Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi and his Bharat Jodo yatra after activist Medha Patkar, who was the face of the protests against the Narmada dam project, joined Rahul’s yatra. Modi did not mention any names, but it was clear who he was targeting. Calling the Narmada Dam “Gujarat’s lifeline”, Modi, who was in Rajkot yesterday ahead of the Gujarat elections, said, “A Congress leader was seen taking out a padyatra with a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.”
Modi said that the project of building Sardar Sarovar Dam over the Narmada River was stalled for three decades because of legal hurdles created by activists, including Medha Patkar. He also accused Patkar of defaming Gujarat.
“Ask the Congress when it comes to demand your vote that you are taking out a padyatra by keeping your hand on the shoulders of those who were against Narmada dam,” Modi said. Rahul was joined by Medha Patkar earlier this week for the padyatra which is currently passing through Maharashtra.
The BJP has been critical of Medha Patkar’s campaign against Gujarat’s ‘Sardar Sarovar Dam’ which was inaugurated in 2017. Patkar spearheaded the ‘Narmada Bachao Aandolan’, saying that the water of the dam would displace thousands of tribal families.
On Saturday, party president JP Nadda said that Medha Patkar was “anti-Narmada, anti-Gujarat and anti-Saurashtra” who tried to stall the construction of the Narmada dam and opposed the use of water for the people of Saurashtra. “If such people join Rahul Gandhi, it reflects his mentality,” Nadda said.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress MP stands for those who denied water to Gujaratis. He tweeted, “Congress and Rahul Gandhi have time and again shown their animosity towards Gujarat and Gujaratis. By giving Medha Patkar a central place in his Yatra, Rahul Gandhi shows that he stands with those elements who denied water to Gujaratis for decades. Gujarat will not tolerate this.”
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