| YOUTH FOR YAMUNAa “Youth for | | | | bars for disrupting the House proceedings. Six |
| Justice” initiative against LOOT and KILLING | | | | environmental activists, part of the group that is |
| of Yamuna in the name of Commonwealth | | | | protesting the "concretization of the Yamuna |
| Games | | | | floodplains", had carried their message to the |
| Launched on 16th September 2007 at Jantar | | | | assembly on the last day of the session. Sunil |
| Mantar by “youth for justice” members | | | | Prabhakar, an activist from Punjab who has |
| and students of Delhi school of Social work, when | | | | parked himself at the Games Village site for the |
| these students organized a reverse walk for | | | | last 48 days, shouted in protest, interrupting a |
| Yamuna from jantar mantar to parliament. | | | | discussion on rainwater harvesting. "I could not |
| Reverse walk because govt. did not understand | | | | stand it. On one hand they want to choke the |
| the simple and straight talk by Yamuna | | | | river's flood- plains and threaten Delhi's |
| satyagrahis and was paying no heed in spite of 47 | | | | groundwater potential, on the other hand they |
| days of Satyagraha under the leadership of | | | | encourage rainwater harvesting. The whole thing |
| Magsaysay Awardee shri Rajendra Singh ji. | | | | sounded farcical," said Prabhakar As Prabhakar |
| Background: - | | | | continued his protest and began chanting slogans, |
| “Youth for Justice” joined Yamuna | | | | a security officer of the assembly promptly came |
| Satyagraha on 12th august 2007 and since then | | | | up to him to stop him, following which there was |
| members of Youth for Justice are actively taking | | | | a scuffle between the two, according to those |
| part in satyagraha and have decided to take this | | | | present nearby As Prabhakar was being dragged |
| issue to youth of this city especially students. | | | | out, another activist, Kapil Mishra, loudly began to |
| After more than one month of Satyagraha it was | | | | argue the group's point of view. Thankfully, this |
| felt by some members of “youth for | | | | time, some of the members listened. Opposition |
| justice” that need is to aggressively take this | | | | M.L.A.s blamed the government for not "heeding |
| movement to youth of Delhi simultaneously with | | | | the river's cause". "We managed to convey our |
| Yamuna Satyagraha. | | | | arguments by then," said Diwan Singh, member of |
| In next weekly meeting it was discussed and | | | | the NGO Natural Heritage First. Both Prabhakar |
| decided that “Youth for Justice “ should | | | | and Mishra were detained by the assembly |
| take this in such a form that is appealing to youth | | | | security for misconduct. Delhi Assembly Secretary |
| and we should aim to mobilize more and more | | | | Sidhartha Rao was not available for comment, but |
| young blood for the cause. We discussed the | | | | as per the law these detentions take place for |
| possibilities with students and union members of | | | | contempt of the House. |
| Delhi School of Social Work and they decided to | | | | YOUTH FOR YAMUNA IN ACTION |
| join the movement immediately. 16th September | | | | Delhi University Youth marched for Yamuna |
| was decided as the day to launch the movement. | | | | Hundreds of youth marched together to oppose |
| “SARKAR KO SEEDHI BAAT SAMAJH NAHI | | | | construction on riverbed |
| AATI, VO SAB KUCHH ULTA HI KYON KARTI | | | | As it was decided that “Youth for |
| HAI”- said a small girl on Aaj Tak while a | | | | Yamuna” would organize a series of events in |
| discussion on Yamuna was going on, we got | | | | Delhi University, on 28th September, students of |
| inspiration for our first event. | | | | “Delhi school of social work” organized |
| Sunil Prabhakar, an inspiring satyagrahi who came | | | | first event of the series. Today youth of Delhi |
| from Punjab to save Yamuna suggested that we | | | | University joined Yamuna Satyagraha and |
| should organize a reverse march this time, it may | | | | marched together against loot and killing of |
| help the Govt. to understand the cause as they | | | | Yamuna in the name of commonwealth games. |
| are failing to understand the seriousness of issue | | | | On a call from "Youth for Justice" a Delhi based |
| in straight way. It was sure that a reverse walk | | | | youth action group, |
| would draw the attention of people towards the | | | | Students of Delhi School of Social work initiated |
| cause. He again suggested that we all should wear | | | | the march from their department towards Arts |
