New Delhi, 1 December 2014

Social activist Medha Patkar and many supporters of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) were Monday detained by police for attempting to enter the water resources ministry without appointment with Minister Uma Bharati.

The protesters came to the capital as part of the Narmada Sangharsh Yatra from Badhwani in Madhya Pradesh.

They wanted to meet the minister to press their demand for reduction in the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat and proper rehabilitation of people on the banks of the Narmada river.

“Patkar and the other members of the NBA tried to enter the ministry without proper permission,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Delhi) S.B.S. Tyagi told IANS.

A statement from the NBA said: “The sequence of events today poses a serious question to the current government’s claim of the people coming first, environment being a prime concern and democratic dialogue being the basis for decision making in development of the country.”

The NBA announced that a rally will be taken out Tuesday against the government’s decision to raise the height of the dam.