Other States - Maharashtra   

Medha Patkar taken to safety

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI Sept. 4. The Narmado Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader, Medha Patkar, participating in a `satyagraha' in protest against the non-rehabilitation of the people facing submergence, was today taken to safety by the authorities, officials said.About 100 others were also picked up, but no mention was made about arrests. For the past two days, Ms. Patkar has been moving in a motorised boat between Jalasindhi in Madhya Pradesh and Dhomkhedi in Maharashtra — both on the banks of the Narmada — wanting to be with the people "who have been short-changed on promises.''

Given the fact that the State Government was being flooded with calls expressing concern over the "danger to Ms. Patkar,'' the authorities have been keeping a close watch.But keeping an eye on her — while she was moving around on a boat which the Government incorrectly says was a "speedboat'' — has been difficult because of the difficult terrain, accessibility and the rain.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, said, "she has speedboats, we have barges.'' He earlier only reported her being "sighted.''

On Tuesday, Ms. Patkar had stood in the gushing Narmada at Dhomkhedi along with about 100 local persons and anti-dam supporters.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Medha Patkar taken to safety

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu