Dear all,
As you all know, senior activists of Narmada Bachao Andolan including Kamla Yadav, Kailash Awasya, Yogini Khanolkar, Jikubhai Tadvi, Medha Patkar and about 80 other oustees from the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat were unlawfully taken into custody by the Delhi police and detained at the Parliament Street Police Station, for more than 6 hours on 1st December, 2014. The police action came as a shocking surprise to the activists, since just minutes ago, the Union Water Resources Minister, Ms. Uma Bharati promised a detailed meeting with the activists on 2nd December, in presence of Director, (Rehabilitation), NCA.
This assurance was given after the activists protested at the gates of the Ministry and subsequently Ms. Uma Bharati met Medha Patkar with a delegation in her office. The sudden arrest, despite the promise of dialogue, angered the oustees, who sat on a satyagraha inside the police station. Many senior social and political activists including Ali Anwar, Member of Parliament JD(U), Dr. Sunilam KSS, Annie Raja, CPI, Kavita Srivastava, PUCL, Kamayani, MKSS and number of advocates met the oustees at the station. Later in the evening, all the oustees and activists were released unconditionally, after Ms. Uma Bharti wrote to Mr. Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister stating that the oustees had a peaceful interaction and they did not cause any disturbance, hence no ction may be taken against them. A true copy of the Minister’s letter is enclosed.
Hundreds of oustees participated in the massive rally and public meetings of people movements (Convergence) the next day, where, among other issues, the demand not to displace, rehabilitate the thousands of families affected by various projects including the Sardar Sarovar Project in the Narmada Valley and also to review the project was raised. We thank all of you for being with us in this struggle. Our struggle will have to intensify in the days to come, both on the field and in the Supreme Court and we urge you all to stand by us in these trying times. Do write to PM to stop work at the dam and to review the decision.
