The Movement of India
July-August 2010 continued with his campaign on conservation of environment and questioning the clearances given for the various projects. Lawlessness is prevailing all over. Rules famed by rulers are violated by themselves without any impunity and iota of guilt for selfish gains. Under this scenario proactive citizens like Shri EAS Sharma are raising their voice against misrule and maladministration of the state by the so called law makers. Shri Sharma is emphasizing the need to adhere not only to the rule of the land but also to one’s own conscience to uphold democracy in its pristine form. Shri Sharma is fighting against the destruction of environment, livelihoods of the peasants and the under privileged. Certain unscrupulous elements are trying to subdue Shri Sharma by writing anonymous threatening letters. We, National Alliance of People’s Movements, strongly condemn this example of the criminal-industrialist and political nexus that has become a continuous n anonymous “threat letter” was re- pattern in our country. For instance, the State ceived by Shri EAS Sharma, IAS (Rtd). This Machinery including the Chief Minister, letter was received by Sri Sharma on the 4th State Revenue Minister, the district adminof August 2010, written by two persons, sup- istration, the Police are all supporting the posed to be Shri Sitarama Raju and Shri T. setting up of NCC’s Thermal Power Project V. Krishna. The tone of the letter is such that in an ecologically sensitive zone, against all it seems to have been written on behalf of laws of the land, against public protests and some industrialists of A.P. The language is despite the death of two people and injury to not civil. The letter alleges that Shri Sharma four others in the uncalled for Police Firing has come in the way of new industries com- in Sompeta on 14th July. ing up in A.P. It says that both the Central The threat letter received by Shri Sharma only and the State governments are more depen- goes to show the extent to which criminal dent on the industrialists, not on a retired elements in the garb of “industrialists” are officer like him. It further says that the in- emboldened by the insulation they are receivdustrialists have kept a close watch on him ing from the State and Central Governments. and have apprised the “concerned” agencies That a person involved in democratically criin Govt. of India and in A.P. about the de- tiquing the government and its policies and tails of his assets and income to take such that too a person of esteemed repute like Shri action against him as needed. They warned Sharma is facing death threats, only demonhim that the concerned agencies will put a strates that “democracy” in this country is stop to his civil society work soon, unless he “under threat”. voluntarily withdraws from his work. They B Ramakrishna Raju, State Convener, NAPM warned him that they would see his end if he – AP. napmhyderabad@gmail.com 27
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