BJP opposes world dam panel’s visit

Mehta in a statement said he was initially not in favour of making a representation before the Commission looking to the fact that its members were harbouring anti-Narmada views. However, he said, he realised that it would be more profitable to make a comprehensive presentation regarding Gujarat’s stand on Narmada rather than going for piece-meal approach to the Commission.

The BJP state unit through its spokesman Bharat Pandya has vociferously opposed the Commission’s visit and public hearing. Not only that,the party on Monday held a demonstration at the ITO junction against the proposed visit of the Commission team to Bhopal later this month. Pandya and state general secretary Gordhanbhai Zadaphia said the party will hold demonstrations in several places on Monday and launch a signature campaign in following three days. These signatures along with memoranda will be submitted to respective collectors on September 5 and 6.

The BJP has asked the Congress leaders of Gujarat to come out openly against the Commission if they had Gujarat’s interest at heart.

In general, political parties are terming the Commission as an agent of multinationals out to hamper progress and prosperity of the State. They say that with persons like Medha Patkar and LC Jain as members, a biased attitude of the Commission was a foregone conclusion.

Former chief minister Chhabildas Mehta has alleged the Commission was a mere puppet in the hands of developed countries. “The very fact that it has chosen Delhi and Bhopal as its venues forpublic hearings goes to show the biased nature of the attitude it is going to adopt against the Narmada project”, he said.

He said no undue importance should be accorded to the Commission or its findings as they “are inherently against the interests of the economic and agricultural interests of the State, especially people of Saurashtra.”