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• Upset over the prolonged delay in the commissioning of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Russia today said it should "start working now" and there should be a "movement" to start the "safest" plant and not to "kill" it."The machines have to start working now. Because after several weeks you will have to spend much more time and money to maintain them. You will pay for nothing. They will be idle but you have to pay for their maintenance," Russian Ambassador to India Alexander M Kadakin said in an interview to PTI.
• Describing the anti-KNPP protests as India's "internal matter", he hoped the government would be able to sort it out soon."We are in close touch with the central government. We are not pressing and we cannot press (for early implementation). It is your internal problem.I hope the central and state governments and other agencies sort it out," he said.The envoy also cautioned that the Russian scientists working at the site could not "sit idle" for several months in view of the protests by the locals citing safety concerns.
• "They cannot wait indefinitely, cannot sit idle without end because they are doing nothing. And we have so much work going around for nuclear stations (that) one day we can just take them and they are needed," he said.Vouching for the safety of the plant, he said it is the "safest in the world" and for "all practical purposes, there should be a movement to launch it, not to stop it and kill it."The Indo-Russian power project in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district has run into rough weather following stiff resistance from locals who have been protesting since September under People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy banner, citing safety concerns following the Fukushima disaster last year.
• Asked about an outsider hand in the protests that have been dragging for over six months now, the Ambassador said it is for "your government to decide.""There is an investigation (into it and the source of money for the protests). There were suspicions that they get money from somewhere else. To organise such a movement, put up tents and shamiana, one needs money for such a long time," he said.

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