The Navhind Times
New Delhi/Bhopal, April 7: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Ms Medha Patkar continued her hunger strike at the AIIMS demanding proper rehabilitation of the families affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project even as people all across the country staged relay-fast and hunger strikes to express solidarity with her cause.
Ms Patkar, who was forcibly removed to the AIIMS, has been refusing solid food and accepting only water and lemon juice. Her condition was stable and vital parameters like blood pressure and pulse rate were normal, AIIMS medical superintendent, Dr D K Sharma said.
At the Jantar Mantar Camp, Ms Bhagwatibai Patidar, who had began her fast with Ms Patkar, continued to refuse food for the 10th day today. Seven persons, including academicians and students, have been observing fast since yesterday when the NBA leader was forcibly removed to hospital by the police.
NBA has been disputing claims of the Centre that almost 90 per cent of the affected people have been rehabilitated.
Meanwhile, protests by SSP oustees marred visit of three Union ministers touring villages falling under dam’s submergence area at several places in Dhar and Barwani districts of Madhya Pradesh today.
The protestors, under banner of NBA, raised slogans against Centre and alleged large-scale corruption by officials and distribution of inadequate compensation.
Efforts of Union Water Resources Minister, Mr Saifuddin Soz, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Ms Meira Kumar and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Prithviraj Chavan to calm the crowd turned futile and pandemonium prevailed at every village the central team visited.
Protestors blocked roads at Dharampuri in Dhar district and even managed to snatch keys to Mr Soz’s vehicle, before police used mild force to disperse the crowd, the police said.
The ministers, who were in the state to take stock of rehabilitation process following directions of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, faced public ire at Anjad, Khedi and Piplood villages in Barwani district as their cavalcade was stopped by angry crowds demanding compensation for their land and houses falling under submergence area, they added.

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