The Hindu : Front Page : Medha will not give up fast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Medha will not give up fast

Gargi Parsai

Seeks full review of project; Union Ministers Saifuddin Soz, Meira Kumar call on NBA activist

NEW DELHI: Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar and two others who are on indefinite fast here, declined on Monday the offer of juice from Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithiviraj Chauhan, to break her fast.

Mr. Chauhan represented Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Looking frail and weak on the sixth day of the fast, Ms. Patkar told the Ministerial team that the indefinite fast would continue till the construction of the Narmada dam in Gujarat ceased and a full review of the project as well as the rehabilitation of displaced families were conducted.

The NBA said more than 35,000 dam-affected families remained to be rehabilitated in the Narmada riparian States of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat at the proposed dam height of 121.92 metres.

In a related development, the Supreme Court deferred hearing — originally listed for on Monday — in the matter and posted it for April 17. The NBA has moved the apex court seeking justice for the displaced families.

The UPA's Left allies have been supportive of Ms. Patkar's struggle and are mounting pressure on the Government to immediately intervene in the matter.

CPI-Marxist Polit Bureau and Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat and Central Committee member Suhasini Ali visited Ms. Patkar at the dharna site.

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