Senior Citizen Pins Down PM Modi, FM Jaitley on Callous Indifference to Plight

August 9, 2017

This Open Letter exposes the sham of the Modi regime’s policies when it comes to senior citizens, their precious savings and inflation of food items

Respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, Respected Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely ji,

First of all I extend my sincere thanks in anticipation that you will spare a few minutes of your valuable time to read and take suitable action in the matter.

I am a senior citizen and on August 1, 2012, I put Rs 40 lakhs in a nationalised Bank for 5 years. I was being paid an amount of Rs. 35,352/- every month (of course subject to income tax deductions) enabling me to lead a worry free life financially.

Now on maturity I have reinvested the amount in the same Bank and I will be paid Rs. 26,489/-; a shortfall of Rs. 8863/- i.e. 25% over the previous return, per month. Can you please advise me from where I should make good the loss or sacrifice consumption of medicines or atta (flour) or dals (lentils) or vegetables or fruit or milk or what?

Your government has done practically nothing after taking over in 2014, for senior citizens. No additional facilities have been extended but withdrawal of what existed in 2014. No commodity or provision item is available at the price of 2014.

Yes, you have been able to bring down the figures of inflation and indices but not the actual prices. Every off and on the prices of some essential daily use items go rocket high. For example, the process of dals, chana/besan, salt, onion and now, tomatoes. At such a time, we cannot even dare to look at those items.

I know you have political and the theoretical replies for these issues like interest on deposits and advances in banks depend on demand and supply. The prices of daily use items vary with the seasons, being agricultural products. But the straight upward shooting up of prices cannot be justified by these reasons that you give.

If the government wants to provide cheaper credits to the trades and industries, it should not be at the cost of depositors. Banks are sitting over volcanoes of NPAs and all good money is being diverted for bad money.

Is it not the duty of the government to enable the senior citizens to lead a respectable life who have spent their golden years in serving various organisations and finally the nation?

Government cannot look the other way. I am at a loss to understand from where this deficit of 25% will be met. Is any of the minister/MP/MLA is ready to cut his salary and allowances by this amout/percentage? If not, then why the public, and why especially senior citizens?

Perhaps it is because that, like you, we do not have the power to fix our own salaries, allowances and perks and getting everything for full year, for sessions of total of 3 months and that too attending sessions at their sweet will. When the matter of increasing your salaries comes, you pass the same just in 2 minutes in Parliament, with no discussion or deliberation, with all heads together be it from ruling or opposition benches. For this increase, you totally over look the cost to the exchequer, deficit, economics and any other factor.

The government had started a scheme for deposits of senior citizens and the rate was 9.20% but In July, 14 it was reduced to 8.3%; the amount limited to Rs 15 lakhs. This is totally unjustified.

The rate should be a minimum of 12% and the amount limit should be equal to what a person gets as terminal benefits. The government should ensure financial respectability to the senior citizens to walk with their heads straight.

I am sure you will understand the plight of the people whose good part of expenses comes from the interest of their savings of life time.
Sorry if I have offended you in any way.Thanks and Regards

D. P. Bhateja

(Received via What’s App from an ex general manager of a company, presently living in Chandigarh; Address and Mobile Nos have been withheld. The letter had been posted on the Facebook pages of the prime minister and finance minister where it no more finds a place; The language has been slightly edited for grammatical reasons)

The Stalking of a Young Woman & BJP’s Ominous Silence

August 9, 2017

Chandigarh Police was pressurized to dilute the case against Vikas Barala, son of BJP leader Subhash Barala

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar-led BJP government has been talking about the Beti Bachao- Beti Padhao Campaign but their deeds are contradictory in nature. Chandigarh Police was pressurized to dilute the case against Vikas Barala, son of BJP leader Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar, who were earlier arrested for stalking and intimidating the 29-year-old Varnika Kundu last week.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

Trade Unions Call for Indefinite General Strike; Dharna at Parliament in November

August 9, 2017

India’s central trade unions have decided to go on a countrywide indefinite strike.

India’s central trade unions have decided to go on a countrywide indefinite strike. A three-day dharna of lakhs of workers is planned for 9, 10 and 11 November at Parliament Street, which is to be followed by the indefinite General Strike against the anti-labour policies of the NDA government.

The decision was announced today at the National Convention of Workers at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi. The convention was organised by the joint platform of all the central trade unions – CITU, AITUC, INTUC, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC and LPF, and the National Federations of State and Central Government employees and the employees in a wide range of sectors such as banking, telecom, coal, steel, transport and construction.

