DELHI UNIVERSITY YOUTH MARCHED FOR YAMUNA

Delhi University Youth marched for Yamuna
Hundreds of youth marched together to oppose construction on riverbed
New Delhi, Sept. 28
Today youth of Delhi University joined Yamuna Satyagraha and marched together against loot and killing of Yamuna in the name of commonwealth games. On a call from "Youth for Justice" a Delhi based youth action group,
Students of Delhi School of Social work initiated the march from their department towards Arts faculty in north campus where March was joined by students from other colleges and departments of Delhi University. Students wee shouting slogans like " Yamuna main to ped lagenge, khelgaon kahin aur banenge"(only trees are allowed on river bed, let the games village be constructed somewhere else).

This march took a larger shape as many students joined the march on its way, when this march reached to law faculty after passing through Miranda House, arts faculty, S.R.C.C., Daulat ram, Ramjas college, Hindu, Stephen's etc. there were hundreds of students mobilizing others and sensitizing fellow students about the issue of Yamuna.
Vinay tiwari and Manish jha from Delhi school of Social work have said that they are out on road because Govt. is paying no heed to peaceful Yamuna Satyagraha.
This is first time when students of Delhi University came out on road in such a big numbers for the cause of Yamuna and against the construction on Yamuna river bed.

Students have asserted that they will keep the movement on until they get satisfactory replies to their questions, they also warned the Govt. to immediately stop any construction on riverbed or they will intensify the movement.

The student felt that our river is more important than any International Event And they were raising slogans like " commonwealth Down Down ".
Anubha , another Student participating in the march, said that its encouraging that Non –political events, involving city's real issues are taken up by the students. From now on , All of us will take active interest in Yamuna movement as we are Matured enough to understand what is happening in the city.
The student announced that they will take the movement to other campus and colleges of delhi university.

GLORY OF BHAGAT SINGH REVIVED

THEY HELD countless demonstrations, several rallies and even an indefinite satyagraha against the Commonwealth Games Village on the Yamuna's riverbanks. To no avail, however, as the state government kept turning a blind eye. On Tuesday, they decided to take their message to the state assembly, where they felt top leaders would no longer be able to ignore them. They were wrong. For all their efforts, they simply landed behind bars for disrupting the House proceedings. Six environmental activists, part of the group that is protesting the "concretisation of the Yamuna floodplains", had carried their message to the assembly on the last day of the session. Sunil Prabhakar, an activist from Punjab who has parked himself at the Games Village site for the last 48 days, shouted in protest, interrupting a discussion on rainwater harvesting. "I could not stand it. On one hand they want to choke the river's flood- plains and threaten Delhi's groundwater potential, on the other hand they encourage rainwater harvesting. The whole thing sounded farcical," said Prabhakar As Prabhakar continued his protest and began chanting slogans, a security officer of the assembly promptly came up to him to stop him, following which there was a scuffle between the two, according to those present nearby As Prabhakar was being dragged out, another activist, Kapil Mishra, loudly began to argue the group's point of view. Thankfully, this time, some of the members listened. Opposition MLAs blamed the government for not "heedingthe river's cause". "We managed to convey our arguments by then," said Diwan Singh, member of the NGO Natural Heritage First. Both Prabhakar and Mishra were detained by the assembly security for misconduct. Delhi Assembly Secretary Sidhartha Rao was not available for comment, but as per the law these detentions take place for contempt of the House. avishek.dastidar@hindustantimes.com

Yamuna Satyagraha activists detained

THE HINDU Staff Reporter
Bid to submit memorandum to Prime Minister

NEW DELHI: Yamuna Satyagraha activists who tried to submit a memorandum demanding preservation of the Yamuna’s floodplains to the Prime Minister were detained by the police outside Vigyan Bhavan here on Tuesday.
The delegation of satyagrahis was on its way to submit the memorandum to Dr. Singh who had came to inaugurate the National Groundwater Congress.
“On a day when the Prime Minister was talking about the importance of groundwater, we wanted to apprise him of the problems being faced by Delhi where the Yamuna floodplains, which are an important groundwater recharge zone, are under threat,” said Diwan Singh who was detained along with nine other and later released.
On reaching Vigyan Bhavan, the Satyagrahis were stopped by the police and taken into custody. “Ours was a peaceful delegation, we requested the police to let us meet some administration officers so that we could submit our memorandum, but we were taken away. So we sang songs penned by the students for the protection of the Yamuna,” he said.
In a statement later in the day, the activists said: “It is nothing but paradoxical that on one hand the Government is talking of the importance of groundwater resources, while on the other it is destroying the largest source of groundwater – the Yamuna floodplains. We urge the Prime Minister to stop concretisation of the riverbed to protect the groundwater resource of this city.”
The satyagrahis said it was ironic that while the Delhi Government was investing crores of rupees for promotion of rainwater harvesting, a significant quantity of water was allowed to flow down the river and go as waste to the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season, because it not allowed spread over the floodplains.
The campaigners alleged: “There seems to be a well designed subterfuge to keep the floodplains devoid of floodwaters. The rainwater harvesting potential of the city is not more than 100 MCM, whereas the floodwater harvesting potential is more than 1500 MCM annually.”
“The Groundwater Conference is aimed at promoting water literacy, evaluating the role of groundwater in national food and water security and promoting more crop and income per drop of water,” the satyagrahis said in their statement.

