NEW DELHI: A team of Central Ministers, which visited the Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh on Friday to assess the rehabilitation of families displaced by the Sardar Sarvar Project, returned here on Saturday. It was led by Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz.
Meanwhile, Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, on the 12th day of her fast, challenged the slapping of cases on her and NBA workers detained on April 5, when she was whisked away from the Janata Mantar dharna site to the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here.
The police have filed a case of attempt to commit suicide against her and cases under six Sections of the Indian Penal Code against about 75 workers.
Ms. Patkar continues her fast in the hospital, opposing the raising of the Narmada dam height without complete rehabilitation of the displaced families.
"Those who commit crimes always blame others. So many farmers are committing suicide. Would the Government blame the farmers or does the blame lie with the state? If the state files a case against me, I will file a case against the state - for the murder of the Narmada Valley, murder of humanity and murder of justice," she said.
Two NBA supporters, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and the former bureaucrat, B.D. Sharma, who independently went with the ministerial team, said that after the "hurried one-day visit" it became "crystal clear" that raising the dam height would submerge thousands of families.
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