NBA announces next stage of protests, Medha's condition worsens

New Delhi, Apr 11 (UNI) Faced with the UPA Government's continued silence on its demand for rehabilitation of people displaced by the Sardar Sarovar dam, the Narmada Bachao Andolan today announced intensification of its protest even as five of its supporters ended their hunger strike.

NBA leaders Medha Patkar, Mr Jamsingh Nargave and Ms Bhagwatiben Patidar, however, remained on fast for the 14th day today. Ms Patkar's condition was said to have worsened since yesterday.

Sources at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences said her speech had dropped to a whisper and that the abnormal fluctuation in her body salts and blood pressure levels was worrying doctors.

As part of a move to step up its protest, the NBA is organising a convention of people's and civil rights organisations from across the country tomorrow to ''raise a battlecry against displacement and evictions'' and ''discuss and strategise'' future struggles against the ''unjust forces of the State''.

Also, teachers from Delhi supporting the NBA's cause will start a relay hunger strike from tomorrow.

Heeding a call from Ms Patkar, Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU Student's Union President Mona Das and AISA leader Awadhesh ended their week-long hunger strike today. Bhana Bhai and Rajya Bhai (both from Narmada Valley) also ended their protest fast.

In contrast to their Gandhian protest mode of the last one week, the student leaders threatened a more direct approach over coming days to achieve justice for the dam-displaced people not yet rehabilitated.

''Students will spill out on the streets and start a massive movement to protect the interests of the dam-displaced poor. I warn the UPA Government not to provoke a shutdown in Universities,'' the JNUSU President said. Prof Chenoy also spoke in almost the same vein.

A message from Ms Patkar read out on the occasion made an emotional pitch ''to stop the destruction and destitution'' of simple communities in the Narmada Valley and end ''the 'development massacre' that is on fast track today''.

''The bureaucracy and the power holders...are all out to test and challenge us beyond justifiable limits. The visit by three ministers to the Valley and the disposition by thousands of people has not yielded result till this moment,'' she said, vowing to continue her protest.

''This struggle has brought the subject of displacement to the centrestage of the development debate,'' the CPI's Amarjeet Kaur said at a press briefing at the NBA dharna site this evening. The party's A B Bardhan and D Raja, besides leaders of the CPI(M) and CPI(ML) were also present on the occasion.

The CPI(ML)-backed All India Student's Association President Kavita Krishnan argued that the ''reluctance'' of the three ministers who visited Narmada Valley to make their findings public betrayed ''an admission of guilt'' on the Government's part. ''It seems they have made a political decision to keep quiet. We will strongly challenge this,'' she said.

Sources said the Government was biding its time on the matter as it did not want to give Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, and the BJP, a handle to beat the Congress with in areas where the SSP has been strongly projected as a panacea for the woes of water-starved farmers.

UNI VN YA RAI1914