Talks with Medha Patkar remain inconclusive, not to break her fast

The Madhya Pradesh government deputed spiritual leader Bhayyuji Maharaj from Indore and other senior bureaucrats on Saturday to hold talks with activist Medha Patkar

Published on: Aug 5, 2017, 23:00:38 IST

Hindustan Times | By Neeraj Santoshi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Madhya Pradesh government deputed spiritual leader Bhayyuji Maharaj from Indore and other senior bureaucrats on Saturday to hold talks with activist Medha Patkar and convince her to end her fast.

Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar during her indefinite fast in MP. (PTI Photo)

However, talks with the team, which reached Dhar on Saturday, remained inconclusive as Patkar apprised it of the incomplete rehabilitation and resettlement process of those affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project.

Sources said the government decided on Friday that a team comprising Maharaj (who has a strong influence in Marathi politics); Sanjay Dubey, Indore commissioner; Vishwambar Choudhary, environmental activist from Pune; and Chandrashekhar Borkar, a senior bureaucrat in the chief minister’s office (CMO), would be deputed to hold talks with the agitating Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leaders.

Reacting to the team’s visit, Himshi Singh from NBA said, “We asked them whether they had any authorisation or letter to show that they had been mandated to hold talks with NBA and affected people. They told Patkar that chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was concerned about her health and had sent them to talk to her.

“They said they were messengers and would apprise the chief minister of the issues and concerns raised by us. Patkar told them that even the Supreme Court order clearly pointed out that people could be evicted only after rehabilitation and resettlement had been completed.”

Andolan leader Medha Patkar and 12 other supporters are on an indefinite fast since July 27 at Chikhalda in Dhar district, demanding just and complete rehabilitation and resettlement of people affected by the project.

The organisation claims the project will affect nearly 40,000 families in the submergence area once the water level starts rising in the dam backwaters .

Speaking to HT on phone from Pune, Choudhary said as he was unable to visit Dhar since he was unwell.

“But I am in touch with NBA leaders on phone. We are all worried about Medha Patkar’s deteriorating health,” he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.