Gujarat | June 07, 2017: Around 2 PM, Gujarat Police arrested well known social activist Medha Patkar, noted Goldman Environmental Prize 2017 winner Prafulla Samantara, Dr. Sunilam, Aradhna Bhargava, Madhuresh Kumar, Himshi Singh, supporters from Gujarat and approximately 60 more people at Gujarat Border in Chhota Udaipur district. People of Narmada Valley are not going to succumb to any Govt. threat or pressure. More people are joining the rally and will challenge the unconstitutional arrest of NBA leader Medha Patkar and others.
Today morning on the 3rd day of Rally For The Valley, Medha Patkar, Prafulla Samantara, Soumya Datta, Dr. Sunilam, Jasbir Singh (All India Kisan Sabha, MP), Nita Mahadev (a noted Gandhian, Gujarat) and hundreds of supporters were detained at Kavta check post, kavta village of Chhota Udaipur district. The rally was going to visit the Jeevanshala (a school run by Narmada Navnirmaan Abhiyan) of Chimalkhedi, Maharashtra, which was stopped by Gujarat Police from crossing the Gujarat border. The police officials failed to produce any written order. Even the vehicles with Gujarat number plate and local buses were stopped from crossing the border.
We appeal to the citizens of this country and human rights defenders to expose the brutal and unconstitutional attack by Gujarat Govt. and Gujarat Police officials who have been rampant on suppressing the people’s movements, and call the police officials and Home ministry of state to immediately release all the activists and people of Narmada Valley.
Contact details of police officials and home ministry are mentioned below,
Chhota Udaipur, Gujarat:
Collector – Shri Vijay Kumar L. Kharadi – (M) 9978405937, 02669-232010, (Office) 02669 – 233003, (Fax) 02669 – 233002
SSP / SP – 02669-233077, 02669-233101
Home Minister of the Gujarat state – Shri Pradeepsinh Bhagwatsinh Jadeja – Email: mos-legal@gujarat.gov.in – PS to Minister – (O) 079-23250268, 079 – 23250220 – PA to Minister – (O) 079-23250269, 079-23252483
The illegal detentions of the activists should be condemned. Gujarat government has been trying to continue construction of dam thereby evicting indigenous people and tribals and submerging their villages. People depending on Narmada water and it’s irrigation capacity will be rendered unemployed . Hence it is the duty of every citizen to protect their constitutional rights