Friday, January 27, 2012

Medha Patkar criticises Bihar govt for creating displacement

Patna, Jan 27 (PTI) Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and social activist Medha Patekar today hit out at Nitish Kumar government in Bihar accusing it of increasing displacement in the name of development. "Displacement of people is increasing in the name of development in Bihar", Patekar alleged when she was stopped at Hartali Chowk while leading a delegation to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

She also castigated the NDA government in the state for its alleged faulty and discriminatory Bihar Slums Development Policy 2011 and accused the government of "overlooking" the displacement of the poor in urban areas. Patkar alleged that though she wanted to raise these issues during her meeting with the chief minister, she was denied an appointment on the plea that Kumar was preoccupied.

"I also wanted to raise the issues of exploitation, and atrocities taking place in Bihar during the meeting", she said. She alleged that the state government was "soft-pedalling" the issues like breach of embankment of Kosi river in 1998 causing unprecedented floods and Forbesganj police firing.

Patekar demanded that the state government take steps to speed up the inquiry into the twin issues. The social activist was addressing a crowd near Hartali Chowk after the delegation was stopped from meeting the chief minister.

January 27, 2012

No comments: