Medha denies NBA run on foreign funds; Oustees donate money

New Delhi, May 1 (UNI) Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar today strongly denied that the movement was being funded by foreign money and said affected families donate to meet its expenses.

''International organisations are not giving any money to the NBA. They only support us as I have travelled to several countries talking about the issue,'' Ms Patkar told a media conference here after the Supreme Court today deferred till May 7 the next hearing on the Sardar Sarovar Dam.

Ms Patkar said the allegation of foreign money levelled against the NBA by National Council for Civil Liberties chief V K Saxena were part of the conspiracy to ''malign'' and ''discredit'' the andolan.

''Mr Saxena is the representative of the political parties and the corporate sector in Gujarat. We are reviving a case against him. We are not stooges of any foreign power,'' she added.

She also did not rule out suing the private television channel which had aired Mr Saxena's comments.

Ms Patkar said she had over the years built relations and ties with people in foreign countries for support and not money.

Mr Saxena has filed a PIL in the Supreme Court, seeking prosecution of Ms Patkar and her close associates for ''creating hurdles'' in the way of relief and rehabilitation (R&R) work for the Sardar Sarovar Dam oustees.

His counsel had appealed to the court to hear the PIL today only when a petition by the NBA seeking directions to stop the ongoing construction to raise the height of the dam from 110 metres to 121.92 metres was heard.

However, the court turned down his request and posted for July 7 the hearing on Mr Saxena's PIL.

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