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The Truth about Medha Patkar, a secular activist by @fgautier26

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The Truth about Medha Patkar, a secular activist
Published: Monday, Jan 13,2014, 22:21 IST
By: Francois Gautier
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Most people in India have a positive impression about Medha Patkar. Is she not the secular activist who takes on big business, fights for preserving India’s greenery and defends the poor and downtrodden?

However documents leaked to the press have revealed a very different picture: that of a scheming person, who has no qualms about breaking the law and whose sources of funding are mysterious.

In a letter written in October 2007, Dr Urmilaben Patel, member of the Congress Working Committee, wrote to Shri Pranab Mukherjee, who was then the Hon'ble Minister for External Affairs Government of India: “You are kindly aware, that Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) headed by Medha Patkar is actively involved in opposing all hydro projects in India... I have recently received material which I find quite disturbing.. I specifically draw your attention into the message of Ms. Patkar using the words of "pressurizing the UPA government", and "honouring" a Supreme Court Judge for a favourable verdict, as is explicit in the emails. It seems it is a deliberate act on the part of Ms. Patkar to defame UPA Govt. I humbly suggest that Govt, should immediately enquire how Medha Patkar managed favourable verdict and take appropriate action against Ms. Patkar for bringing disrepute to the Govt, and to the Hon'ble Supreme Court and halting the progress of the nation. I feel this issue is of national importance and deserves your personal attention”.

Nothing ever came out of it. Yet, since then, there has emerged even more disturbing evidence of NBA's nefarious collusion with foreign elements This is in the form of an exchange of confidential emails between Ms. Patkar and by Mr. Patrick McCully, Ex. Director, International Rivers Network (IRN) based at Berkeley (United States). Now who is this Patrick McCully? He is a man who cavorts with enemies of India, particularly with Angana Chatterjee, on the board of IRN, a known India baiter, who was very close to Ghulab Nabi Fai, recently arrested by the FBI for being an ISI spy. Angana Chatterjee is married to Richard Shapiro, Director and Associate Professor of the Graduate Anthropology Program at CIIS. Now both Shapiro and Chatterjee were regular at the ISI sponsored junkets. She was charged of being propped up by the ISI to launch an anti-India campaign. Further, her partner Richard Shapiro was denied entry to India in 2010 for what was reported to be his anti-India propaganda.

The material leaked is indeed quiet disturbing, particularly the exchange of emails between Ms. Patkar and Mr. Patrick McCully. Few details are given below.

1. The Honourable Supreme Court pronounced its verdict, dismissing NCCL's PIL on July 10, 2007 around 11.00 am.
2. The news is posted on The Times of India's website at 11.26 am.
3. The information along with the news item is sent to Mr. Patrick McCully from Ms. Patkar's email address (nba.medha@qmail.com) at 12.03 pm on July 10. i.e. within 36 minutes.
4. Mr. Patrick writes back to Ms. Patkar on July 12: "How did you manage this? Who was the second judge?"
5. Ms. Patkar replies the next day i.e. on 13th July, at 10:13 AM saying "many eminent persons wrote to the UPA government.. we dealt with the press selectively and ensured that pressure was kept all through." She also sends a soft copy of the judgment and the profiles of Justice C K Thakker and Justice Altamas Kabir.
6. Mr. Patrick reverts on July 17 congratulating Ms, Patkar, and suggesting that five or six people associated with managing "this verdict" be honoured at a function in London (UK). The mail says: "...We must honour Judge Kabir for supporting you. Please explore the possibility. He will retire in 2013 - a very useful man for your future battles." It might be mentioned that the verdict was written by hon'ble Justice Kabir.
7. On July 19, Mr. Patrick writes again suggesting that apart from advocates, individuals who supported in NBA's. defence also be included in the felicitation programme in London. To this Ms. Medha responds on July 22 "apart from advocates no one would like to be acknowledged for writing to pressurize the government. That might boomerang".

As you can see the exchange is explosive and dangerous to the extent that it shows a foreign interest and support to a group that is indulging in obstruction to Country's development.

