Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar on Friday said the physical assault on her at Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat during a peace meeting on April seven was "to hurt and molest her as a woman activist and to stifle all protests for raising issues
of justice".
The NBA leader in a two-page affidavit faxed to Justice SD Dave Commission of Inquiry, inquiring into the violent incidents at Sabarmati Ashram, recounted the details of the happenings there.
Patkar, in the affidavit, copies of which were released to the press, alleged her attackers included Amit Shah, a BJP corporator, Amit Thakkar, a leader of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, some activists of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and VK Saxena--a
man from the corporate sector belonging to the National Council for Civil Liberties.
"I was restrained from free movement and participating in the peace meeting, molested and assaulted causing a threat to my life," she said.
The NBA leader said that the group of Congressmen who had entered into strong "derogatory" arguments with her earlier, also took part in the attack on her.
Patkar said that within minutes of her reaching the Sabarmati Ashram, some persons questioned her presence there and challenged her visit to Gujarat.
"It was these persons who beat me up physically and following this, I was taken to a nearby room to ensure my safety," she said.
Meanwhile, Patkar, who is leading an indefinite dharna by oustees of Sardar Saravar Project for the past five days, on Friday alleged that lack of political will and social awareness were the biggest obstacles in finding solutions to the problem of
drinking water shortage.
In a statement, she said "because of this, thousands of villages in all states reel under water crisis and experience drought though there were over 4000 big dams in the country.
Right now, there are around 250 incomplete dams in the country, she said adding that as per an estimate a sum of Rs 49000 crore would be needed to complete their construction.
This was happening because the rulers had gone ahead with projects for constructing dams without going into their cost-benefit ratios, she alleged.
The NBA leader criticised the recently declared national water policy as under it water may become a precious commodity in the hands of moneybags.
She is also expected to hold a meeting with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who is scheduled to return here this evening after a week-long Gram Sampark Abhiyan.
Patkar has warned that the indefinite dharna>/i> would continue unless the oustees receive assurance from Singh to take up their problems of rehabilitation and re-settlement.
