Lives on hold amid Ken–Betwa protest:One faces demolition threat; another skips brother’s wedding

The water satyagraha against the construction of Daudhan Dam for the Ken-Betwa link project has been postponed for 10 days, but two prominent faces of the movement, Amit Bhatnagar and Divya Ahirwar, are in the headlines. Amit is the son of a retired principal. Divya comes from an ordinary Dalit family. Both left their homes and families to stay with the displaced people day and night. They slept under the open sky. During the satyagraha, they remained hungry for many days. Bhaskar spoke with them to understand how they got connected to this movement and what challenges they and their families faced. Reason for protest 24 villages in Chhatarpur are to be displaced due to the Ken-Betwa Link Project. Eight villages are in the submergence area. 16 villages will be included in Panna Tiger Reserve. There is more opposition in the villages in the submergence area. Villagers are demanding plots in developed villages and Rs 5 lakh compensation, while the administration wants to wash its hands off by giving Rs 12.50 lakh. First, about Amit Bhatnagar Told Bhaskar – How can I remain silent on the displacement of thousands of people Bhaskar asked Amit Bhatnagar why the son of a retired principal, brother of a businessman, and husband of a government teacher is on a hunger strike with the displaced people? In response, Amit said that he graduated in Computer Science, but has been influenced by Gandhian ideology from the beginning. He traveled to many states. He remained associated with the National Youth Organization. He remained connected with the Narmada Bachao Andolan. He has witnessed the pain of displacement. He could not remain silent on the displacement of thousands of people in the Ken-Betwa Project. He visited villages and witnessed people’s pain. Their generations of memories are being erased. Corruption is happening in the name of displacement packages. Told father – Even if you shoot me, I will not move… Amit’s father Santosh Bhatnagar is the operator of a B.Ed college. He explains that during the hunger strike, the SDM and Tehsildar arrived at the college with a team. They asked for the building documents and boundary approval, which we had. Despite this, they called for a JCB. We asked what the matter was. The officials asked – who is Amit Bhatnagar? They said to make him get up from the hunger strike by any means. I reached the hunger strike site with my younger son Ankit. When I spoke to Amit there, he said – Father, I have obeyed your every word. I got married wherever you said, but I cannot abandon these villagers in mid-stream. Until there is a hearing, we will not move. We will give our lives in the river. We will be killed by sticks or bullets, but we will not bow down. Administration sent for talks, meanwhile got the house measured Amit’s brother Ankit says that the administration sent them to his brother for talks, meanwhile got the house measured. They reached the hunger strike site on April 12. The notice came on April 13. A JCB was stationed in front of the house. He said – When Gandhiji used to sit on hunger strike, even the British didn’t do this. If Amit is wrong, then take action against him, but threatening to demolish the house is wrong. Amit says that he has to bear his family’s displeasure for fighting for the displaced. Many times his father and wife get angry, but he won’t stop fighting out of fear. Now the story of 24-year-old Divya I see my mother’s face in women Divya’s story is similar. She says that after her father’s death, she has seen her mother and brother struggling for livelihood. Forests and land are being destroyed on such a large scale, so standing with them is my duty. I see my mother’s face in those women, if we don’t stand together then the government system won’t be afraid. Thousands of people were hungry, how could I go to my brother’s wedding Divya was met at the hunger strike site on April 15. During the conversation, she did not mention that her brother’s wedding was on the same day. This information was received on April 16 from Amit Bhatnagar’s father. Divya said that the movement was at a decisive juncture. Thousands of tribal women were hungry in the scorching sun. She further says that I also wished to go to my brother’s wedding, but the circumstances were such that it was difficult to leave the people. She says that she had to skip one B.Ed paper for the hunger strike. Her father passed away 13 years ago. Her elder sister and brother’s education was discontinued. Her mother and brother worked as laborers to educate the sisters. We have seen struggle from the beginning. Cannot leave the movement just for our own happiness.