Skip to main content

Gujarat grassroots leaders "amend" negative perception towards Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan

NBA-led satyagraha of Narmada oustees in Madhya Pradesh:
finding supported in Gujarat?  
By Our Representative
In an unusual development, some of the most well known Gujarat's grassroots leaders, many of whom were till now known for their inimical hatred towards the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and its leader Medha Patkar, is beginning to change its perception. So far characterizing NBA and Parkar as "anti-Gujarat" because of their opposition to the construction of the Narmada dam, these activists have now given enough indication to suggest that, as times have change, so should the perceptions.
In a significant reply to a query on the social media site Facebook, Sagar Rabari, who has led several successful land rights struggles across Gujarat, has suggested that, since the country's situation has changed, there is a need for fresh thinking, and it no more necessary to share the past perception on NBA and Medha Parkar.
Rabari and his colleagues of the Gujarat Khedut Samaj and the Jameen Adhikar Andolan Gujarat (JAAG) led major struggles against the special investment regions (SIRs) in North Gujarat's Mandal-Bhechraji area, Bharuch district in South Gujarat, and Dholera area in Ahmedabad district.
While in Mandal-Bhechraji the Gujarat government was forced to downsize the SIR, in Bharuch it was forced to cancel it. As for Dholera, where the SIR is being proposed to be developed in order to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project of a smart city, the struggle is still on. A rally is already being planned against Dholera SIR as part of the fight against the anti-land acquisition Act.
Indicating that he would not hesitate in taking support from the NBA and Parkar, Rabari says, now that the Narmada dam has already been built, and water is flowing down the canals, "it is the collective duty to help the people who have suffered for sake of Gujarat farmers." Finding this an important development, Wilfred D'Costa of NGO Insaf, has commented on social media that Rabari's comment was "well said." 
Sagar Rabari
Rabari says, so far, if anything has gone wrong in providing Narmada water to the farmers, it "is politicians' fault", and not of "the farmers or villagers." He underlines, "I have had good terms with Medha Parkar", even when the NBA was "high" in the agenda of those who opposed it.
"We have met many times in and outside Ahmedabad", Rabari says in his social media revelation, adding, though, he cannot vouch for a similar stance of leaders like Sanat Mehta, but as far as he is concerned, "differences do not mean separation." Hence, the "questions" related with continuing to oppose "Patkar or others", he suggests, are out of place.
Notably, Gujarat Khedut Samaj, led by Rabari, is being strongly supported by one of Gujarat's most well known opponents of the NBA and Patkar, veteran leader Sanat Mehta, former chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), and an erstwhile Congress strongman.
Rabari's view about the need to take the support of NBA and Parkar in the "common fight" for farmers comes after he shared a photograph of NBA's satyagraha against submergence of Narmada oustees in Madhya Pradesh at Ghogal village in Khandva district. He was asked whether it means a "support to the NBA agitation" and if there is a change in favour of Patkar.

Comments

TRENDING

Reducing emission? India among top nations whose coal as energy source going up

By NS Venkataraman*  The State of the Global Climate report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that the year 2023 was the warmest year on record, with the global temperature of 1.4 degree celsius above pre-industrial 1850-1900 base line.

Lockdown 'total failure' of science more than of politics: Open letter on 4th anniversary

Counterview Desk  In an open letter to fellow academicians, scientists and medical practitioners in India, marking the fourth anniversary of India's lockdown (25 March 2024), the Managing Committee* of the Universal Health Organisation (UHO) has insisted on the need to "repair two years of immense damage to science".

Insider plot to kill Deendayal Upadhyay? What RSS pracharak Balraj Madhok said

By Shamsul Islam*  Balraj Madhok's died on May 2, 2016 ending an era of old guards of Hindutva politics. A senior RSS pracharak till his death was paid handsome tributes by the RSS leaders including PM Modi, himself a senior pracharak, for being a "stalwart leader of Jan Sangh. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. I had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions". The RSS also issued a formal condolence message signed by the Supremo Mohan Bhagwat on behalf of all swayamsevaks, referring to his contribution of commitment to nation and society. He was a leading RSS pracharak on whom his organization relied for initiating prominent Hindutva projects. But today nobody in the RSS-BJP top hierarchy remembers/talks about Madhok as he was an insider chronicler of the immense degeneration which was spreading as an epidemic in the high echelons of th

Magnetic, stunning, Protima Bedi 'exposed' malice of sexual repression in society

By Harsh Thakor*  Protima Bedi was born to a baniya businessman and a Bengali mother as Protima Gupta in Delhi in 1949. Her father was a small-time trader, who was thrown out of his family for marrying a dark Bengali women. The theme of her early life was to rebel against traditional bondage. It was extraordinary how Protima underwent a metamorphosis from a conventional convent-educated girl into a freak. On October 12th was her 75th birthday; earlier this year, on August 18th it was her 25th death anniversary.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

'Wrong direction': Paris NGO regrets MNC ArcelorMittal still using coal-based steel

By Rajiv Shah  A new report by Paris-based non-governmental research and campaigning organization, Reclaim Finance, has blamed the MNC ArcelorMittal – formed in 2006 following the takeover and merger of the western European steel maker Arcelor (Spain, France, and Luxembourg) by Indian-owned Mittal Steel – for using use “climate destructive” metallurgical coal for its projects in India.

'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence

Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview  story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded  reaction  in the form of a  link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Attack on foreign students: Gujarat varsity's reputation, ranking at stake, say academics

Counterview Desk  Expressing anguish over the attack on international students in Gujarat University hostels, a letter claimed to have been signed by 122 current and former academics has asked the Gujarat Vice Chancellor, Dr Neerja Gupta, to provide emotional support to the attacked students and to ensure their physical safety.  

As double engine takes backseat in Odisha, BJP is pitted against 'firmly rooted' BJD

By Sudhansu R Das  BJP has got 25 years to build its party base in Odisha. After 25 years, it felt helpless and insecure to fight elections on its own strength. The party was almost crazy to have an alliance with the ruling BJD in Odisha.  Looking for alliance at the time of election shows that the party has not groomed its grassroots level workers into potential leaders.  The state BJP leaders woke up and convinced the Central leaders that they are capable of going solo; the alliance was stillborn. The question is can BJP defeat BJD which is firmly rooted in Odisha after launching piles of populist programs in the state.