Then, there is the question of how does Medha Patkar get her finances? Medha Patkar has the Right Livelihood Award, the Rev. MA Thomas National Human Rights Award, Amnesty International's Human Rights Defender's Award, and the BBC's Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner. Her Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is described as a "social movement". Presumably this social movement handles money, if only for its own expenses. But the Supreme Court has noted the NBA is not a registered entity. So, how does it bank its money? How does it account for its expenses? The NBA, which, as we have seen, has international connections, does not seem to have its own website. Foreign sources fund its support groups. But which foreign sources? Could the American Security agencies, which have no qualms about using a Richard Headley - and still shelter him from the Indian justice - covertly fund Medha Patkar? Finally, accused of faking medical certificates, fined more than once for dodging court hearings, Patkar is now accused by the Supreme Court itself of†filing a false affidavit before it.

Many of us have been wondering why nobody can touch Medha Patkar, in spite of all her misdoings, in spite of even of the Congress, the very party Medha associates herself willingly with, speaking against her? The answer is simple: she is protected by the most powerful person in India.

Click here to access complete documents

Did you read email correspondence completely ?

which part of the correspondence you found illegal or objectionable ?

They were discussing cause ways of thanking and honoring people who helped NBM amidst legal battle ?

are you questioning credentials of SC judges like Altamas kabir ?

and is this the basis of your ire against Medha Patkar ?


I think you need much more solid evidence to label her as traitor or anti national ...

The email correspondence taken out of context where the case of honoring legal and non legal luminaries who helped directly or indirectly in winning a legal battle ...can't be a basis to call somebody as foreign paid agent .
have you ever thought what could be objective of a lady to take foreign help to antagonize developmental work ...just to get some awards ???

 

[axisofevil]

Did you read email correspondence completely ?

which part of the correspondence you found illegal or objectionable ?

They were discussing cause ways of thanking and honoring people who helped NBM amidst legal battle ?

are you questioning credentials of SC judges like Altamas kabir ?

and is this the basis of your ire against Medha Patkar ?


I think you need much more solid evidence to label her as traitor or anti national ...

The email correspondence taken out of context where the case of honoring legal and non legal luminaries who helped directly or indirectly in winning a legal battle ...can't be a basis to call somebody as foreign paid agent .
have you ever thought what could be objective of a lady to take foreign help to antagonize developmental work ...just to get some awards ???

Dude, these guys are blind. In the name of development, they will throw their mothers under the bus and eat dirt. They don't care or fail to see the effects of massive pollution going on in India. They'll start raking up it costs too much, we are developing, etc, etc. There is one green activist who has campaigned tirelessly against coal mining. The effects are crazy because of the lack of regulation and corruption. he has been threatened numeorus times and had a few murder attempts on his life. His name is Ramesh Agrawal and he won a "green Nobel." I wonder what these guys think about him? I bet they also think he is a paid agent and works for foreign gov'ts because he won foreign awards LOL. Any green activist gets discredited. Im sure there are a few bad apples but calling them all a farce is BS. Who seems to gain the most from this? The bids for these contracts all go to politically connected corporations who got their foot in the door and built themselves for decades using corruption, bribes and easy credit. Even if we were to create a level playing field, how many coporation could even compete with them today?




Not a single person on this site who is an India poster lives in the vicinity of a coal mine, garbage dump or polluted waters. Maybe if they took the time to travel a bit and saw the other face of India instead of living in a flat in a 1st or 2nd tier city, they could appreciate the sentiments and actions of such ppl.


Indian activist Ramesh Agrawal wins 'Green Nobel' - The Times of India




None of these guys ever talk about this or bring this up.....but RTI is what has helped bring a lot of issues to the front.

Attacks on RTI activists in India - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[amitkriit]

If you have to identify a traitor, count the number of foreign honours and awards he/she has received. Politicians are not above scrutiny, neither are these NGOs.

 

[axisofevil]

If you have to identify a traitor, count the number of foreign honours and awards he/she has received. Politicians are not above scrutiny, neither are these NGOs.

count the number of foreign honours and awards he/she has received

Great, how many qualify for being a traitor?

What about the plight of RTI activists? Their death rate has skyrocketed with littel change in protection and secrecy.

 

[amitkriit]

count the number of foreign honours and awards he/she has received

Great, how many qualify for being a traitor?

What about the plight of RTI activists? Their death rate has skyrocketed with littel change in protection and secrecy.

I am not talking about those RTI activists who are like common Indians, I am talking about those who show their concern for the poor people of India while sitting in their AC chambers located in the hearts of the posh districts of Delhi, Mumbai. These people are well-connected and well-protected.