The declaration adopted at the Convention expressed dismay that the government has been completely ignoring the 12 point Charter of Demands put forward by the trade unions. The demands include those concerning minimum wages, social security, workers’ status, pay and facilities for scheme workers, and the roll-back of privatisation and mass-scale contractorisation. Numerous strike actions with the participation of crores of workers have been organised in the recent years on many of these issues. But “the ruling regime at the centre has been increasing onslaught on the rights and livelihood of the working people of the country”, said the declaration.

The Convention noted the worsening of the problem of unemployment in the country as employment generation has turned negative even in the most labour-intensive sectors. The anti-worker labour law reforms and the latest move to dismantle the existing statutory Social Security infrastructure were vehemently criticised.

The trade unions slammed the accelerated moves by the central government to privatise strategic Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) including those engaged in defence production, public sector banks, insurance, railways, oil, power and public road transport.
In a significant call for worker-peasant unity, the Convention expressed solidarity with the farmers in India who have been on an agitational path all across the country.

The Convention denounced the growing trend of communal and divisive machinations being spread in society with the active patronage of the government machinery.

The unions have decided to organise massive campaigns, mobilisations and conventions at the levels of blocks, districts, industrial centres and States in preparation for the mobilisation in Delhi in November.

Leaders of the central trade unions such as Tapan Sen (CITU), Amarjeet Kaur (AITUC), G Sanjeeva Reddy (INTUC) and Harbhajan Singh Siddu (HMS) addressed the Convention. Those who presided over the convention included Dr K Hemalata of CITU, Ramendra Kumar of AITUC, Ashok Singh of INTUC and Harbhajan Singh Siddu of HMS.

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

All India Protests Against Forced Arrest of Medha Patkar & Others

August 8, 2017

Protests erupted in various parts of India against the brutal arrest of Medha Patkar, Pushpa Bahan, Dharmendra Bhai and 7 more people sitting on a fast since July 27 to protest against the abysmal rehabilitation of Narmada evacuees. A communique of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) said that Bhagwati Bahan and Rukmani Bahan are continuing their fast along with 10 people at Chikhalda.
Medha Patkar, leader of the NBA has been hospitalised in Indore’s Bombay Hospital while the rest of the protesters have been kept at Dhar. It is alleged that the police have not allowing anybody to stay with Medha Patkar.

Bhopal Bengaluru
Chinmay Mishra and Bilal Khan were reportedly interrogated for half an hour at separate places when they tried to meet Medha Patkar today.

The Shivraj Singh government has been, according to NBA misleading people under the guise of showing concern for the health of the fasting protesters, in actuality detaining them and not allowing any free access to be with the protesters.

Meanwhile, the NBA has approached the
National Human Rights Commission, with a petition that has asked for strict action to be taken against the violent attack by police officials and others involved, yesterday.

A Representation has also been made to Indian Ambassador in Rome and Harare, and a separate representation to the UN Rapporteur on Housing

New Delhi | August 08, 2017 : Today, people across the country protested against the high handed action of MP Police of the Dhar and Badwani administration which used excessive force leaving 48 people injured, some of them were admitted to ICU in Badwani.

In Delhi, more than 50 protestors marched to the MP Bhavan and submitted the memorandum demanding immediate release of all the people from the hospital and allow them to discuss their next course of action.

They have also demanded action against the District Magistrate, SP and other officials responsible for the high handedness of the Police forces and initiate dialogue with the Narmada Bachao Andolan and urged a solution for the problems of the 40000 Saradar Sarovar Dam affected families.

With this, a delegation of Hannan Mollah (former MP), Yogendra Yadav (Swaraj Abhiyaan), Kavita Krishnan (AIPWA), Satyavan Ji (AIKKMS), Manimala Ji and Snehlata Shukla (DSG) submitted the memorandum to the Deputy Resident Commissioner and Joint Resident Commissioner under signed by more than 30 representatives of people’s organization. Shabnam Hashmi (ANHAD), Rajendra Ravi (NAPM), Sandeep Pandey (Socialist Party of India), Faisal Khan (Khudai Khidmatgar), Bhupendra Singh Rawat (Jan Sangharsh Vahini), Ramesh Sharma (SUCI (C)) and many others were part of the protest.

Madhuresh Kumar, National Convener, NAPM gave a brief account of yesterday’s incident and said that the government has used these violent tactics before but that the NBA will keep the fight on. Since yesterday Medha Patkar and others admitted in Indore and Dhar hospitals respectively, with limited access. The Govt. has maintained that they are concerned about their health and they have only been hospitalized.

