Police cracks down on Jal Satyagrahis,but fails to stem the flood

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kantilal Bhuria and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly,Ajay Singh were also present at the protest site.

Jal Satyagrahis defy cops

The Congress was against the police crack down on the ‘satyagrahis’,Bhuria told reporters adding that the BJP government in the state cannot be allowed to deal with the protest in such a fashion.

The issue would be raised during the gherao of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s residence on September 20 and the Congress would also bring up the matter to the notice of the higher-ups in Delhi,Bhuria said,who also spent some time in water along with the protesters.

Earlier,the District Collector of Khardana,where prohibitory orders were also imposed,Commissioner and senior police officials tried to persuade the protesters to give up their agitation,but when they refused to budge,police pulled them out of the water.

Police arrested Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Chittarupa Palit and over 100 protesters.

This came two days after a similar protest was called off in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh following an assurance from the state government that the affected villagers would be given land as compensation and the height of Omkareshwar Dam would be reduced.

However,the protesters at Khardana have stuck to their demands and said they would continue with their agitation.

Some protesters whose health condition worsened after standing in neck-deep water for long hours,were taken to hospital.