Patkar concerned over "weakness of democratic institutions" [ Monday, May 01, 2006 07:53:29 pmPTI ]
RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates NEW DELHI: Concerned over the inordinate delay in addressing the issue of rehabilitation of Narmada dam oustees, NBA leader Narmada Patkar today said the "weakness of democratic institutions" will result in "irreversible submerging" of the lives and livelihood of many families. "We feel aghast to know the great and unacceptable risk to human life that the highest echelons of power have decided to take by postponing the judgement to Monday, May 8," Patkar said after attending the Supreme Court proceedings where the Apex Court posted the matter for next week for hearing. Patkar, who was addressing a press conference, said "We will have to wait, watch and test the powers that are to take responsibility for justice but we don't think everything that is happening is just." Claiming that there was never a "rehabilitation masterplan" for the displaced," the NBA leader said the Court in its earlier judgement has clearly mentioned land-based rehabilitation for those who loses more than 25 per cent of their land during such development projects. Patkar along with other NBA members have writtten to the Prime Minister on April 27 expressing their apprehension over the functioning of the three-member committee appointed by him to look into the rehabilitation issue. Patkar also claimed that there was a campaign launched by a Gujarat official, who was close to both the politicians as well as corporate houses, to "malign and nullify" the NBA struggle and potray them as "stooges of foreign funding agencies" to undermine their agitation. However, when asked if a case of dafamation will be launched against the person, Patkar said "we will see that." _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
