By Admin
“Attempts to silence dissent by branding it as anti-national weaken the foundations of democratic governance and hinder constructive dialogue on pressing social issues. Such actions of the State undermine people’s right to hold authorities accountable, the right to peaceful protest and community involvement in decision-making processes.”
NEW DELHI: More than 250 activists from different parts of India and diverse organisations in a signed statement initiated by the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of 6 environmental activists under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for opposing projects on Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
The signatories called for their immediate release and withdrawal of cases filed against them, for exercising their legitimate right to raise ecological concerns.
All those detained Mohammad Abdullah Gujjar (resident of Sigdi Bhata), Noor Din (resident of Kakerwagan), Ghulam Nabi Choppan (resident of Trungi – Dachhan), Mohammad Jaffer Sheikh (resident of Nattas, Dool), and Mohammad Ramzan (resident of Dangduroo – Dachhan), trade union leaders from Kishtwar district.
Another environmental activist, Rehamatullah from Doda, who has been raising his voice against dereliction of duty and failure to recycle the waste material and garbage by the Doda Municipal Committee was also detained under PSA. He has been raising pertinent issues regarding the socio-environmental impacts of large projects and solid waste management.
Those detained persons are part of the popular opposition to hydro-power projects, the mega infrastructure being constructed on the Chenab River. They are raising their voices about the environmental impacts of mega projects on their land and people and about solid waste management in the region.
The government authorities claim that these persons were attempting to ‘obstruct projects of national importance’.
This story was originally published in kashmirtimes.com. Read the full story here.
