CPI(ML) held a convention in Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu on May 30 against the Koodankulam nuke project and state repression on the protestors. In Tirunelveli, police and administration are denying permission to any democratic protest against the nuke project and in support of the people of Idinthakarai. This is no doubt a part of a larger design of the Central and State Governments attempts to stifle any democratic voice against the project. Hundreds of false cases have been booked against the people of villages in and around Idinthakarai who are still participating in the peaceful protest against the largest nuke project of the country which could cause radiation daily and havoc in case of accident or natural disaster. Coordinator of the protest SP Udayakumar and core team member Pushparayan, who are facing sedition charges, are in Idinthakarai, and will be arrested if they step out of Idinthakarai.

In this backdrop, the Party planned an open convention in Tirunelveli. The police denied permission. Party filed a writ petition against the refusal of permission. The government cited improvement of power situation as a reason to postpone the convention! The Judge was not convinced by this rationale and ordered quashing the refusal of permission, and as a result the convention could take place as planned. The courts advice for a change of venue was accepted.

On May 30, Comrades Kavita Krishnan (Partys Central Committee member), SM Anthonimuthu, (Kanyakumari District Party Secretary and SCM) and Bhuvana (SCM) visited Idinthakarai and met SP Udayakumar and Pushparayan and expressed the Partys support to their struggle. The latter expressed their happiness about our timely intervention. Though they could not attend the convention they organized around 300 people from Idinthakarai and nearby villages to participate in the convention.

The convention was conducted by Comrade T Sankarapandian, SCM, and Tirunelveli District Party Secretary. Comrades S Kumarasami, CPI(ML) Politburo member, Balasundaram, Partys TN State Secretary, Kavita Krishnan, SM Anthonimuthu, G Ramesh, SCM, Bharathi, SCM and State Convenor of RYA, Sagaya Imida of Idinthakarai and Samuel Aseer Raj, Convenor, Teachers Against Nuke Power addressed the convention.

Comrade S Kumarasami called upon the people of TN to take up vigorous struggle against the killer nuke plant and foil the attempts of the UPA government to jeopardize the lives of lakhs of people at the altar of global nuclear corporations. He also called upon the people of TN to fight against the repressive attempts of the Central and State governments. Comrade Balasundaram came down heavily on the repressive measures of the state government and demanded that all false cases against the protestors be withdrawn immediately. Comrade Kavita Krishnan expressed support of the Party and AILC for the Koodankulam Protestors and said that the struggle of Idinthakarai people will become victorious in closing down not only Koodankulam nuke project but also similar projects at Haripur and Jaitapur. Comrade Thenmozhi read out the resolutions of the convention which demanded immediate scrapping of the project and withdrawing all false cases against the protestors.

Comrades from Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Virudunagar, Dindigul and Madurai districts also participated in the convention.