Medha Patkar, activists detained trying to enter Water Ministry

NEW DELHI: Activist Medha Patkar and several of her supporters from the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) were today detained by the police when they tried to enter the Water Resources ministry to meet Minister Uma Bharti.

The protesters had reached the national capital as part of their Narmada Sangharsh Yatra from Badwani, Madhya Pradesh.

They had been protesting for the reduction in the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat and proper rehabilitation of people on the banks of Narmada river. They had first staged a protest at Jantar Mantar and then marched to the Water Resources ministry.

They wanted to meet the Minister to raise their demands but were stopped and then detained by the police.

"Patkar and others were detained as they did not had prior appointment and they were trying to enter the ministry without proper permission," Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) S B S Tyagi said.