 

[axisofevil]

I am not talking about those RTI activists who are like common Indians, I am talking about those who show their concern for the poor people of India while sitting in their AC chambers located in the hearts of the posh districts of Delhi, Mumbai. These people are well-connected and well-protected.

They are many ppl like Ramesh Agawarl....who aren't mentioned enough in our media. The lady you are referring to .....I quite frankly have no clue about. But it's a lot easier for a socialite who has nothing to do, to use her time to fight for a cause she believes in. I am not defending nor justifying her, just stating there is a need based on the track record on how things work out in India.

 

[amitkriit]

They are many ppl like Ramesh Agawarl....who aren't mentioned enough in our media. The lady you are referring to .....I quite frankly have no clue about. But it's a lot easier for a socialite who has nothing to do, to use her time to fight for a cause she believes in. I am not defending nor justifying her, just stating there is a need based on the track record on how things work out in India.

I have full respect for the common people of India who have fought against the system and at times had to give huge sacrifices. These are the people who gave us RTI, Right to Education and Lokpal. It will take 1000s of those Magsaysay Award winners to do what our nameless, faceless heroes have done for India.

Very few people know how certain NGOs operating in India inflated the number of HIV infected people in India to get additional funds from national and international sources.

Certain Christian NGOs in NE were used by the UK as conduits for transferring funds to the insurgents groups.
Certain NGOs work as contract killers, always ready to serve the highest bidder.

 

[axisofevil]

I have full respect for the common people of India who have fought against the system and at times had to give huge sacrifices. These are the people who gave us RTI, Right to Education and Lokpal. It will take 1000s of those Magsaysay Award winners to do what our nameless, faceless heroes have done for India.

Very few people know how certain NGOs operating in India inflated the number of HIV infected people in India to get additional funds from national and international sources.

Certain Christian NGOs in NE were used by the UK as conduits for transferring funds to the insurgents groups.
Certain NGOs work as contract killers, always ready to serve the highest bidder.

Damn the Uk still f-king us over! I knew NCSN was fund raising in the US. In fact, you can view videos of it on youtube, where they are talking of atrocities against Christians in order to garner support and funding from the fundamentalists in the US

 

[GURU DUTT]

This Medha Patkar moron women opposes each and every development work

who cares bro first let her ad her type of "professional agitators" save there asses bieng fried by the IB and CBI among others cause they will be first to face NaMo "justice"

 

[amitkriit]

who cares bro first let her ad her type of "professional agitators" save there asses bieng fried by the IB and CBI among others cause they will be first to face NaMo "justice"

The CBI cannot act without approval from the states or the judiciary. BJP ruled states will cooperate with the central government, but what about other states which will cry "murder of federalism". IB doesn't have any policing power either. I am not sure how effectively Modi will be able to counter these jholawallahs.

 

[GURU DUTT]

The CBI cannot act without approval from the states or the judiciary. BJP ruled states will cooperate with the central government, but what about other states which will cry "murder of federalism". IB doesn't have any policing power either. I am not sure how effectively Modi will be able to counter these jholawallahs.

well sir when central govt takes action or at least makes up its mind to take action nothing stops and specialli when there is already considrable evidence already against the accused well try to the newshour debate on 12th june and you will get many clues to the unfolding story and last but not the least all these so called "professional agitators are already under the IB lense for almost 4 years now"

 

[foxbat]

The CBI cannot act without approval from the states or the judiciary. BJP ruled states will cooperate with the central government, but what about other states which will cry "murder of federalism". IB doesn't have any policing power either. I am not sure how effectively Modi will be able to counter these jholawallahs.

As a matter of fact I believe in next 5 years, you will see the BJP ruled states clearly distinguishing themselves in terms of development due to a better state/Center cooperation and coordination. The other states will simply have to follow to avoid being thrown out in the next elections

 

[wolfschanzze]

Did you read email correspondence completely ?

which part of the correspondence you found illegal or objectionable ?

They were discussing cause ways of thanking and honoring people who helped NBM amidst legal battle ?

are you questioning credentials of SC judges like Altamas kabir ?

and is this the basis of your ire against Medha Patkar ?


I think you need much more solid evidence to label her as traitor or anti national ...

