Ahmedabad: Left NGO operator Medha Patkar today visited Hardik Patel’s residence in Ahmedabad. Medha said she had talked with Hardik a day ago over phone call and Hardik had asked her to visit him. Medha extended her support to the demand over which Hardik Patel is sitting on fast.

‘I was in Kerala when Hardik started fast and therefore I was unaware about Hardik Patel’s fast. After I returned to Narmada valley, yesterday I received a phone call and I was told that Hardik Patel ji’s fast was underway for some days and I should visit him. I replied that I was occupied but would try to come. And then I spoke to Hardikbhai. I told him, he should take water. I told him that if you don’t take water, it will be improper.’

Medha further said,’yesterday on phone call he(Hardik) said I should come, and I have come here cancelling my scheduled programmes. I wanted to come here to tell him that he should take water.’

Medha went on to say, ‘Narmada dam is said to be completed but rehabilitation of 35,000 families and construction of 40,000 km canal is pending. This dam will complete 2019.It is not completed. Those affected by project in Gujarat are also with us.’

She said, ‘I have come to support Hardikbhai’s demands related to farmers. We have an alliance of 200 farmer unions that demand total waiver of farmers’ debt and proper price rate for produce. I support him and our farmers have also come along.’

Meanwhile, smelling a great potential image trouble, those in Hardik’s camp opposed Medha’s entry and appealed her to go back without meeting Hardik Patel. They also chanted slogans, ‘anti Gujarat Medha go back’. Hardik’s supporters allowed two old men accompanying Medha to meet Hardik.

‘I had talked to him briefly over phone and said that if possible I would come to meet him. From this place only we were requested to come to agree him for water-intake. I had brought two veteran Gadhians with me Jyotibhai Desai and Danielbhai who both were veterans of fast agitations. Hardikbhai should know that if his kidneys got hit during fast due to non intake of water it would be difficult to take the fight to its destination,’ Medha said.

Amid reports that Hardik himself refused to meet her, an obviously embarrassed looking Patkar said that She did not whether the PAAS leader actually knows that she was here. ‘I forgive the protesters because they don’t know who was pro-farmer,’ she said.

DeshGujarat