04-29-2006, 08:28 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Narmada Bachao Andolan : Foreign funding??
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Foreign funding??
http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_...t&counter_img=2
<b>Guj HC sought ban on 'anti-national' NBA </b>
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
As the debate rages on the Narmada Bachao Andolan's bid to scuttle raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the allegation that the Madhya Pradesh Government had failed to rehabilitate displaced persons adequately, what has been completely forgotten is that five years ago, the Gujarat High Court had directed the Centre to consider banning the Medha Patkar-led outfit for "anti-national" activities.
Though the Centre did not act on the directive of the High Court, the then petitioner National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) has revived the charges in its fresh plea before the Supreme Court, backing his allegations with vigilance reports and police findings. The charges include dubious foreign funding, terror tactics, violence and disruptive activities to prevent the construction of the dam.
On December 14, 2001 a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice DH Dharmadhikari, and Justice KA Puj had issued the ban-NBA-directive on a petition filed by the NCCL.
The HC had observed that the Centre should consider a ban on the NBA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for its alleged role in attempting to hamper the development of the country by opposing the Narmada and other dam projects.
The court had considered a spate of charges levelled by the NCCL in support of its contention that the anti-dam outfit was "anti-national". The most scurrilous allegation against the NBA was conspiring with multinationals and foreign institutions to halt important development projects.
The NCCL had also made specific allegations about the terror tactics used by the NBA to prevent construction work, instigating and mobilising the people to sabotage the dam work, and assaulting Government officials and labourers.
"After that we made several representation before the Centre to act on the Gujarat High Court order. But nothing has been done so far," NCCL president VK Saxena told the Pioneer. "In our petitions before the Supreme Court we have highlighted all the anti-national activities of the NBA and will once pray that in view of the Gujarat HC order, the apex court should ask the Centre to consider imposing a ban of their anti-national activities," Mr Saxena added.
Notwithstanding the amnesia of the Centre, the alleged anti-national activities of the NBA have also been highlighted by SDO Bagli, Madhya Pradesh in his final report of November 22, 2005 before Addl Sessions Judge in Bagli, Devas district.
In his report, the SDO has claimed that the arrest of Rahul Banerjee, who is associated with the NBA, and his wife by the police and subsequent seizure of their computers showed the "NBA received foreign assistance from the Right Livelihood Foundation and the <span style='color:red'>Goldman Foundation to run the Jan Sahyog Trust and the NBA Secretariat, and the money was given to other constituent organisations too. NBA used the amount received from the Goldman Foundation to meet huge expenses for lobbying in America." </span>
The report further pointed out that while the "<span style='color:red'>Goldman Foundation has been giving funds to Narmada Bachao Andolan, at the same time Rahul Bannerji's brother worked with the Goldman Investment Company in New Jersey, USA." </span>
The Devas SDO report says documentary evidences and witnesses lead to the inevitable conclusion that the activities of the accused <b>Rahul Bannerji and the Adivasi Morcha Sangathan, falls under the category of 121 A of IPC.
"Under Section 121, two types of conspiracies are defined. The first kind of conspiracy says, a crime, which is done within or outside India is punishable under section 121 of IPC. </b>
<b>The second type of conspiracy says - to terrorize the State Govt or Govt of India by using criminal force or by the show of criminal strength</b>. Under this section, it is not necessary that a conspiracy is hatched with an intention to benefit illegally but here it is very important to note the way the people have given their statements alleging that Rahul Bannerji and the members of Adivasi Morcha Sangathan were inciting Adivasis against the State Government and against the officers and staff of Government machinery for conducting their official duties," the report said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign funding??
http://dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_...t&counter_img=2
<b>Guj HC sought ban on 'anti-national' NBA </b>
Navin Upadhyay | New Delhi
As the debate rages on the Narmada Bachao Andolan's bid to scuttle raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam on the allegation that the Madhya Pradesh Government had failed to rehabilitate displaced persons adequately, what has been completely forgotten is that five years ago, the Gujarat High Court had directed the Centre to consider banning the Medha Patkar-led outfit for "anti-national" activities.
Though the Centre did not act on the directive of the High Court, the then petitioner National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) has revived the charges in its fresh plea before the Supreme Court, backing his allegations with vigilance reports and police findings. The charges include dubious foreign funding, terror tactics, violence and disruptive activities to prevent the construction of the dam.
On December 14, 2001 a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice DH Dharmadhikari, and Justice KA Puj had issued the ban-NBA-directive on a petition filed by the NCCL.
The HC had observed that the Centre should consider a ban on the NBA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for its alleged role in attempting to hamper the development of the country by opposing the Narmada and other dam projects.
The court had considered a spate of charges levelled by the NCCL in support of its contention that the anti-dam outfit was "anti-national". The most scurrilous allegation against the NBA was conspiring with multinationals and foreign institutions to halt important development projects.
The NCCL had also made specific allegations about the terror tactics used by the NBA to prevent construction work, instigating and mobilising the people to sabotage the dam work, and assaulting Government officials and labourers.
"After that we made several representation before the Centre to act on the Gujarat High Court order. But nothing has been done so far," NCCL president VK Saxena told the Pioneer. "In our petitions before the Supreme Court we have highlighted all the anti-national activities of the NBA and will once pray that in view of the Gujarat HC order, the apex court should ask the Centre to consider imposing a ban of their anti-national activities," Mr Saxena added.
Notwithstanding the amnesia of the Centre, the alleged anti-national activities of the NBA have also been highlighted by SDO Bagli, Madhya Pradesh in his final report of November 22, 2005 before Addl Sessions Judge in Bagli, Devas district.
In his report, the SDO has claimed that the arrest of Rahul Banerjee, who is associated with the NBA, and his wife by the police and subsequent seizure of their computers showed the "NBA received foreign assistance from the Right Livelihood Foundation and the <span style='color:red'>Goldman Foundation to run the Jan Sahyog Trust and the NBA Secretariat, and the money was given to other constituent organisations too. NBA used the amount received from the Goldman Foundation to meet huge expenses for lobbying in America." </span>
The report further pointed out that while the "<span style='color:red'>Goldman Foundation has been giving funds to Narmada Bachao Andolan, at the same time Rahul Bannerji's brother worked with the Goldman Investment Company in New Jersey, USA." </span>
The Devas SDO report says documentary evidences and witnesses lead to the inevitable conclusion that the activities of the accused <b>Rahul Bannerji and the Adivasi Morcha Sangathan, falls under the category of 121 A of IPC.
"Under Section 121, two types of conspiracies are defined. The first kind of conspiracy says, a crime, which is done within or outside India is punishable under section 121 of IPC. </b>
<b>The second type of conspiracy says - to terrorize the State Govt or Govt of India by using criminal force or by the show of criminal strength</b>. Under this section, it is not necessary that a conspiracy is hatched with an intention to benefit illegally but here it is very important to note the way the people have given their statements alleging that Rahul Bannerji and the members of Adivasi Morcha Sangathan were inciting Adivasis against the State Government and against the officers and staff of Government machinery for conducting their official duties," the report said.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->