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Gujarat BJP ecstatic over Narmada verdict

Vikram Vakil in Gandhinagar

After a routine cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel was not in a mood to work but celebrate. For by then the Supreme Court's verdict, clearing the construction of the Narmada dam, had come out, leading to spontaneous scenes of joy across the state.

For Patel, especially, the verdict could not have come at a better time. He was still licking his wounds inflicted in the local elections, and the vultures were already circling overhead. Critics were not giving him very long, but the apex court's judgment changed all that.

An overjoyed Patel told rediff.com:" At last, truth has won. This is the best possible news for the people of Gujarat. We were silent all along since the matter was sub-judice. We had suffered politically also. Our critics were instigating us into starting a counter-agitation against the Narmada Bachao Andolan but we had decided to keep our faith in the judiciary."

On Wednesday, even as the news was coming in, the chief minister promptly announced a holiday for government employees after 2.30 pm. At 3 pm a celebratory function was held near the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue where the CM gave a spirited lecture amidst bursting of firecrackers.

To celebrate the Narmada Vijay Divas, a two-member committee of ministers Ashok Bhatt and Haren Pandya was also set up, and district collectors were told to make arrangements for the same. Education Ministers Aanandiben Patel and Bharat Barot were asked to see that the maximum number of school children would participate in the celebration.

Ashok Bhatt said: "To celebrate the judgment, thanksgiving prayers by religious leaders have been organised." Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya told rediff.com: "This is a real victory of the people. Without their patience, this would not have been possible."

Director of the Narmada Nigam, Rajeev Gupta, said: "Now Medha Patkar and the NBA have no moral right to oppose the Narmada dam."

Patel was so ecstatic that he arranged a video-conference with the mediamen in Rajkot, his own city.

Regardless of the sentiment elsewhere, a majority of the people in Gujarat believes that the completion of the Narmada project will change their lives for the better.

Computer engineer Daksesh Shah said: "Gujarat has tolerated the actions of Medha Patkar and company for too long. If the project had been in any other state I don't think Medha would have dared to do all this. I think with this judgment, the water crises in Gujarat will be over. Now no one can stop Gujarat's progress."

Madhuben Choudhury, a teacher, said: "Today I am very happy that the apex court has given a slap on the face to Medha Patkar. The water problem of Saurashtra, Kutch and north Gujarat will come to an end with the project."

There are a few sceptical voices, like that of Rajni Dave of the Human Technology Forum. "Since the last two months, the agitators have been facing a lot of pressure in the Narmada Valley. No one was allowed to go near the Madhya Pradesh border. In Dediapada 300 policemen were stationed so the NBA could not arrange any meeting. Here, no one is ready to understand or feel for the problems of tribals and the poor. A few days ago I was stunned to hear the abusive language used by people of Jamnagar about Medha. People in the cities feel that by giving some land to the affected, their duty is over. I think any civil society should take care of the others too."

A well known NBA activist and lawyer, Girish Patel said: "The system of development in this country is not friendly to the poor. The SC judgment is based on law and Constitution but human values are more important then any judgment. Nothing is more valuable than life."

Social scientist Achyut Yagnik said: "Even after the completion of Narmada project, the controversies will remain. Who is going to use the canal water and in what proportion? If you observe the map of the Narmada canal's command area, you will realise that the water is not going to help the majority of Gujarat. This is nothing but euphoria."

But an ecstatic state is unlikely to heed the voices of caution. The ruling party, the BJP is certainly in no mood to stop and listen. As a former BJP leader and currently Congress MP Shankersinh Vaghela told rediff.com," I welcome the judgment but I think justice delayed is justice denied. The BJP can't claim credit for this verdict."

The Full Coverage of the Narmada dam controversy

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