NGO demands inquiry into foreigners' visit to Narmada valley

Ahmedabad, June 19 (UNI) National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) has in a letter urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to institute an inquiry into foreign links of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and into the purpose behind the visits of a large number of foreigners to the Narmada valley.

NCCL president V K Saxena has also sent a copy of the vigilance report of Madhya Pradesh Government, having details of foreign nationals who visited and participated in NBA's rallies and 'dharnas' over the last several years, a press release here today said.

The city-based NGO pleaded for a high-level investigation to inquire as to why NBA provided local hospitality to foreigners and also to find out if there was any misuse of the visa rules.

Mr Saxena cited German national Hefa Schucking's stay in the valley from November 30 to December 17, 1998, courtesy NBA hospitality, allegedly to prepare a report against Maheshwar hydel power project, which was later used to derail financial help from German Government for this project.

NCCL also provided other documents to the Prime Minister to substantiate its charge against NBA that it was a foreign-supported organisation, working with the sole motive to allegedly derail the development process in the country, to appease their foreign masters.

He has demanded action against NBA, led by Ms Medha Patkar, for its alleged criminal and seditious activities The NBA was ''using every trick to halt the construction of not only Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), but also several other hydro projects of national importance'' he added.

UNI VKC GK PA PC1905