New Delhi: A parliamentary committee meeting on rural development was abruptly called off on Tuesday after BJP MPs, including former Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, staged a walkout in protest against the presence of social activist Medha Patkar. The BJP members objected strongly, with some labelling Patkar “anti-national” and questioning whether someone like the “Prime Minister of Pakistan” could also be invited to such discussions.

The meeting, chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, was meant to gather views on the 2013 land acquisition law, enacted under the UPA government. Patkar, a controversial NGO operator who had led the Narmada Bachao Andolan opposing the Sardar Sarovar Dam project, was among those invited to present their perspective. Ulaka defended the invitation, stating that it is standard practice for parliamentary panels to consult civil society members and other stakeholders. However, he noted that the session had to be cancelled due to a lack of quorum following the BJP members’ exit.

BJP leaders said their objection centred around Patkar’s history of opposing the Sardar Sarovar Dam project, which was championed by then-Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The project eventually moved forward, with Modi later highlighting efforts to overcome resistance.

Reacting to the incident, Patkar said she had never encountered such a situation before. She emphasized the importance of dialogue on land acquisition and expressed disappointment that the meeting was called off without discussion. DeshGujarat