Express press service
AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused “urban Naxals and anti-development elements with political backing” of blocking various development projects in Gujarat. He said such groups opposed the Sardar Sarovar barrage by orchestrating a campaign against it.
“Huge sums of money have been wasted due to the delay in the execution of the project. Now, when the barrage is over, you will be able to judge how dubious their claims were,” Modi said. He added that these groups have taken millions of rupees from global organizations to hinder development in India.
Modi was addressing environment ministers from various states after virtually inaugurating a national conference in Gujarat’s Narmada district via video conference. Highlighting the “conspiracies” due to which the World Bank had refused a loan to increase the height of the dam, he said: “It took time to thwart these conspiracies, but the people emerged victorious. The dam was described as a threat to the environment. Today, it has become synonymous with environmental protection,” he said.
The Prime Minister also asked people to remain vigilant against far-left urban Naxals. “I urge you to ensure that projects aimed at making business easier or making life easier are not unnecessarily blocked in the name of the environment. We must have a balanced approach to counter the conspiracy of these people,” a- he declared.
Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Medha Patkar, founding member of Narmada Bachao Andolan, for showing ‘wacky environmental concerns’ for hamper development projects.
Shah on September 4, during a groundbreaking ceremony in Ahmedabad, said: “Some people have made new attempts to give Patkar a back door in politics. I would like to ask the youths if they would allow those who oppose the development of Gujarat to enter the state.
AHMEDABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused “urban Naxals and anti-development elements with political backing” of blocking various development projects in Gujarat. He said such groups opposed the Sardar Sarovar barrage by orchestrating a campaign against it. “Huge sums of money have been wasted due to the delay in the execution of the project. Now, when the barrage is over, you will be able to judge how dubious their claims were,” Modi said. He added that these groups have taken millions of rupees from global organizations to hinder development in India. Modi was addressing environment ministers from various states after virtually inaugurating a national conference in Gujarat’s Narmada district via video conference. Highlighting the “conspiracies” due to which the World Bank had refused a loan to increase the height of the dam, he said: “It took time to thwart these conspiracies, but the people emerged victorious. The dam was described as a threat to the environment. Today, it has become synonymous with environmental protection,” he said. The prime minister also asked people to remain vigilant against far-left urban Naxals. “I urge you to ensure that projects aimed at making business easier or making life easier are not unnecessarily blocked in the name of the environment. We need to have a balanced approach to countering the conspiracy of these people,” he said. Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Medha Patkar, founding member of Narmada Bachao Andolan, for showing ‘wacky environmental concerns’ for hamper development projects. Shah on September 4, during a groundbreaking ceremony in Ahmedabad, said: “Some people have made new attempts to give Patkar a back door in politics. I would like to ask the youths if they would allow those who oppose the development of Gujarat to enter the state.
