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Journalism of Courage
Social activist and founder of Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) Medha Patkar was on Monday cross-examined at a Metropolitan court here in connection with the 2002 assault case,in which she was reportedly manhandled by a mob during a gathering of activists and mediapersons to condemn post-Godhra riots.
The defence lawyer grilled Patkar and brought to the courts notice several contradictory statements made by her during her verbal complaints and those made by her while registering an FIR. When grilled on why the details given by her during her verbal complaint do not match with those in her FIR,Patkar told the court that due to time gap she doesnt remember some of the details now.
During the cross examination that lasted for nearly four hours she was asked questions relating to the foundation of NBA way back in 1985,and cases she had filed in high courts and the Supreme Court over the past many years. When she was asked about some particular cases relating to the NBA,Patkar said that she doesnt remember them at all.
Questioning her about the assault on her in April 2002 at the Sabarmati Ashram,the defence lawyer asked her if she knew about the petitions with the SC,in which she is also a party. Patkar,however,said that she is not directly involved in such cases and that she doesnt remember those cases either.
Patkars lawyer Govind Parmar said that the way Patkar was cross-examined showed that the defence lawyer was only confusing the court by asking irrelevant question. He said that the defence,instead of questioning her about the incident,asked her several personal questions how long she stayed in Ahmedabad and the cases in SC,among others.
The cross-examination will continue on November 15.
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