If they are merely hospitalized then shouldn’t they be treated like normal patients with visitation rights by their colleagues, friends and, family?

While the government is making false claims that they are concerned about their health would have meant that, all 12 should have been kept in the same hospital at least. Instead, 9 of the fasting protesters are in Dhar district hospital and two Rukmani Bahan and Bhagwati Bahan were left at the Dharna site itself where they still continue to fast.

Yogendra Yadav, expressed a serious concern and said that the we are asking very basic things, rehabilitation of all the affected people and on the issues, MP government is both misleading the publuc and using forces on peaceful protestors. The movement has exposed the development model and given us courage to ask what development means for us?

Bhubhaneshwar Hyderabad

Sandeep Pandey said that government is not acting for the benefits of the people. Just as the Gujarat government destroyed the Sabarmati River, now the MP Govt. and government of India are doing the same with people of Narmada Valley. Kavita Krishnan extended her full solidarity to the people of Narmada Valley and said that she believes that the movement will fight out the atrocious govt and win the battle for the rights of people. Satyavan Ji, Bhupendra Singh Rawat and many others also extended their solidarity to the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the people and asked strict actions against the brutal attack on the people happened yesterday evening.

NAPM has states that they believe the whole use of force was aime at breaking the spirit of their peaceful protest and there was no concern for their well being. Or else, the government would have initiated dialogue much before this. Shivraj Singh’s claim to be a sensitive CM but it is not visible in your actions. Words don’t mean anything to us.

NAPM has condemned the high handed action of police forces who came with baton fixed with nails. This is a serious violation of human rights of the people sitting on peaceful fast fighting against the illegal drowning of more than 40000 families in Narmada Valley.

Series of action protest demonstration all over the country and internationally:

1. Rome, Italy : Representation made to Indian Ambassador
2. Harare, Zimbabwe : Representation made to Indian Ambassador
3. Representation made to UN Rapporteur on Housing
4. Bengaluru, Karnataka : Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Green Brigade announced full pledged solidarity to Narmada Bachao Andolan and Medha Patkar.
5. Tumkur, Karnataka : Protest demonstration by people of various organisations in support of NBA.
6. Hyderabad, Telangana : Protest demonstration by Human Rights Forum and other organisations.
7. Pune, Maharashtra : Rally by people in support to NBA by Lokayat, Rashtriya Seva Dal and other supporters.
8. Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh : Silent Protest and Human Chain by sensitive people against the brutal attack of police forces on people of Narmada Valley.
9. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh : Solidarity fast against the arrest of Medha Patkar and people of Narmada Valley by NAPM and Joint Action committee, Varanasi.
10. Bhubneshwar, Odisha : Protest in support of Narmada Valley by Lok Shakti Abhiyaan and NAPM, Odisha.
11. Chikhalda, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh : Protest by students of Salsabeel Green School against arrest of Medha Patkar and others.

New Delhi New Delhi

Pune Salsabeel Green School

Tumkur Varanasi

Supreme Court, after agreeing to hear the matter today, decided not to interfere in the ongoing proceedings at Indore High Court, Monitoring Compliance of its February 8, 2017 Order. Meanwhile the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) has stated that it will continue its legal and ground fight till full justice is achieved to all in Narmada Valley. NBA will decide on continued indefinite fast of Medha Patkar and 21 others only after she is allowed full access in hospital. As of now she remains arrested in a Hospital in Indore.

New Delhi, August 8 : The SLP filed by Bhagirath Dhangar and ors Vs State of MP came today for hearing. The matter was argued by Shri Fali Nariman, Sanjay Parikh and Prashant Bhushan. By order dated 08.02.2017, the Supreme Court had directed rehabilitation of the oustees; SC had also said that the oustees have to vacate, by 31.07.2017, otherwise forcible eviction will take place. As per the said order, entire R&R and work at the rehabilitation sites was to be completed. As R&R was not done as per SC judgments of 2000 and 2005 and the order dated 08.02.2017, some of the oustees had filed writ petition along with 602 interveners in High Court, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Against the interim order passed by the High Court, the oustees had filed the special leave petition. The SLP was filed against the orders dated 19.06.2017 and 13.07.2017. in the order dated 13.07.2017, the High Court had sought a report on status of rehabilitation, rehabilitation sites and had adjourned the matter to 01.08.2017.

Today, the Supreme Court at this stage decided not to interfere with the proceedings pending before the Indore High Court as it was against interim orders and the High Court is already monitoring the R&R. As a matter of fact when the writ petition came up for hearing on 01.08.2017, the High Court adjourned it to 10.08.2017, as the SLP was listed today, on 08.08.2017. Now the High Court will continue to monitor R&R where the petition is listed for hearing on 10.08.2017

Narmada Bachao Andolan has complete faith in that justice will be done. After the violent attack and arrest by the MP govt on fasting protesters yesterday, till today the access to Medha Patkar in Indore hospital and Dharmendra Bhai, Pushpa behan and others at Dhar hospital is still restricted. NBA condemns this and demands immediate access. As of now the indefinite fast continues in hospital and also 10 new people have started fasting at the Chikalda village along. Only when Medha Ji and others are released and allowed full access to her colleagues, a decision on continuing indefinite fast will be undertaken after collective discussions, said the NBA.

We will continue to fight this until justice is done to the 40,000 families in the Narmada Valley.

2 Types Of Rs. 500 Notes? Congress Alleges ‘Biggest Scam Of Century’

August 8, 2017

Waving two types of Rs. 500 notes in Parliament, Congress accuses the Modi-led NDA government of the ‘biggest scam of the century’

The Congress created a huge row in Parliament today, accusing the Modi-led NDA government of perpetrating the “biggest scam of the century”.

Waving a placard with two kinds of Rs. 500 notes in the House, Congress MP Kapil Sibal said: “Today we have discovered why the government took the demonetisation decision. The RBI prints two types of currency notes. These are of different size and different design… how is it possible?”

Sibal’s party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad chipped in with the comment: “We never printed two kinds of notes, one for the party and one for the government – there are two kinds of Rs. 500 notes and two kinds of Rs. 2,000 notes.”

The allegations created a huge row resulting in the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha.

The Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’brien, Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav and Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal backed the Congress.

Responding to the allegations, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley accused the Congress of making “irresponsible statements” and raising frivolous issues in Parliament.

Promising to verify the authenticity of the notes, Jaitley told NDTV, “Given such a big print run there can be an odd case of a currency being slightly bigger or not.

“Different printing presses might have a slight variation in size and design. This does not mean there are two different sets of bank notes,” unidentified sources told NDTV.

It’s Democratic Kerala Versus RSS

August 8, 2017

Academics Denounce Attacks by RSS and Corporate Media

Prominent academics have come down heavily on the barrage of attacks unleashed by the RSS and the corporate media against the State of Kerala in the recent days.

Renowned historian KN Ganesh said in a Facebook post that the coming months will witness a direct conflict between the RSS on the one hand and Democratic Kerala on the other. The reason for this is not murders or attacks on party offices.

“It was Kerala which strongly resisted the “gau raksha” propaganda of the RSS. Even the BJP leaders had to keep silent about the beef festivals organised across Kerala”, Ganesh said. “Kerala also stood up against the atrocities unleashed against Dalits and minorities by the RSS all across India.”

“Even with continuous efforts, the BJP in Kerala has not been able to move forward even an inch in Kerala from their situation during the 2016 election. This is the state of affairs even when they managed to win UP, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and now Bihar, and votes shifted in their favour in the President, Vice-President polls. Also remember that Kerala is the State with the maximum number of RSS shakhas in India.”

Ganesh also mentioned Kerala’s resistance against neoliberal policies and the mass protests against demonetisation that occurred in the State. Kerala’s advance as a State which has resisted the Hindutva wave politically, culturally and intellectually has thoroughly frustrated the RSS, he said.

“This issue is something that we must discuss on the basis of organisational politics in Kerala. The primary question is whether we need a Democratic Kerala or not. It is certain that Sangh Parivar politics [, if allowed to take hold,] will destroy Democratic Kerala. We will have to take a decision very fast – whether to fight for Democratic Kerala, or with the Sangh Parivar. There is not relevance for any other debate now.”

Economist Venktesh Athreya pointed out that Kerala has one of the lowest crime rates in India.

“Kerala remains the most advanced among Indian states by a whole set of widely accepted socioeconomic indicators and has a robust democratic culture of debates, discussions and collective action right from Grama sabha onwards”, Athreya said. “In relation to Kerala, the Sangh is playing its usual diabolical games, but it is certainly living in a fool’s paradise if it thinks it will get away with these tactics or worse that it can impose President’s Rule in Kerala.”, he wrote.

Arun Jaitley was “lamenting how terrible it is when a series of killings occur and the state stands by. It was a perfect description of U.P.”, he said.

“Under LDF, every incident has been promptly responded to by the government through appropriate administrative action as well as public campaigns to promote peaceful democratic functioning. Inadequacies will be there in any state government’s functioning and these can be pointed out and corrective action taken”, he added. “It is not always possible for any political leadership to ensure non-retaliation by local, affected persons against violence that they have been a victim of. The point is that the LDF government as also the CPM leadership have been far more responsive to criticisms and have taken prompt corrective action in many instances. The Sangh Parivar, on the other hand, in and out of government, has always unleashed violence on political opponents and in order to promote communal conflagrations. They also target religious minorities and Dalits.”

Economist R Ramakumar, Dean of the School of Development Studies at TISS, Mumbai, said in a post that there is a concerted campaign against Kerala in the national media these days.

“There is some deep frustration within the BJP/RSS leadership vis-a-vis Kerala”, he said. “Even as they have conquered every other Congress-ruled State one after the other, Kerala has remained firm with the secular forces.”

“Corporate forces aligned to the BJP/RSS have taken over much of the national media. They are on a totally one-sided harangue against the Left. For the CPI(M), this is both a compliment and a challenge. Compliment, because Amit Shah has certified them to be his most formidable intellectual and political enemy. Challenge, because it has to protect its organisation and cadres from the violence and bloodshed that the RSS has unleashed in Kerala”, he wrote.

Ramakumar quoted figures to support his arguments: “Over the years, the CPI(M) has suffered the most in terms of the number of people killed in political violence. Between 1971 and 2017, about 527 CPI(M) workers were killed. On the other hand, all the other parties put together lost about 442 lives. Of these 442, only 185 belonged to the RSS/BJP/ABVP. Now take the last 11 years: 47 CPI(M) workers were killed; 40 BJP/RSS workers were killed; 4 Congress workers were killed. Clearly, the target of attack of every party is the CPI(M).
”
Ramakumar ends his post with an appeal to the secular people at large: “Kerala has to be protected from this Hindutva onslaught. If we let Kerala go from our hands, there will be nothing left in the secular edifice to protect. This is the time to ask that famous question: which side are you on?”

Courtesy: Newsclick.in

Raksha Bandhan: Hindu-Muslims tie Rakhi to each other in riot-hit Basirhat

August 8, 2017

It has only been a month since Basirhat was engulfed in communal tensions and in an effort to provide a healing touch and promote communal harmony, Hindus and Muslims of Basirhat celebrated Raksha Bandhan on Monday by tying Rakhi to each other under the banner of ‘Bangla Sanskriti Mancha’.

About 100 people, including over 20 intellectuals from various fields like literary world, artist, writers, poets, teachers and journalists, attended the programme. NGO ‘Rights to Life Foundation’ and a local media Times Bangla organised the programme.

Speaking at the occasion, Pannalal Mallick, a Bengali writer from Bashirhat, said, “The present time political situation in Bengal makes it necessary to bring back the days of Tagore when he thwarted the British Divide and Rule policy in Bengal over religion and united all Hindus and Muslims under a single umbrella, namely Bengali culture and tradition. With this attempt of Raksha Bandhan today, we hope to reinstate our glory of peaceful coexistence.”

112 years ago, when the British government decided to partition Bengal in 1905, Rabindranath Tagore had used the occasion of Raksha Bandhan that coincidentally that year fell on the same day when partition plan was to take effect on October 16, to send a political message of communal-harmony by encouraging Hindu and Muslims to tie the sacred threads of fraternity and unity on each other’s wrists and urged everyone to keep fast for a day. Incidentally, August 7 is also the death anniversary of the Nobel Laureate.

“Bengal is the Land of RabindranathTagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Netaji Subash Chandra Bose where Hindus and Muslims have lived together peacefully. Through this program, we want to send the message of peace and harmony,” said Samirul Islam of ‘Rights to Life Foundation,’ adding, “Bengalis will stand firm and fight all kinds of communal forces.”

Nirmal Ghosh from All India People’s Forum, said, “The citizens of this country are being deprived and the rights guaranteed to them under the Indian Constitution are being denied by a group of intolerant people. Until and unless this is revoked, the political situation will be more worsening throughout the country.”

Poets like Ali Fazrul Jahan also attended the event along with Krishna Ghosh, Bimal Chakrabarty and madrasa teachers Maulana Samsuddoha Quashemi and Masudur Rahaman among others.

