The Joint Action Committee, comprising of members from Affected Citizens of Teesta, Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim, Sangha of Dzongu, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association Kalimpong, Lepcha Youth Assiciation of Kalimpong, Lepcha Association of Darjeeling, with the support of Delhi Solidarity Group, took the voice of protest to the national capital of India in form of dharna at Jantar Mantar between the 4th and 7th of December 2007.
NGOs, intellectuals, journalists, ex MPs, social organisation took part in the dharna. They expressed their solidarity and support to the movement.
The JAC also met and submitted memorandum to Shri Rahul Gandhi, MP cum General Secretary AICC, who assuared the delegation that he would take up the issue seriously and also send a fact finding team to Sikkim at the earliest.
A follow up meeting with Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer, Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and DONER, made it clear that electricity was a state subject and that it depended on the state govt. how they deal with the issue. This is contradicting fact that state government has been saying that the centre is pressurising the state government to go ahead with the mega hydel power project!
Also a follow up at the Planning Commission had Dr. Kirit Parekh assuaring the group that he will be making a on the spot visit to Sikkim, especially Dzongu, to see and study the issue for himself.
A interaction meeting was also organised at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) where apprisal was done to those present. It was decided there, that a group would be formed to enlarge the issue and to spread the movement in the nation's capital New Delhi.
A bigger movement is being planned involving the whole of north east, Bengal and other parts of India. Apart from these, the Joint Action Committee will be approaching the Indigenous Peoples Forum in the UN with the issue, in context to the Indigenous Peoples Rights.
.jpg)
