IN-FOCUS: Jal-Satyagrah in Delhi against Coca Cola declared
DailySouthAsian
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National Alliance of People's Movements
A'wing' First Floor, Haji Habib Building
Naigaon Cross road, Dadar (E)Mumbai - 400014
E- mail: mumbainapm@..., napm_up@..., ashaashram@...
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1st July 2006
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AGITATION AGAINST COKE STEPS UP FROM MEHNDIGANJ TO DELHI
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Nandlal and Mukesh break the 5 days long hunger fast and 100 days long dharna
outside Mehndiganj Coca Cola plant, to step up agitation against Coca Cola in
Delhi
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Noted NBA Leader MEDHA PATKAR and Magsaysay Awardee and NAPM leader SANDEEP
Pandey to lead the JAL-SATYAGRAH in New Delhi from September 2006
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Nandlal and Mukesh Break the 5th day hunger fast and 100th day dharana to
step up coca-cola agitation

Mehandiganj and people from other parts of UP declare strong agitation
against coke at National level.

Medha Patkar and Sandeep Panday declare historic 'National Jal Satyagraha'
at Delhi

In ahuge gathering of more than 1500 people including men, women and farmers
joining Mehandiganj people from different parts of UP Medha Patkar and Sandeep
Pandey, Nandalal and Mukesh along with thousands of people declared intensified
agitation against coke and 'National Jal Styagraha' at Delhi in September 2006.

With this promise and resolution and spirit the 100 day long dharna and
indefinite fast of Nandlal and Mukesh which entered 5th day today was called
off.
women arriving from the far flung villages were in the fore front of these
decision and many of them challenge the coke imperialism and took oath that come
what may they will drive these companies not only from Mehandiganj but also from
India.

"We may be able to get food from out side but what will be do without water,
we cannot allow our children's future to become dark zone because of these water
steeling and water polluting coca cola companies" said Tara ben and many other
women who gathered in mehandiganj.

'We will give our life to drive these companies out of our soil and will not
hesitate to give our life for saving water protecting land and natural
resources' was the words of Meera ben with hope, enthusiasm and spirit.
Majority of women requested thNandlal and Mukesh to break the fast as for now
and take the aguitation at national level.

People from all over India and abroad came to show solidarity and support to
the agitation. NAPM's National convenors from Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and
Mumbai came to support the struggle and join hand with mehandiganj people.

In her address to the gathering Medha Patkar Challenged the Coca -Cola Company
on their violation of all the environmental norms and the usurpation of natural
resources. She said that it is no more the issue alone of Mehandiganj but a much
larger issue which is creating havoc in the life of people in Plachimada in
Kerala, Kala Dera, in Rajasthan and many other areas in India where Coke- Pepsi
and even many water bottling plants are established. Water is being sold at
phenomena cost and this has converted a very fundamental, and essential for life
-'common people's resources' into a 'commodity' which is a blatant violation of
people's right and against the Indian culture.

Sandeep Pandey brought to the notice of the adverse health impact of the coke
consumption on children.

The agitation thus was called off with more enthusiam , boost and renued
energy to take it at the national level.

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for more information please contact:
Dr Sandeep Pandey
Email: ashaashram@...
Phones: (0522) 2347365, 94150 22772
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