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dam-l Conclusion of 1999 Narmada Satyagraha
THE NARMADA SATYAGRAHA
October 12, 1999, Domkhedi-Jalsindhi
Dear Friends,
The people in the Narmada valley call unto you, to be present at the
conclusion programme of the Satyagraha in the Narmada valley, that has
been going on since June 20. The people have launched the satyagraha
against the unjust submergence and displacement due to the controversial
Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP).
The people were compelled to dare the submergence due to the increase in
the height of the SSP from 80.3 mts. up to 88 mts. by an interim order of
the Supreme Court of India. This was possible because of the cheating
and false affidavits by the state governments of Maharashtra, M.P., and
Gujarat along with the union government in the Supreme Court regarding
the resettlement. The Andolan has challenged the fraud played upon the
people and at the same time decided to reiterate its resolve to face the
injustice in form of the unwarranted submergence.
The Andolan has called upon the people from all over India to fight
against this injustice and uphold the spirit of the Constitution - the
equality and justice to the downtrodden and depressed classes. It was
made clear that if the work on the dam is allowed to go further without
going into all the basic issues through a new tribunal and with public
hearing, some of the activists would commit 'jal samarpan' ( sacrifice
in water) as a form of ethical and moral statement of refusal to accept
the injustice.
During the period of the satyagraha, there were hearings
in the Supreme Court, and some moves to initiate the contempt of court
proceedings against the Andolan and the Booker Prize winner literateur,
Ms. Arundhati Roy. However, no decision has yet been taken about this.
LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE
The people have dared submergence three times during this period. On
August 10-11, for the first time the waters started entering in the
Satyagraha house in Domkhedi. Till the 11th noon, the satyagrahis were
standing in the waist deep submergence water. They resisted the attempt
to arrest them by the police. About 300 villagers were standing outside
the satyagraha house. In Jalsindhi also, the water was hardly 2 feet
below the satyagraha house.
The next submergence occurred on 18th and 21st September. On 18th, over
125 men and women were arrested in Pipalchop village when they were
facing the swirling waters. The flood situation was exacerbated by the
releases from the upstream dams of Bargi, Tawa and Barna. On 18th, the
people were unmoved even when the water rose upton their waist and chest.
The police entered in the first house of Noorji, by breaking the
thatched wall. They huddled, scuffled and taken the people in
custody. Meanwhile, over 15 satyagrahis have been standing in rising
waters in Domkhedi for past 24 hours.
Those detained in Pipalchop were released at Dhadgaon on 19th, and they
again came back to join Domkhedi satyagrahis. From 20th night, the young
and old men and women, activists, villagers gathered in the Domkhedi
house, sang the songs, raised slogans as the water was rising. By noon
of 21st, the satyagrahis were in shoulder deep water. As as common
decision, only three satyagrahis of 'samarpit dal' remained in
satyagraha house in the afternoon, with water barely inches below
their nose. Again the police arrived and forcibly taken into custody
about 300 men and women from Domkhedi.
In Jalsindhi also the submergence waters reached the Satyagraha house
and the satyagrahis were standing in knee deep waters. The people drove
away the police who came to whisk them off. The people dared submergence
in Sikka, Pipalchop and Bharad also. Hundreds of acres of standing crop
was destroyed and number of houses were submerged due to these backwater
effects. The livelihood of people was destroyed.
The people from Domkhedi, released in Dhadgaon, held protest dharna at
Dhadgaon, demanding the discussions with the Maharashtra government.
However, 386 men and women were arrested and were dumped in Dhule jail,
for 13 days, under flimsy charges, while the then Chief Minister was
making baseless charges against the Andolan. Six of the detainees
launched indefinite fast in the jail.After much judicial prevarication,
all satyagrahis were released on October 6.
NEW STRENGTH
During the Satyagraha hundreds of representatives of people's
organisations, social-political activists, students came in the valley
to participate in Youth Camps, the March through villages, major
meetings on 4thy and 11th July, the camp for Alternatives and resource
planning and the Rally for the Valley with the initiative of
Ms. Arundhati Roy.
The satyagraha and the struggle in Jalsindhi and Domkhedi have brought
forth the resolve of the people " Doobenge par hatenge nahin" ( we will
drown but not move out). It also has reinvigorated the spirit of
fighting in the adivasi and non-adivasi areas of the valley. Number of
young men and women activist from the villages emerged.
We have to consolidate on the processes that have emerged and further
intensify, widen the struggle against the unjust submergence and
displacement and the dam. The struggle is a part of the larger struggle
against the capitalist, centralised, unsustainable and destructive
development.
WE APPEAL ALL OF YOU TO COME IN THE VALLEY FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE
SATYAGRAHA THAT WAS LAUNCHED SINCE JUNE 20
THE SATYAGRAHA SAMAPAN (CONCLUSION) WILL BE IN DOMKHEDI (MAH.),
JALSINDHI ( M.P.) OCTOBER 12, 1999.
The conclusion of Satyagraha will herald a new phase of the struggle and
the re-generation, resource planning in the valley for the right to life
and development. Your participation, contribution on this occasion would
go a long way in strengthening the struggle in the valley.
DADLIA VASAVE KHIALI BAI VASAVE LUWARIYA SHANKARIYA
( Domkhedi) ( Domkhedi, Mah.) (Jalsindhi,M.P.)
MOHAN PATIDAR PRABHUBHAI TADVI
(Bhavaria, Nimad) ( Waghadia, Guj) ASHISH MANDLOI
( Narmada Youths )
( Please arrive at Baroda or Badwani offices of Andolan till the night
of 11th, or early morning of 12th. Or proceed from Baroda on morning of
12th to Kadipani, via Kavant. From Kadipani, to Hapeshwar by a vehicle
of Andolan or on foot. There will be boat ferry available at Hapeshwar
river bank. You are expected to reach Domkhedi/ Jalsindhi by 12 in the
noon. Contact Baroda ( Ph.0265-382232) and Badwani ( 07290-22464).)