All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) expresses deep concern and dismay at the punishment of 5 month imprisonment and Rs.10 lakh fine against Medha Patkar in a defamation case filed by the present Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena. The defamation case was filed in an Ahmedabad Court in 2001 and on the direction of the Supreme Court was transferred to Delhi.
VK Saxena, as an official of JK Cement and Adani group since 1990, had opposed the movement for rehabilitation of Adivasis, Dalits, Workers and Peasants of the 244 villages affected by the Narmada Dam. In 2000, Saxena had published an advertisement against Medha Patkar and Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and motivated articles were published against her allegedly at his behest. He had also filed a PIL against her in the Supreme Court which had been dismissed with a comment that it is a “Personal Interest Litigation” and had been fined Rs. 5000. He is also allegedly an accused in a physical attack on her at a meeting at Sabarmati Ashram, which is a pending case since 2002.
It is a mockery of justice that a renowned social activist is punished on the basis of fabricated materials while the corporate forces succeed in misusing their power positions. AIKS extends solidarity with Medha Patkar and calls upon the people to expose the corporate forces and the BJP which together are suppressing the voices of people fighting for protecting the livelihood rights of the poor.
AIKS condemns the successive State and Union Governments for failing to ensure justice to the tens of thousands of victim families affected by the Narmada Project. Even after the Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 was enacted by the 2nd UPA Government under the pressure of prolonged struggles unleashed by the farmers’ movement, the right of the farmers and rural workers in the Narmada Valley for compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement was not ensured by the BJP-led State Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
AIKS strongly demands that the BJP led NDA Government provide justice for the victims of the Narmada Project by ensuring them employment and livelihood support through rehabilitation and resettlement.
