In a setback to Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar, the Ahmedabad Metropolitan court rejected her application demanding exemption from personal appearance from the court on the ground that she is busy in some dharna. The hearing was conducted on Thursday related to a criminal case filed by Patkar herself in April 2002.
After Gujarat riots, social activist Mallika Sarabhai had convened a peace meeting at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. In that meeting, Patkar had also arrived. Angry over her protest against Gujarat’s lifeline Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP), workers of political parties including BJP and Congress requested Sarabhai not to allow NBA leader in the meeting as she was working against the people of Gujarat.
As Sarabhai denied, angry mob allegedly assaulted her. Following that incident,
she filed a criminal complaint against BJP and Congress leader as well as National Council for Civil liberties (NCCl), president VK Saxena.
On Thursday Saxena, Congress leader Rohit Patel and other accused in the case were present but Medha Patkar was not present. Saxena’s advocate Ajay Choksi moved an application in the court for issuing non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Patkar stating that she filed this complaint in April, 2002 and till date she has appeared only once.
He also submitted that Patkar was recently penalised by a Delhi court and directed to pay Rs15,000 for continuous non-appearance.