The Hindu : Medha Patkar calls for political movement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Medha Patkar calls for political movement

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI FEB. 3. Activist Medha Patkar today called for largescale participation in the formation of a national political movement to challenge oppression and fight for rights.

In the city today, as part of a `Bharat Yatra' from Kerala to Ayodhya, the national coordinator of the National Alliance of People's Movement, said a political movement would have to be formulated based on a three-pronged agenda — against globalisation, casteism and communalisation, and for evolving a right path to development.

"We have to gain a national identity in the form of a new national freedom movement," Ms. Medha Patkar told activists in the gathering at a meeting on `Globalisation and its impact' here this evening.

The strategies for the "new freedom struggle" were being framed and would be finalised based on a common agenda when the yatra reached Ayodha on March 30. "We have to assert that we are a political force," she said. Besides Dalits, adivasis, the unorganised sector and other oppressed people, intellectuals, those in the organised sector and the public were invited to participate in the movement.

Speaking against privatisation and disinvestment, she said the movement should assert people's right to work and resources, and challenge every single project — from the Marina Beach beautification project to the interlinking of rivers.

The Government was disinvesting in every single service and selling out on property that could have earned a living for the 40 per cent of the population still under the poverty line, without food and water security, she said.

`Catch the catchment'

On interlinking of rivers, she said the solution was to "catch the catchment." ``Linking of rivers will further centralise that precious water. They want to take all the sources into their hands... converting every river into a Cauvery-like conflict," she said of the policy makers. "The money will come from the World Bank and other such organisations, and eventually, they will claim their rights to the rivers," she cautioned.

The nation should choose technology that would ensure real sustainability and generations could continue to use natural resources. "Vulgar commercialisation has forced our power holders to adjust our structures and has compelled them to change our laws and cultures."

Speaking before her, Lakshmi Sehgal, INA Captain and a Presidential candidate in the recent election, said globalisation was a monster that had to be defeated. "We have an alternative — we have to stand on our own feet," she said.

Earlier in the day, a mass demonstration was organised against globalisation and its impact, near the Memorial Hall, in which about 3,000 people participated. Ms. Medha Patkar addressed a gathering of college students at the AICUF House and school students at the Don Bosco later in the day, focusing on the same issues.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Hefty hike in water charges for bulk clients

Traps on the track

Pallavaram councillors at the receiving end

Medha Patkar calls for political movement

`Pollution controlled in 95 p.c. of MTC buses'

Take precautions against crime, says Vijay Kumar

DMK questions drop in number of voters