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dam-l LS: Medha to go on Indefinite Fast from Oct 2
NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN
URGENT
Press Relese 1.10.99/ Dhule
Medha Patkar of Narmada Bachao has today declared to launch an indefinite
fast in Dhule jail from Saturday, October 2, against the crass injustice
and adamant attitude of Government of Maharashtra in discussing the basic
issues with the people, and arrogant, defamatory statements by the Chief
Minister Narayan Rane against the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA). The 386
arrested men and women from the Narmada valley have been in Dhule jail from
23 September and would not be accepting the release on personal bond in the
case under s. 144 and 37(1). The Sessions Judge of Nandurbar, the district
headquarters, Mr. Kharkar had quashed the police action against Medha
Patkar and others under s. 151.
Medha Patkar has said that "the Chief Minister, by his action and responses
made it clear that the state government has no courage to face the real
issues about the dam and displacement. It is not able to face the people
and their questions". The state government today (Oct. 1) also objected to
granting the release of the 386 arrested people on personal bond.
In another development, the Police Prosecuter told the Taloda (Dist.
Nandurbar) court that the NBA activists should be released only on the
bonds of Rs. 3000 and not on personal bonds. This means that it would much
time and money for the people in the Narmada valley to go through a simple
procedure of personal bonds. The people in the jail have refused to give
these bonds.
In a statement Medha and others said that "Mr. Rane is misguiding the
people of Maharashtra and has been telling utters lie by claiming that the
controversial Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) is beneficial to the state and
that there is enough land for the resettlement of the oustees. This false
claim is being made by him even after admitting that he did not know the
facts regarding the cost benefit of the project or the state of
rehabilitation, during our discussions. The Chief Minister has been
bluffing on the issue of the dam and rehabilitation as he knows that he
stands on a sticky wicket. For that reason alone, the Chief Minister and
his government has lodged 386 of us in Dhule jail implicating in false
charges and is scary of coming forward to discuss the issue with the
Andolan."
"We challenge the state government to prove the cost benefit of the SSP,
the benefit of the electricity to Maharashtra from the project and the
availability of 2200 hectares of rehabilitation land for the people
displaced according to the law. This must be proved in front of the people
who have been in jail and on dharna within 48 hours, either by the Chief
Minister, Chief Secretary or some such responsible and knowledgeable
official in the presence of the independent experts. Such independent
persons can de decided with the agreement of the NBA. If the state
government did not come forward and accept this challenge, it will be
proved once again that the state government has played fraud on its people."
Meanwhile, the people from the Narmada valley and supporters from various
parts of Maharashtra will be holding a protest rally tomorrow in Dhule.
Sanjay Sangvai