12 May,2011 07:34 AM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav and Ashutosh Patil
Environment Minister defends Jaitapur, but assures critics u00a0of a discussionu00a0
The plan of some 200 students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to protest against Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh over Jaitapur Nuclear plant when he came to their campus, got nipped in the bud as many students backed out at the last moment, citing differences over the issue. As a result, only 15-20 students were seen demonstrating when the minister arrived to address a convocation yesterday.
We want change: Students of TISS protest with placards as Minister
for Environment and Forests Jairam Rameshu00a0 attends the convocation
of the institute yesterday. Pics/Sayed Sameer Abedi
Seeing a bunch of students protest, Ramesh assured them of a discussion over the issue. Ramesh said, " I have promised the students that I will have a small meeting with them after the convocation program. The students can present their points about why they are opposing the project which is of great importance and benefit to the state and the country."
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u00a0Shubhang Sharma, one of the students who were protesting opined, "I think the nod given by the Environment Minster for the Jaitapur Nuclear power plant has been taken without studying its hazardous impact on people's life in that area. I personally feel that the decision has been taken under political pressure."
