15-01-2014
"AAP” and I
THE SCENARIO
In the first week of the year 2014, I roamed in
Alaknanda Ghati of uttarakhand for five days. I saw many hoardings
showing people wearing aam aadmi caps, known and unknown faces.
Various regional associations were also been organized at various
places. Many people working with us on dam also went to attend some.
I went to Srinagar and Vishnu prayag dam affected areas.
Many people have lost everything they had in the recent June, 2013
calamity. Since past 5-6 months, Matu has been trying to raise these
issues by paper letting, press conferences, put legal case on Dam
company- Jaypee, GVK but the government didn’t pay any heed to our
voice. The government officials least cared because they had their
pocket full. They didn’t care to see the huge amounts of silt
deposited in River Alaknanda due to Vishnupryag HEP. Our saathi
Bharat Chouhan ji was telling everybody how there are severe
environmental alterations happening in laxman Ganga. He had lost a
restaurant who have had employed around 25 people. His village Pulna
Byondar was washed way completely. But he was more concerned for the
wildlife of that area. This place is very close to the “Popular
valley of flowers” and also a way to Sikh pilgrim place “Hemkund
Sahib”.
Since past 200 days, people are on protest beside
Alaknanda bank for construction of retaining walls to save them from
Srinagar dam water. The responsibility of more than 250 people who
saw their land, house getting destroyed goes to Srinagar Dam
Construction Company GVK. Dam companies in the name of
development/money get all the major political leaders and powerful
economic people to stand by them. These issues are more important to
me, which are not looked by the people who are running to join AAP in
Uttarakand, rather they are overlooking these issues.
AN OLD STORY
Uttarakand, had a history of the decade’s long
struggle new State. I worked with Sunderlal Bhaguna Ji, a renowned
environmentalist and others. I remember at the time of struggle for
new state Uuttarakhand, one of the bigest leader of the movement
Badoni ji asked Sunderlal ji to join them in their struggle.
Sunderlal Ji stated simply to first sort and answer the issue of
Tehri dam and then he’ll join the party named Uttarakhand Kranti
Dal. Badoni ji assured that we shall discuss all of this after we get
the statehood. Sunderlal ji negated any such proposals, saying that
then you’ll be a minister and there’ll be a guard standing
outside for me.
Along with Sunderlalji, there were many activists,
writers and others who had a vision of Uttarakhand. After the
formaition of the state this above mentioned party now merged with
big political parties namely BJP and Congress and the fate of the Aam
Uttarkhandi at the mercy of these parties with no sense of real the
Uttarakand.
AAP will not be like this, I do hope.
Happy and Happiness
In last twenty days, I am glad to see Arvind Kejriwal as
the Chief Minister of Delhi. He feels like a part of my small family
and this was a celebrated moment. I do remember that some years back
a delegation of Tehri Oustees met Mrs. Sheila Dixit, the then CM of
Delhi and asked her to support us in speeding up the process of
rehabilitation because you are enjoying water in Delhi, the cause of
which drowns us in Tehri. She assured for her support but it never
went beyond assurance.
I wrote a letter on 6th January, 2014 to my
friend, CM Kejriwalji. He has initially been in touch with me and
enquired about World Bank on water privatization issues of Delhi. I
wrote three key issues in my letter. I requested for inclusion of
poor people who do not have tap connections to enjoy from the recent
free water policy. Secondly, I asked him to do something for the
rehabilitation of Tehri Dam Oustees and put pressure on Uttarakhand
Government first to speed up the rehabilitation process and second
not to give permission to dam company THDC to fill the reservoir to
its full capacity. Finally, I asked him to reconsider the MoUs of
proposed Renuka Dam, Himachal and Kisau and Lakhwar Dams in
Uttarakhand, keeping its environmental and displacement
repercussions. One of the key aim of these dam to get water for
Delhi. Because Delhi have a capacity to fulfill its real needs of
water. I am still waiting for a response. I am sure he’ll take
necessary step and I know he has very busy schedule.. I am happy to
see Arvindbhai as CM but my happiness belongs to the smiles of delhi
slum people, Tehri dam oustees and green environment of Himalaya.
