CM warns WCD team

AHMEDABAD, Sept 7: Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has warned that the State Government might be forced to take the team of the World Comm...

AHMEDABAD, Sept 7: Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has warned that the State Government might be forced to take the team of the World Commission on Dams in custody if the visit led to law and order problem.

Addressing businessmen, farmers and educationists at a session convened by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry GCCI on Monday, the Chief Minister echoed the sentiments of the people and said they were strongly attached to the Sardar Sarovar Project.

He said that was the reason why the people of the State were vehemently opposed to the visit and ready to take law and order in their hand. In such a situation, the Government might be compelled to arrest the WCD members.

Patel exhorted the people to oppose the Commission tooth and nail, reminding them that every time they had urged him to march on with their support. 8220;Now I appeal to the opponents of WCD to march on. The administration is with you,8221; he thundered.

Patel said the WCD8217;s visit to the Stae was an interference in its internal matter. Taking a dig at WCD, he asked: 8220;Will the USA allow an NGO from another country to visit that country to probe the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky affair?8221;

He said that at a time when the Supreme Court was likely to announce its decision, any such inquiry gave rise to doubts about the bonafide intention of the Commission. He said the people of the State would not tolerate such an interference in their internal affairs.

Narmada Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said the visit was an infringement on India8217;s sovereignty as it had not sought government permission to hold such an inquiry. Moreover, Kadar Aslam who is heading WCD, did not observe the protocol by sending a facsimile message to the Chief Minister, saying the team would listen to him for one hour.

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He said such an act could never be tolerated by the people of the State. Health and Labour Minister Ashok Bhatt said the people of the State would form a human wall to stop the team from alighting from their plane. He said the State would have welcomed the Commission if it had wanted to visit the State to study the water scarcity problem in Saurashtra and Kutch. Narmada Foundation chairman Karsanbhai Patel urged the Government not to appeal to the entire population of the State as the business community alone could stop the team. He said the entire police force should go on strike on September 17 and 18 when the team arrived.