order situation’ and also passed innuendos against the CPM line on the project.
Achuthanandan’s official vehicle was stopped by the Tamil Nadu Police at Kaliyikkavila.
Achuthanandan had virtually defied the CPM as well as a written plea of the state police, based on the fears expressed by the TN Police, against going ahead with his plan.
VS told the assembled crowd: “I’m taking the warning of the Tamil Nadu Police at its face value. I’m returning. I’m not interested in creating a law and order issue.”
“I’m an ordinary worker of a party which had withdrawn support to the UPA Government on the question of the nuclear pact with the US after asserting that the deal is dangerous for the Indian people and mankind,” he said, thereby opening doors for another round of debate and clash of interests within the CPM.
“People have been protesting in Koodankulam for the past 400 days and my visit was to give moral support. I’m returning disheartened,” Achuthanandan added.