AAP and I
I have also been receiving many phone calls over the
past few weeks about my political position and whether I am going to
join AAP any time soon or if I will stand in a constituency elections
or can I lobby for them in AAP. These scholars are usually my
colleagues, co activists and general acquaintances. It shows that
people consider our movements coherent with those of AAP because our
people’s movement (NAPM) were largely involved in anticorruption
movements led by Anna ji and his team in which Arvind bhai one
prominent figure.
I understand corruption is a draconian problem but one
cannot refute the importance of equally crucial issues like AFSPA,
question of dignity, communal issue, dams, tribal, and displacement
due to development etc. And yes, I cannot expect solutions of all
these issues by Arvind Kejriwal ji in this short span of time. It’ll
take time and many more struggles from various authorities. I am sure
they need support for movements. He has a very good team of
intellectuals, lawyers, activists, etc. Sure I do support AAP.
My Analysis
Friends, you have read THE SCENARIO and AN OLD STORY
I narrated above and on that basis, I decide not to join AAP. Voting
is our right as well as duty and we accomplish it with full
responsibility. This time we’ll have a better option. I support AAP
and I convince people around me to vote for AAP but I shall not join
AAP. I would rather stay as a small watch dog in Uttarakhand, the
area I am working. NAPM has an old and long story of participating in
elections. Every time during elections, our old leaders, supporters,
advisors like Late. Gandhian Siddharaj Dhadaji, Justice Rajendra
Sachar ji, Renowned Journalist Kuldeep Nayyar ji and others have had
always put pressure on Medha Patkar ji and NAPM to contest in
elections because they feel that the country needs a leadership of
this flavor instead of the royal, communal parties with lethargic
working. As NAPM, we’ve always supported Lok Ummeedwars (People’s
representative) and we’ve worked, campaigned and promoted the cause
of parties like “Samajwadi Janparishad” (constituent of NAPM and
the school of thought of Yogendra Yadavji, Ajit Jhaji and many
others) and other such political efforts. We have also collected
donations for them from people. We’ve witnessed some electoral
success like Dr. Sunilam who was elected as independent MLA of Multai
constituency, M.P. Later he joined Samjwadi party which he left soon
and now contest as an independent candidate.
Support to AAP
So we do support AAP and have been and would be
campaigning for the party, directly or indirectly, through speeches,
paper letting, etc. but we all People’s Movements and alliance
like National Alliance of Peoples' Movements should not cuddle
ourselves in the arms of AAP. Each people movement is fighting for a
specific contentious issue of a region or group. Aligning the
movement with party will deter our cause as the party will stand
above the particular interests of these people’s movements. There
are many people in the National Political class of our country who
support such people’s movements but they cannot involve themselves
more than the support because of the restrictions by the party
guidelines. Till now, we’re able to bring some changes and positive
work in the policies through these people because we were
independently fighting for the cause. The moment we enter the field
as a competitor to this political class, our options get limited.
Anna Hazare ji could have been an able watch dog and could have
constructively critiqued AAP but this place is still vacant.
There is a need of an independent watch dog which can
affirmatively work on the government policies. According to great
Gandhian Vinobha Bhave, there are two kinds of leadership, direct and
indirect. We believe in the second option. After the independence
Gandhi himself said that the first line of leadership should go and
work in the villages. We should remember their words in choosing our
options today.
After being associated with NAPM since the beginning
with few interruption And with Didi, I personally feel that Medha
Patkar Ji also, should not join AAP. She has pressure from many of
our friends. But it is need of the time that she must choose the
second option.
The Country always need an independent person above
political line and SHE has that capacity.
A big space and role for people's movement is always
required in the Indian democracy. Keeping all these point I support
AAP but I will not join AAP.
Best
Vimalbhai
Convenor Matu Jansangthan, Uttarakhand
National Organiser (out of four) National Alliance of
Peoples' Movements
