The huge protest in the name of the Narmada Jeevan Adhikar satyagraha and Upwaas launched yesterday by the oustees of the Maheshwar, Maan and Upper Beda dams at Bhopal yesterday, enters its second day today, with the oustees are demonstrating will their full vigor and strength, demanding that the oustees of these dams should be rehabilitated and resettled with land and all other entitlements, prior to the submergence of the area. The oustees have demanded that if the State Government and the authorities are unable to comply with the Rehabilitation Policy, the dams should be emptied and the lands should be restored to the oustees. It may be noted that from the year 2000, while the authorities and Governments have constructed the Man, Veda, Indira Sagar, Omkareshwar, and Maheshwar dams at a fast pace, they have systematically denied the oustees their rehabilitation and resettlement entitlements under the R&R Policy and those which are required for the reconstruction of a new life and livelihood, and have persistently submerged lands and houses in these areas without acquisition and compensation and have humiliated the affected people by evicting them without completing their rehabilitation and resettlement. Thousands of families have been arbitrarily excluded from the lists of displaced families, and thousands of houses falling in the submergence area have been denied compensation, in order to save the rehabilitation expenses for the authorities and the dam building companies, because of which the very lives of the oustees are in threat, and they have been reduced to penury. As a result, the oustees of these five dams are fighting for their life in an united struggle. The oustees are now fed up of the callousness of the authorities and are seeking to exercise their democratic rights to insist that they be provided their legal and fundamental rights, and treated like human beings. Narmada Valley could decide the future of the Government There are 10 Legislative Assembly seats in the five dam affected regions of the Narmada Valley. Harda, Harsud, Mandhaka, Baagli, Kannaud, Khategaon, Kasravad, Maheshwar, Badwa, Bhikangaon are ten assembly areas affected regions. Thousands of oustees live in each of these areas. In addition, the already uprooted people of the Indira Sagar dam are thickly scattered in the adjoining electoral areas, making 15 assembly seats in the State which may be directly impacted by the Narmada dam oustees. As the momentum of the struggle catches pace, there is no doubt that the impact will be multiplied in other seats as well. Thousands of oustees who have come from the five districts of the Narmada valley, Khandwa, Harda, Dewas, Khargone and Dhar have given the government five days to respond to heir issues. They have stated that if the government refuses to meet their legitimate demands and provide them their just entitlements, the struggle will spread and intensify in the Narmada valley, and the government will have to face unfavorable consequences in the coming elections. Jeevan Adhikar Satyagrah and Fast continues for the Second Day It is noteworthy that senior activist of the Narmada Bachao Andolan Alok Agrawal continued his fast along with five others for the second day of the Jeevan Adhikar Satyagraha. The satyagrahis include Omkareshwar dam oustees Sakubai and Kalabai, Maheshwar dam oustee Bhagwati bai, and Indira Sagar dam oustee Kishor Chauhan. The Oustees to form a Human Chain tomorrow Tomorrow, on the third day of the Jeevan Adhikar Satyagraha and fast, the oustees will form a human chain in the central areas of Bhopal to draw the attention of the administration and the general public towards the violation of the human and fundamental rights of the dam oustees. Huge support for struggle of oustees pours in The Bhopal satyagraha of the Narmada dam oustees is gathering huge support. Yesterday, various organizations of Bhopal and the State including Abdul Jabbar of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan and Madhuri behn of the Jagrut Adivasi Dalit Sangathan, Badwani came to the protest and expressed their solidarity. Today representatives of many trade unions and workers organizations came to the dharna, and expressed their support. Joint Secretary of the All India Bank Employees Union, V.K. Sharma, M.P. Bank Employees Association J.P. Dube, General Secretary of the City Trade Unin Council, Goving Asiwal, Shailendra Shaily of the AITUC, Navabuddin of the Khetihar Mazdoor Union, and Shriram Shirode of the BHEL Union addressed and expressed support for the oustees of the Narmada dams in their struggle today.