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 | Patkar's paroxysms: She wants to jeopardise Posco project Our Correspondent There is a story—apparently apocryphal—about a professional revolutionary who met with a shipwreck. Somehow, he managed to swim to an island, but collapsed because of exhaustion. The natives took him to a house. When he came to his senses, he asked about the place. They told him that it was a small island republic, ruled by a president. Without asking any more questions—whether the regime was good or bad, the condition of the people—the revolutionary thundered, "Tell the President that I am against him." Regrettably, we have too many of such professional protesters. They are against anything and everything that is good, that is related to growth and development (they normally hate growth, always calling is 'jobless,' and invariably oppose development, accusing it being 'unsustainable' and 'exploitative'). Medha Patkar is one such radical. After stalling the development related to the Narmada Dam, she found equally sexy assignments—Singhur and Nandigram, both in West Bengal. Now that the dust has settled in both places, she is desperate to find another arena to perform her antic. She headed for the Posco site in Orissa, expecting a warm welcome by the 'poor people being displaced' by the Korean steel major. Unfortunately for her, the people in the area have understood her spiteful games and are in no mood to entertain her. They refused to meet her, forcing her to leave. Instead of accepting the fact that the local people actually want the project to take off, she has started conjuring up conspiracy theories. "I am sure the villagers are afraid to talk to me as they have been terrorised by Posco supporters," Patkar said. She was denied entry into Nuagaon by Posco supporters hailing from Badgabpur and Nuagaon who insisted the issue does not need "outsiders' interference." They were holding placards: "We want peace, we want Posco — Medha go back." Earlier, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had said, "Patkar often tours the state and opposes mega industries here. She should understand that mega industries are essential for the growth of the poor state like Orissa as they would generate huge revenue and employment for poor people here." But, being a self-righteous and obstinate radical, she disagrees with the Chief Minister. She said that mega industries could not generate employment as expected by him. "I know that only small and medium industries can provide jobs, not big ones. Therefore, we are opposed to the Posco project." This comment reflects very poor understand of the economic realities, for the big industry is as essential as are the small and medium enterprises. But then Patkar has little to do with any reality. Posted on : 12/17/2007 Mail this article to your friend |