Union Govt refuses to divulge info on NGOs funding Koodankulam protests

Chennai:

The Union government on Saturday refused to divulge the names of non-governmental organizations funding the Koodankulam protests despite a mounting criticism by the opposition parties to do so.

Addressing a press conference here, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, V Narayanasamy said that enquiry is going on against the US funded NGOs and the names will be revealed in appropriate time.

He said there are four cases against the NGOs and Central Bureau of Investigations is probing two cases and the state government is investigating the other two cases.

When queried that United States has denied its role in backing the NGOs, Narayanaswamy shot back stating that US never denied that its NGOs are backing Koodankulam stir.

Interestingly, opposition BJP has slammed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for failing to make public the name of NGOs funding the protest and said it is  mere accusations without substantiating it.

He also reiterated his demand to arrest the protesters.

He also defended the move to deport German national Sonnteg Reiner Hermann and said if and when required he will be called for questioning. He also backed the suspicion of his involvement in anti-nuclear activities and said why would a German national visit the protest site four times in four months on a tourist visa.

On Army chief Gen V K Singh stating that Supreme Court has not closed the age row issue while ruling out his resignation, Narayanasamy said the verdict has been given by the Supreme Court and the government will go by it.

“It is his views on the issue but everyone is bound by the Supreme Court verdict,” the minister said.