Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Insurmountable

The forcible hospitalisation of fasting NBA leader Medha Patkar has done nothing to dampen her spirits. Her battle to get the Government to rehabilitate all the affected families before raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam is fully justified. The Government should act before the situation gets out of control, as is usually the case.

Rashmi Jha,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

* * *

We read in school how the British dealt with the satyagrahis who protested their misrule. Two days ago in independent India, we saw a similar spectacle when the police swooped down on Ms. Patkar and other protesters in a bid to remove them from the dharna site. It is a matter of shame that the Government, which has failed to provide a dignified living to those affected by the SSP, should have resorted to such a measure.

Shivakumar K. Radder,
Bidar, Karnataka

* * *

Shame on our country for muffling the voices of the poor and powerless! Shame on us for submitting to the terror of a heartless, hollow police force!

Gautam Yadav,
Rewari, Haryana

* * *

It is not enough to use the slogan, development with a human face. It is also important to recognise the faces that have been emaciated and disfigured in the name of mega development schemes. The UPA Government should respond in a humane manner to the issues raised by Ms. Patkar and avoid the national calamity of losing a crusader who does not wear a Gandhi cap but is committed to Gandhian principles.

Xavier Arockiasamy,
New Delhi

* * *

How many of the SSP displaced would have protested without someone like Ms. Patkar to lead them? Relief and rehabilitation seem to have become part of read-outs in press meets.

T.R. Krishna Chaitanya,
Tirupati, A.P.

* * *

Once again the Government has shown lack of sympathy for the marginalised. While Ms. Patkar deserves all praise, one wonders why our elected representatives are never seen championing the cause of the poor. Why is it that we hear their voice only during election campaigns?

R. Kumaran,
Pondicherry

* * *

The problem of displacement is not confined to the Narmada oustees. The need of the hour is a paradigm shift in the thinking of rulers that the displaced should be given a fair deal and, in fact, should be the prime beneficiaries of mega projects.

D.V.G. Sankara Rao,
Vizianagaram, A.P.

* * *

That Ms. Patkar and her co-protesters are exerting pressure on the Government is unfortunate. They should realise that such tactics will set a bad precedent in dealing with similar issues.

Infrastructure development is meant for long-term benefits. It may face some problems but should not be politicised for avoidable controversies.

R. Sekar,
Nalco Nagar, Orissa

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