Puja Talwar & Gargi Rawat
Friday, April 14, 2006 (New Delhi):

The Narmada Bachao Andolan has had its share of celebrity supporters and today, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was out in the streets of the capital joining hands with the activists.
“I have not come here in any political capacity. I have come here as a citizen of India,” said Aamir.
The government recently said it will review its decision to increase the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam after major protests by activist Medha Patkar.
NBA activists are appealing to the government to rehabilitate the displaced people.
Strong support
Aamir listened intently to Bhagvati Behn on the 17th day of the hunger strike that she began with Medha Patkar.
She told him how her land in Madhya Pradesh would get submerged this monsoon due to the Sardar Sarovar dam and that she is yet to receive any compensation from the government.
“I don’t know much about the dam, but rehabilitation is their right. Nobody can be driven out of their homes without being rehabilitated,” observed the actor.

Drawing attention
Aamir along with some members of his team from Rang De Basanti visited Jantar Mantar to lend support to the Narmada Bachao Andolan as well as Bhopal gas tragedy survivors.
The Bhopal gas victims have also been sitting on a hunger strike for the last four days, demanding clean drinking water and a clean up of the toxic waste left behind by Union Carbide.
The basic idea behind Aamir’s visit to the dharnas was to draw public attention as well as media attention to the issue at hand and to that end, his visit was fairly successful.

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