Medha holds closed door meeting with anti-Posco activists

DHINKIA (ORISSA): A day after cancelling her night halt plan at neighbouring Nuagaon village, the proposed Posco plant site, due to people's refusal to meet her, social activist Medha Patekar on Wednesday held closed door meeting with anti-project activists here.

In a bid to rally the opponents of the Rs 51,000 crore project over three panchayats of coastal Orissa, the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader interacted with some people in the village, considered a stronghold of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which is spearheading the anti-Posco agitation.

The NBA leader closeted herself with PPSS activists apparently to chalk out the future course of action, sources said.

Earlier, Patkar, accompanied by a few supporters, visited the adjoining Patana village, where both supporters and opponents of the project are believed to be residing.

Asked about her experience in Nuagaon where people refused to meet her yesterday, Patekar said "I have seen so many places in the country but it was a sad experience at Nuagaon. We could see fear in people's faces. They were quiet in order to avoid Rs 5000 penalty".

Claiming that people were terrorised by supporters of the project, she said they were afraid and helpless.

Patekar is expected to address the villagers and PPSS activists during her second visit to Dhinkia, home to around 3,000 people belonging to 495 families.

The NBA leader, who wanted to spend the night at Nuagaon yesterday, cancelled her programme as the villagers refused to meet her and even shut their doors.