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Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
House panel meeting ends as MPs object to Patkar, Raj's presence
A parliamentary committee meeting to review the implementation of the land acquisition law was cancelled on Tuesday after some members, mostly from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), objected to the presence of activist Medha Patkar and actor-turned-activist Prakash Raj, people aware of the details said. People aware of the matter said some NDA members particularly objected to the presence of activist Medha Patkar, citing her role in the Narmada Bachao campaign. (HT Photo) Representatives of the department of land resources (ministry of rural development); ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC); ministry of tribal affairs; non-government organisations (NGOs), experts; and other stakeholders were to speak before the parliamentary standing committee on rural development and panchayati Raj on the implementation and effectiveness of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, a person privy to the detail said on condition of anonymity. 'When the proceedings were about to begin, some members objected to the presence of Patkar and Raj, pointing out that they had not been informed about their presence,' the person cited above said. 'Then 11 MPs, mostly from the NDA, walked out and in the absence of quorum, the meeting was cancelled and is likely to be held on July 14.' The person said some NDA members particularly objected to the presence of Patkar, citing her role in the Narmada Bachao campaign. 'They felt she was responsible for trying to block the Narmada project which would have left one-third of Gujarat parched and drought affected…' the person said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from Bihar, Sanjay Jaiswal, said members of the committee had not been informed about the involvement of Patkar and Raj. 'We were told the ministries and some NGOs will put forth their views. There was no explanation on why Patkar and Raj were invited for the meeting, which we eventually boycotted,' he said. The standing committee, headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, has 29 members, including former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda –– who was present for Tuesday's meeting. Ulaka said the two were invited to the meeting to hear their views on the legislation. 'It is a standard practice to hear people from civil society. We had invited them to share their views on how to strengthen the Act… they would have submitted their views without being privy to the submissions made by the ministry representatives,' he said, adding that the list of invitees had been shared with the Speaker's Office in advance as per protocol. 'What were the NDA MPs scared of… we could have heard the two and the report would eventually be drafted after consensus between the committee members,' he further said. The meeting's agenda was to discuss the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which regulates land acquisition and lays down the procedure and rules for granting compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to people affected by the acquisition. The legislation has provisions to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken away and assures rehabilitation of those affected.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NDA MPs object to Medha Patkar, Prakash Raj at parliamentary committee meeting
Members of a parliamentary committee on Tuesday opposed the presence of activist Medha Patkar and actor Prakash Raj during a meeting convened to discuss issues related to fair compensation and transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The Parliament House in New Delhi. (ANI File Photo) The meeting was subsequently cancelled, people aware of the developments said. One of the persons cited above said representatives of the ministries of rural development (Department of Land Resources), environment, forest and climate change, and tribal affairs, non-government organisations, experts and other stakeholders were to speak before the committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. 'When the proceedings were about to begin, some members objected to the presence of Patkar and Raj, pointing out that they had not been informed. Later, 11 MPs, mostly from the National Democratic Alliance, walked out and in the absence of quorum the meeting was cancelled and is likely to be held on July 14,' a person aware of the details said. The committee, headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka from Odisha's Koraput, has 29 members, including former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who was present on Tuesday. The person cited above said some of the NDA members objected to Patkar in particular, given her role in the Narmada Bachao campaign. 'They felt she was responsible for trying to block the Narmada project which would have left one-third of Gujarat parched and drought affected…' the person said. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 regulates land acquisition and lays down the procedure and rules for granting compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to the persons affected by the acquisition. The Act has provisions to provide fair compensation to those whose land is taken away and assures rehabilitation of those affected. 'We were told the ministries (rural development, environment, forest and climate change and tribal affairs) and some NGOs will put forth their views. There was no explanation on why Patkar and Raj were invited for the meeting, which we eventually boycotted,' Bihar BJP lawmaker Sanjay Jaiswal said. Ulaka defended it and said, 'It is a standard practice to hear people from the civil society. We had invited them to share their views on how to strengthen the Act…they would have submitted their views without being privy to the submissions made by the ministry representatives.' Ulaka said the list of invitees had been shared with the Speaker's Office in advance as per the protocol. 'What were the NDA MPs scared of? We could have heard the two and the report would eventually be drafted after consensus between the committee members,' he added.
The Print
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Medha Patkar denied entry to Odisha's Rayagada amid protests over bauxite mining
The restriction is imposed on about two dozen activists, including the 'Narmada Bachao' leader. As soon as Patkar arrived at the Rayagada railway station early in the morning, she was served an order, prohibiting her entry to the district for a period of two months from June 4. Bhubaneswar, Jun 5 (PTI) Social activist Medha Patkar was on Thursday morning not allowed to enter Odisha's Rayagada district, which has been witnessing protests over bauxite mining. '…there is a reasonable apprehension that their movement and presence in Rayagada district may lead to deterioration of law and order, disturb public peace and hinder the smooth conduct of administration affairs and development process in the district,' said the order, signed by district collector Parul Patawari. On the occasion of World Environment Day, Patkar and some other activists were scheduled to attend a function organised by 'Maa Mati Mali Surakshya Manch', which has been leading the protest against bauxite mining in Rayagada and Koraput districts. Speaking to reporters while being escorted to a waiting vehicle, which took her to the border of the district, Patkar said, 'I am not a terrorist whose presence will create a problem for the people. I am a citizen of the country. We are not against development, but demand for the progress of the nation in a sustainable manner.' Narendra Mohanty, an associate of the activist, said she is on a three-day visit to the state. After being denied entry to Rayagada, she will go to Berhampur in the Ganjam district. She is also scheduled to attend a programme in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, he said. Around 240 police personnel have been deployed in Kashipur, the epicentre of the agitation in Rayagada, officials said. PTI AAM AAM SOM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
NDTV
25-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Activist Medha Patkar Arrested, Produced In Delhi Court
New Delhi: Following a non-bailable warrant issued by a Delhi court for flouting its order, Narmada Bachao leader Medha Patkar was arrested and produced before a sessions court on Friday. Following this, the judge orally passed a direction of her release subject to furnishing of the bonds and depositing the compensation amount after her counsel assured to comply with the previous direction. Patkar's counsel told additional sessions judge Vipin Kharb, "NBWs (non-bailable warrants) have been executed. The probation order stands true as we stand before the court. I will furnish probation bonds in the second half today. I have been picked up from the railway station on my way to the court." Patkar was produced in the court at around 12 pm before the link court as the judge who originally heard her appeal and passed the NBW order was on leave. On April 23, additional sessions judge Vishal Singh issued the NBW against Patkar, saying she was deliberately flouting its sentencing order to submit probation bonds and deposit Rs 1 lakh fine in a defamation case filed by Delhi LG V K Saxena. The court also observed that her plea seeking adjournment was "frivolous", "mischievous' and filed with the intent to "hoodwink" it. It sternly warned Patkar that non-compliance with the conditions of the sentencing order would force it to "reconsider the benevolent sentence." The court then said instead of appearing before the court to comply with the order on sentence dated April 8, Patkar remained absent and "deliberately failed to comply with the order" on sentence and avail the benefit of probation subject to furnishing of the compensation amount. "The intention of the convict is apparent that she is deliberately violating the court order; she is avoiding appearing before the court and also avoiding accepting the terms of the sentence passed against her. There is no order of suspension of sentence passed by this Court on April 8," the judge added. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