"YOUTH FOR JUSTICE"

PROUDLY ANNOUNCES

LAUNCH OF YOUTH FOR JUSTICE - UNIVERSITY CHAPTER

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE- "AAG"

( AGGRESIVE ACTION GROUP)

AND

"YOUTH FOR YAMUNA"

-A YOUTH FOR JUSTICE INITIATIVE TO SAVE YAMUNA
FROM
LOOT IN NAME OF COMMONWEALTH GAMES

WE INVITE YOU TO
FIRST YOUTH MARCH FOR YAMUNA

SUNDAY 16th Sept. 2007
JANTAR MANTAR AT 4:00pm


JOIN US

SPREAD THE MESSAGE TO ALL

YOUTH FOR JUSTICE

WEEKLY MEETING

THIS SUNDAY

9th Sept. 2007

at 5:30 pm

central park

c.p.

"you are invited"

VOLUNTEER WITH "YOUTH FOR JUSTICE"

We aspire to: Create a social movement involving all stakeholders and the common masses.We seek guidance, partnership and support in furthering our cause.

We aspire to prove that even while living our daily lives we can create a difference in a system oft ridiculed and abused over our cups of tea.

Current programmes:

1. YAMUNA KI AAZADI - AN ACTION CAMPAIGN TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONSTRUCTION OF COMMONWEALTH VILLAGE ON THE FLOOD PLAINs OF RIVER YAMUNA,

2. FARMERS AND I - A PROGRAMME AIMED TO SENSITIZE AND MOBILIZE URBAN POPULATION ABOUT THE ISSUE OF FARMER SUICIDES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF COUNTRY.

SINCE WE DO NOT OFFER ANY REMUNERATION WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WITH NOT ONLY COMMITMENT BUT AN ECCENTRIC PASSION FOR THE CAUSE.

IF YOU THINK WE ARE’NT EXPECTING TOO MUCH

DO LET US KNOW WHAT FROM THE FOLLOWING INTERESTS YOU.

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR: :-

1. CAMPAIGNING

2. DOCUMENTATION

3. CYBER RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT

4. MEDIA MANAGERS

5. PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROPAGANDA MANAGEMENT

6. ANYONE WHO CAN DEVOTE ATLEAST TWO HOURS PER WEEK

WE ALSO INVITE THE DAY DREAMERS, THE INNOVATORS, THE CREATIVES, WHO WANT TO SEE DREAMS TRANSLATE INTO REALITY.

JUST AS AN EPLIGOUE TO OUR DREAM WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE ALSO OFFER CERTIFICATES TO PEOPLE WHO JOIN OUR MOVEMENTS.

PS: WE ARE ALSO OPEN TO DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS ON ISSUES OTHERWISE NOT MENTIONED.

When you realise that you are a part of the dream as much as we are,

contact us at: youth4justice@gmail.com

or call us on - 9818066041

जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस दवारा यमुना सत्याग्रह स्थल से यमुना कि जमीन पर कॉमनवेल्थ खेलगॉव के निर्माण कार्य को रुकवाने का सरकार को १० दिन का अल्टीमेटम