The email correspondence taken out of context where the case of honoring legal and non legal luminaries who helped directly or indirectly in winning a legal battle ...can't be a basis to call somebody as foreign paid agent .
have you ever thought what could be objective of a lady to take foreign help to antagonize developmental work ...just to get some awards ???

This is in the form of an exchange of confidential emails between Ms. Patkar and by Mr. Patrick McCully, Ex. Director, International Rivers Network (IRN) based at Berkeley (United States). Now who is this Patrick McCully? He is a man who cavorts with enemies of India, particularly with Angana Chatterjee, on the board of IRN, a known India baiter, who was very close to Ghulab Nabi Fai, recently arrested by the FBI for being an ISI spy. Angana Chatterjee is married to Richard Shapiro, Director and Associate Professor of the Graduate Anthropology Program at CIIS. Now both Shapiro and Chatterjee were regular at the ISI sponsored junkets. She was charged of being propped up by the ISI to launch an anti-India campaign. Further, her partner Richard Shapiro was denied entry to India in 2010 for what was reported to be his anti-India propaganda.

Then, there is the question of how does Medha Patkar get her finances? Medha Patkar has the Right Livelihood Award, the Rev. MA Thomas National Human Rights Award, Amnesty International's Human Rights Defender's Award, and the BBC's Green Ribbon Award for Best International Political Campaigner. Her Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) is described as a "social movement". Presumably this social movement handles money, if only for its own expenses. But the Supreme Court has noted the NBA is not a registered entity. So, how does it bank its money? How does it account for its expenses? The NBA, which, as we have seen, has international connections, does not seem to have its own website. Foreign sources fund its support groups. But which foreign sources? Could the American Security agencies, which have no qualms about using a Richard Headley - and still shelter him from the Indian justice - covertly fund Medha Patkar? Finally, accused of faking medical certificates, fined more than once for dodging court hearings, Patkar is now accused by the Supreme Court itself of†filing a false affidavit before it.

did you read this or the attachment letter before commenting?

 

[wolfschanzze]

I see. Like I said, I don't agree or know her in particular but there are good ppl who do truly care.





I agree.....but if those same countries are lecturing us then we got to turn the tables on them and tell them we'll go along if you give us access to cuttingedge research. Simply, telling us not to use gas, oil and reduce pollution with no means of doing so, is just cheap talk. I remember how long it took to gain access catalytic converters and clean coal tech. The media , particularly the ability to get this msg across to ppl all over should be taken up. If its factual and based on clean facts, it will be good for all parties concerned.


Folks tend to rake up pollution stats particularly the West. But given that they were major polluters for a time as they developed, it comes across as double standards. By doing so, it just pushes India further to embrace China.


Nonetheless, all these decades of pollution by various countries is definitely taking a toll on Earth. Pointing fingers at the West is not going to accomplish squat. Work with each other on favorable terms to get the job done.

You fail to see the hypocrisy of the west here,They are developed nations ,who polluted the earth the most, now that they have reached a stage of of development and standard, they are lecturing others on green house emissions,
INDIA and china are developing nations who are yet to provide certain mimimum living standards for their people.What West wants is India and China to stop its development programmes and stop industry, while The so called Developed Nations haven't even cut their emissions.This is what GreenPeace does and it is used as asset by CIA to foment trouble in other countries.
If Developed Nations are so worried about Pollution they should shut down all their Industries and go totally green and let us develop, once we reached the milestone of developed nation,we would follow the same.
They should lead by example instead of lecturing Developing Nations.

 

[amitkriit]

You fail to see the hypocrisy of the west here,They are developed nations ,who polluted the earth the most, now that they have reached a stage of of development and standard, they are lecturing others on green house emissions,
INDIA and china are developing nations who are yet to provide certain mimimum living standards for their people.What West wants is India and China to stop its development programmes and stop industry, while The so called Developed Nations haven't even cut their emissions.This is what GreenPeace does and it is used as asset by CIA to foment trouble in other countries.
If Developed Nations are so worried about Pollution they should shut down all their Industries and go totally green and let us develop, once we reached the milestone of developed nation,we would follow the same.
They should lead by example instead of lecturing Developing Nations.

Actually the developed nations want the developing countries to remain under-developed because to maintain their higher standard of living they rely on the cheap imports from the countries like India and China. Some NGOs are even involved in politics, Greenpeace gave money to AAP.