Earlier, on the birth anniversary of the world poet, on May 7, a similar program was organized at Dhulagarh under the same banner of ‘Bangla Sanskriti Mancha’.

Courtesy: Two Circles

Medhaji Patkar Forcibly Detained, Eve of SC Hearing on Narmada Evacuees Rehabilitation

August 7, 2017

Medhaji Patkar Forcibly Detained, Eve of SC Hearing on Narmada Evacuees Rehabilitation Sabrangindia has received a voice Mail from the fasting leader of the Narmada Bachan Andolan Minutes ago

मेधा जी का गिरफ़्तारी के ठीक पहले का संदेश, अगस्त ७, शाम ६ बजे

आज मध्य प्रदेश सरकार हमारे १२ दिन के अनशन पर बैठे हुए १२ साथियों को मात्र गिरफ़्तार करके जवाब दे रही हैं। ये कोई अहिंसक आंदोलन का जवाब नहीं है। मोदीजी के राज में शिवराजजी के राज में एक गहरा संवादन, जो हुआ उस पर जवाब नहीं, आकड़ों का खेल, कानून का उल्लंघन और केवल बल प्रयोग जो आज पुलिस लाकर और कल पानी लाकर करने की उनकी मंशा है। इसका उपयोग ये हम लोग इस देश में गाँधी के सपनों की हत्या मानते है, बाबा साहेब के संविधान को भी न मानने वाले ये राज पर बैठे है।

और वह समाजों के, गाओं के, किसानों के, मज़दूरों के, मच्छुवार्रों के कोई परवा नहीं करते है। ये अब इस बात से स्पष्ट हो रहा है। उन्होंने बंदूकों से हत्या की यहां और यहाँ जल हत्या करने के मंशा है इसलिए हम उनके बीच में आ रहे हैं ऐसा उनका मानना है। पहले अनशन तोड़ो बात करो, यह हम कैसे मंज़ूर कर सकते है?

एक बाजू मुख्यमंत्री खुद कह रहे है कि ट्रिब्यूनल का फैसला जो कानून, उसका अमल पूरा हो चुका है। दुसरे बाजू बोल रहे है अनशन तोड़ने के बाद ही चर्चा करेंगे। इसके साथ जिन मुद्दों पर सब तो रख चुके है। तो अब यह चोटी पर जाना पड़ेगा, अहिंसक आंदोलन और जवाब समाज ने देना पड़ेगा। नर्मदा घाटी के लोगों पर बहुत कहार मचाने जा रहे हैं। प्रकृति साथ दे रही है, गुजरात पानी से लबालब है, यहां पानी नही भरा है। लेकिन कल क्या होगा कौन जाने?

१२ अगस्त को मोदीजी ने अगर इस मुद्दे पर महोत्सव मनाया और जश्न मनाया और वह भी साधुओं के साथ और १२ मुख्या मंत्रियों के साथ, तो उनकी सरकार और उनकी पार्टी किस प्रकार से विकास को आगे धकेलना चाह रही है। इस देश के कोने कोने में संघर्ष पे उतरे साथी कह रहे है, वही बात फिर अधूरिखित। हम इतना ही चाहते है, कि ‘नर्मदा से हो सही विकास, समर्थकों की यहीं है आस’ – यह हमारा नारा आज केवल नर्मदा घाटी के लिए नहीं है, देश में कोई भी अब विस्थापन के आधार पर विकास मान्य न करें। विकल्प वही तय करें।

यही हम चाहते हैं ।
मेधा पाटकर

UPDATE : @medhanarmada has just been lifted from the Dharna site on 12th day of her fast. Along with her five other fasting protesters have also been arrested, remaining 6 continue their fast. Nearly 2000 police force was mobilised who came down heavily on the peaceful ongoing meeting. They used force to break the pandals and when women tries resisting the arrest of Medha ji they were beaten and manhandled by male policemen. Several have suffered injury. They broke the stage, the pandal, chairs and rope fencing etc. It is shameful that in 12 days they never felt it good enough to dialogue with the people but used force to finally arrest her. Narmada Bachao Andolan strongly condemns this action and resolves that the agitation will continue. Medha ji will continue to fast and so will others. We are not going to be cowed down by this.

Meanwhile, Sabrangindia has received photographs of a Tarhawad rehabilitation site , tehsil Taloda, district Nandurbar , Maharashtra completely submerged despite government’s false assurances

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