यमुना की जमीन पर अक्षरधाम मंदिर का निर्माण अनजाने मे हुई गलती जिसके लिए मैं क्षमा मांगता हूँ : जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस
फ़र्नांडिस दवारा यमुना सत्याग्रह स्थल से यमुना कि जमीन पर कॉमनवेल्थ खेलगॉव के निर्माण कार्य को रुकवाने का सरकार को १० दिन का अल्टीमेटम ॥
यमुना खादर पर संभावित कॉमनवेल्थ खेलगॉव के निर्माण के विरोध मे चलाये जा रहे यमुना सत्याग्रह के स्थल पर आज देश के पूर्व रक्षामंत्री श्री जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस यमुना सत्याग्रह मे शामिल सत्याग्रहियों से मामले की जानकारी लेने पहुचे। आज उपवास पर बैठे जल बिरादरी और यूथ फ़ॉर जस्टिस व यमुना के पुत्र के नाम से जाने जाते मेग्सेसे अवार्डी श्री राजेंद्र सिंह जी ने फ़र्नांडिस को मामले की जानकारी दी कि किस तरह यह निर्माण यमुना की जमीन पर हो रहे है जिससे की दिल्ली के जल पूंर्न भण्डार को क्षति पहुच रही है और किसानो को उजाडा गया है। यह सब जानने के बाद जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस ने कबूला कि यमुना के पेट पर अक्षरधाम का निर्माण हमारी अनजाने मे हुई गलती है। मैं उस सरकार का हिस्सा था लेकिन हमे पता नही था कि दिल्ली को पानीदार रखने के लिए यह जमीन इतनी आवश्यक है जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस ने भरे मन से आज यमुना सत्याग्रह स्थल पर राजेंद्र सिंह जी के नेतृत्व मे मौजुद यमुना सत्याग्रहियों व यमुना खादर के किसानो व पर्यावरणविद्वों के सामने कहा मैं अपनी गलती स्वीकार कर्ता हूँ अक्षरधाम मंदिर के अपनी सरकार के कार्यकाल मे हुये निर्माण के लिए यमुना खादर के किसानो व दिल्ली वासियों से क्षमा मांगता हूँ। श्री जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस ने कहा कि यमुना सत्याग्रह भारत के भविष्य, जल, जंगल, जमीन और जन को जोड़ने का सत्याग्रह है। वर्तमान सरकार जन को जमीन और जल से दूर करने का काम कर रही है। उन्होने कहा कई बार हम जब सरकार चलते है तो हमे यह चीजे ज्यादा ध्यान देकर समझनी चाहिए जिससे कि अक्षरधाम जैसी गलतिया दुबारा ना हो। उन्होने कहा कि दिल्ली के प्यासे आम आदमी, यमुना के किसानो और दिल्ली की जीवन रेखा यमुना नदी के लिए चलाये जा रहे यमुना सत्याग्रह को पुरी ताकत देने के लिए अब ना केवल दिल्ली बल्कि देश के हर हिस्से के गरीब व अमीर को जुटना पड़ेगा ताकि इस जगह पर कॉमनवेल्थ खेलो को रूकवाया जा सके। उन्होने कहा कि वो सरकार को १० दिन का अल्टीमेटम देते हैं श्री जार्ज फ़र्नांडिस ने वाटर मन राजेंद्र सिंह जी व तमाम यमुना सत्याग्रहियों के समक्ष संकल्प लिया कि अगर १० दिन तक भी सरकार यहा यमुना कि जमीन पर कब्जा कर खेलगॉव बनने की जिद नही छोड़ती तो वो इस यमुना सत्याग्रह को देश भर मे ले जाने के लिए अपनी पुरी ताकत लगा देंगे।
आज जयपुर से विशेष तौर पर यमुना सत्याग्रह मे शामिल होने आयी राजेंद्र सिंह जी की पत्नी श्रीमती मीना सिंह ने सत्याग्रह स्थल पर खेलगॉव के विरोध मे मौन व्रत व उपवास रखा उनके साथ राजेंद्र सिंह जी, यूथ फ़ॉर जस्टिस के कपिल व अन्य सत्याग्रहियों ने भी उपवास रखा।
इस अवसर पर यमुना खादर के किसान रोहतास भाटी, बलजीत सिंह व यमुना सत्याग्रही दीवान सिंह, एन० एन० मिश्रा, यूथ फ़ॉर जस्टिस के कपिल मिश्रा, अभिजीत और ग्राम निवासी किशोरी भाई, बाले राम तथा सत्याग्रही सुनील प्रभाकर व अन्य किसान व पर्यावरणविद्ध उपस्थित थे।
यमुना सत्याग्रह स्थल पर दिल्ली पिजेंट्स मल्टीपर्पज को-ओप्रेटिव सोसायटी के महासचिव बलजीत सिंह ने सत्याग्रह स्थल पर जानकारी देते हुए कहा कि उनकी सोसायटी इस यमुना सत्याग्रह को यमुना खादर के घर घर पहुचने के लिए कल रविवार को यमुना खादर पर स्थित बाबा श्याम गिरी मंदिर पर एक विशाल सभा कर रहे है जिसको जल बिरादरी के राजेंद्र सिंह सम्भोधित करेंगे।

MPs, MLAs join Save Yamuna protest

THE PROTEST over construction on the Yamuna riverbed received a thrust as a forum of members of Parliament and city MLAs was launched on Friday Former Defence Minister George Fernandes and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan will lend their support to the cause as members of 'Green Forum'. Among the other members is Dalit leader Udit Raj. For a start, the forum has called for a 'white paper' on all constructions on the river's bed. "A letter will be submitted to the chief minister on Saturday We will give the government 10 days to respond or else a mass protest will be launched," said Udayan Namboodiri, journalist and convenor At the launch, Fernandes said the forum would go all over the country and mobilise support from people for environmental causes. "Development and environmental degradation cannot coexist," he said. Harsh Vardhan, who is the forum's Delhi head, said, "Every Delhiite has the right to know what exactly the government wants to do with the river. There has to be transparency The forum will ensure that," he said. "The forum will have a leader in every state. Fernandes will be the national campaigner," Namboodiri said. Meanwhile, Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna has issued an open invitation to all concerned, including NGOs and independent experts, to propose specific issues that should be examined by experts to be appointed for a detailed study in order to take the ongoing debate over constructions on the Yamuna riverbed to a consensual solution. The L-G has made this move as the chairman of the high-power committee on Yamuna River Development set up earlier by the central government. The invitation is open till September 21.