State passes prohibitionary orders for NBA activists

By Our Special Correspondent
Vadodara, Aug. 22


Even as the stage is set for a huge public meeting to be attended by Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy in Domkhedi (Maharashtra) on Thursday, the Vadodara district administration has geared up its machinery to arrest the activists violating the prohibitory orders by passing from Gujarat.

The public meeting has been organised by the Narmada Bachao Andolan. It will be attended among others by former Justice of Delhi high court Rajinder Sachar, Darryl D’monto, dancer Arjun Raina and filmmaker Jharna Jhaveri. Lawyer Girish Patel will also attend the meeting. Ms Roy has still not confirmed as to which route she would tread on.

From July 15 this year, the Project Affected Persons have been staging a satyagraha under the aegis of NBA in Domkhedi and Jalsindhi (Madhya Pradesh) in protest against what it terms as unjust submergence due to the Sardar Sarovar Project. On Thursday, these leading personalities will hear the woes of the PAPs.

District superintendent of police Vivek Shrivastava told The Asian Age that the activists would be arrested if they violate the prohibitory orders issued under section 188 of the Bombay Police Act. In view of the Janmashtami festival on Wednesday, prohibitory orders have been issued banning assembly of more than four persons in Vadodara district.

Mr Shrivastava said that two companies of SRP have been posted on the borders of the district. According to information, the NBA has not sought permission for letting the activists pass from Gujarat. A top police official said that even otherwise giving permission would mean that the prohibitory orders would have to be lifted.

Highly placed sources said that the administration has taken a guarded stand anticipating counter protest from pro-dam groups. Sources that although the pro-dam groups have not announced any kind of programme but the possibility could not be ruled out.

It may be recalled that in the past, followers of social worker Harivallabh Parikh of the Rangpur Ashram had staged protests against the NBA. Sources said that the state government does not want to take any chances for the Supreme Court judgment in the Narmada case is due any moment.