Medha Patkar's condition worsened on Friday, as her blood pressure and blood sugar levels dipped and ketone levels went up. Meanwhile, seven more people joined the Narmada Bachao Andolan leader's hunger strike.
Patkar and two others - Jamsingh Nargave and Bhagwati Patidar - have been on an indefinite fast for the past 16 days, protesting against the Gujarat government's decision to raise the height of the Sardar Sarovar Project. Nargave and Patidar are also very ill, experiencing much pain and fatigue.
After the three began their strike, a Group of Ministers visited the Narmada Valley and submitted a report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. However, there has been no positive response from the PMO, which has prompted the other seven to also join the strike.
"We had written to the PMO under the Right to Infromation Act two days ago. Today, we got a letter from them saying they had forwarded our request to the Ministry of Water Resources for necessary action. How long are we supposed to wait," environmentalist Shekhar Singh told reporters here.
Right to Information activist and Magsaysay awardee Aruna Roy demanded that all necessary documents related to Sardar Sarovar Project be made public. "In the Common Minimum Programme, the United Progressive Alliance had promised that they would encourage more effective systems of relief and rehabilitation for tribals. Then why are they not listening to these people. It proves that their assurances are all a big mockery," she said.
