Noam Chomsky seeks justice from Modi as Medha Patkar's hunger strike off Narmada river enters fourth day

Chomsky

By A Representative
World renowned veteran American linguist, social critic and political activist Noam Chomsky has extended his support to the project affected people of the Narmada valley when the indefinite fast and dharna of hundreds of people are underway in Narmada valley.
Signing a petition floated by a senior Indian Institute of Management-Kolkata (IIM-K) faculty, Chomsky has said, meeting the rightful demands of the people is “essential to ensure the faith of people in non-violent, democratic and constitutional governance and struggle for their rights.”
“I, on behalf of the people of Narmada valley, now appeal to you for immediate attention and intervention to save the people threatened by submergence”, he adds.
The petition by IIM-K environmentalist Jayanta Bandopadhyay, already signed by hundreds of other people from different walks of life, demands “justice” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the project affected families (PAFs). The petition has gathered signatures from 29 countries.
The support from Chomsky comes even as the indefinite fast of Medha Patkar and other PAFs in the submergence village Chikkalda, on the banks of river Narmada, in Madhya Pradesh, enters the fourth day. People are on fast against “forced displacement”, demanding “just rehabilitation” and putting a stop to intimidation of armed police camping in the submergence zone.
The petition says, “The Supreme Court order clearly states that resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of the PAFs to be complete in all respects before any forcible displacement of these villages is directed. Closing of the gates is de facto a method of forcible eviction and thus, not only a barbaric act but also a disrespect of the court order.”
The petition demands a comprehensive re-survey of PAFs, giving priority to rehabilitation first by following orders of the Supreme Court, so that no family is evicted without rehabilitation.

Jal Satyagraha in Narmada river

It also demands directions to the Madhya Pradesh government and authorities to provide benefits to farmers as per the Supreme Court orders to ensure alternative livelihoods and to constitute a committee to assess the impact on environment, river and forests by submergence and also the impact in downstream flow of the river.
Apart from addressing Modi, the petition, once signed by 1,000 people, would be sent to the Madhya Pradesh chief minister and the Union water resources minister Uma Bharti.
The petition warns, “The impending plight of the people residing in the Narmada Valley is unfolding as the monsoon arrives, adding, “Closing the gates of the dam will drown more than 40,000 families living in the Narmada Valley who are not rehabilitated yet.”
Pointing out that PAFs stare submergence of their land and livelihood due to closing of the gates of the Sardar Sarovar Dam at its full reservoir level of 138.68 meters, the petition says, “For these people without rehabilitation, basic amenities like drinking water and electricity are not available. Some sites have black soil, which makes it very difficult to construct houses.”
“Closing of the gates is de facto a method of forcible eviction and thus, not only a barbaric act but also a disrespect of the court order. More than 40000 families, with their residential houses, livestock, hospitals, schools, shops and all other civic amenities, are still living in these villages. The resettlement and rehabilitation sites are not even close to completion”, it says.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Search This Blog