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statue of unity

released without giving any
Tehelka Bureau warnings to the farmers.
It’s pertaining to note
ithout that over 15 villages in the
further Narmada district were af-
delay, Prime fected (and still living with
Minister difficulties) when Sardar
W Narendra Sarovar Dam project was
Modi inaugurated the established in 1990s.
world’s tallest statue of Former Chief Minister of
Sardar Vallabbhai Patel at Gujarat Suresh Mehta has
Gujarat’s Narmada district stated that the 182-metre
on October 31, in the wake colossal ‘Statue of Unity’
of the general elections project is “illegal” and that
2019. The 182-metre colossal it is a political gimmick of
statue of freedom fighter the BJP-led government to
Patel, also named as ‘Statue woo the vote bank of the
of Unity’, unsurprisingly, unhappy Patels or Patidars
failed to unite the mas- in the upcoming general
sive population of Adivasi election 2019.
farmers and tribal villagers, “Under the PESA Act,
who had to sacrifice their decisions taken by gram
everything — homes, lands, sabhas are final and binding.
farms and work — for the But, when tribals of that
Rs. 3000 crore mega project area, through gram sabhas,
to come to life. The villagers raised objections against the
have firmly stated that the project, the state govern-
‘Statue of Unity’ is noth- ment did not listen. This is
ing more than a waste of a violation of the Act. This
“hard-earned money of the project is also illegal because
public,” which could have the government did not
been better utilised in es- Statue of unity conduct any environmen-
tablishing schools, hospitals, tal impact assessment. It is
sanitation, drinking water only meant for publicity. It
facilities, which are still a at whoSe coSt? is a politically-motivated
distant dream for the areas project keeping in mind
adjacent to Kevadiya where the 2019 elections,” Mehta
the statue stands today. They Gujarat’s tribals. Many activ- done to us, he would cry. was quoted as saying to
even said that this prejudice ists, locals, politicians were When we are raising our reporters.
and unfairness is mainly detained in many areas issues, we are persecuted While speaking with
because they “belong to Adi- Also, signed by 22 village by police. Why you are not media person, a local
vasi and tribal communities Sarpanchs (headmen), in ready to listen to our plight?” tribal from Vagadiya village,
and not Patel community.” an open letter to the PM on Activist Lakhan Musafir, Shailesh Tadvi, said, “Land
If that wasn’t enough, October 31, they wrote that who was arrested along of six villges were first
only after the unveiling of he (PM) is not welcome in with 23 Adivasi protestors, acquired by the government
the ‘Statue of Unity’, around their villages for neglecting after being released from in the 1960s for the main
300 activists were released their rights and going ahead police station said that the dam project. We have not
from the arrests who with the project. The even anger and frustration of received any compensation
warned to hold a demon- mentioned that how Patel the villagers are genuine for that till date. Now, that
stration on the day of the would have felt by seeing as in the last month, al- land is being used for the
launch, October 31, a way the atrocities being levied most six villages around statue project. We want the
to dissuade the dissents. upon them. The letter reads: Garudeshwar area had to government to compensate
For a while now, there has “If Sardar Patel could see the lose acres of lands due to us before unveiling the
been a vehement protest mass destruction of natural government’s apathy as the statue.”
by the Adivasi farmers and resources and injustice water from the dam was letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 november 2018 50 www.Tehelka.com

50 Patel.indd 3 02/11/18 11:50 AM