| “ulte kapde” during the march. As a true | | | | faculty in north campus where students from |
| satyagrahi he started from himself and seeing him | | | | other colleges and departments of Delhi University |
| all decided to go ahead with the plan. | | | | joined March. Students wee shouting slogans like " |
| On 16th September 2007 a reverse walk to | | | | Yamuna main to ped lagenge, khelgaon kahin aur |
| parliament was organized from Jantar Mantar and | | | | banenge" (only trees are allowed on river bed, let |
| “Youth for Yamuna” was launched with | | | | the games village be constructed somewhere |
| students from Delhi School of Social Work leading | | | | else). |
| the way. | | | | This march took a larger shape as many students |
| First event provided the required motivation to all | | | | joined the march on its way, when this march |
| of us especially participation level of students | | | | reached to law faculty after passing through |
| from Delhi School of Social Work was very | | | | Miranda House, arts faculty, S.R.C.C., Daulat ram, |
| encouraging and we decided to take this cause to | | | | Ramjas college, Hindu, Stephen's etc. there were |
| Delhi University first and it was decided that a | | | | hundreds of students mobilizing others and |
| series of events would be organized in Delhi | | | | sensitizing fellow students about the issue of |
| University to sensitize and mobilize Delhi university | | | | Yamuna. |
| students for the cause. | | | | Vinay Kumar and Manish jha from Delhi school of |
| GLORY OF BHAGAT SINGH REVIVED | | | | Social work have said that they are out on road |
| 18th September, last day of monsoon session of | | | | because Govt. is paying no heed to peaceful |
| Delhi Assembly, the house was in full swing and | | | | Yamuna Satyagraha. |
| the business was at its usual best the only | | | | This is first time when students of Delhi University |
| exception was that some Yamuna satyagrahis | | | | came out on road in such a big numbers for the |
| were sitting in viewer’s gallery. Diwan singh, | | | | cause of Yamuna and against the construction on |
| Sunil Prabhakar, Aparajita Sharma, Preety Mehra, | | | | Yamuna riverbed. |
| Shailesh and Kapil Mishra were there as viewers. | | | | Students have asserted that they will keep the |
| Delhi’s chief minister Ms. Shiela Dixit, her | | | | movement on until they get satisfactory replies |
| cabinet members and other M.L.A.s of Govt. and | | | | to their questions, they also warned the Govt. to |
| opposition were present in the assembly. They | | | | immediately stop any construction on riverbed or |
| were discussing their funds, tenders, and other | | | | they will intensify the movement. |
| issues. | | | | The student felt that our river is more important |
| Next one and half hour went normally and | | | | than any International Event and they were raising |
| peacefully but a man sitting in viewer’s gallery | | | | slogans like " commonwealth Down -Down ". |
| was feeling the uncomfort because of this | | | | Anubha, another Student participating in the |
| peace…when the city is dieing, when some | | | | march, said that it’s encouraging that Non |
| people are playing with the fate of Delhi and are | | | | –political events, the students take up involving |
| killing an age old river, when there are people | | | | city’s real issues. From now on, All of us will |
| fighting and killing each other over a bucket of | | | | take active interest in Yamuna movement as we |
| water, when there are women who wait for | | | | are Matured enough to understand what is |
| hours, days and sometimes for weeks to get | | | | happening in the city. |
| some water from tankers, when people are being | | | | The student announced that they would take the |
| forced to buy drinking water at Rs.12 per liter and | | | | movement to other campus and colleges of Delhi |
| those who cant afford this luxury of potable | | | | University. |
| drinking water are drinking polluted water and | | | | 29th september2007- |
| killing themselves slowly…here are 70 odd people | | | | Jubilee hall supported Yamuna Satyagraha |
| sitting comfortably , peacefully, making fun of | | | | Rajendra singh ji and Diwan singh ji addressed |
| each other, claiming that they are representatives | | | | gathering of students in Jubilee Hall |
| of people of this city. | | | | On 29th September 2007, Jubilee Hall, one of the |
| This man Sunil Prabhakar got disturbed and stood | | | | PG hostels of Delhi University has invited Shri |
| up and shouted “hum yamuna satyagraha se | | | | Rajendra Singh ji to address a gathering of |
| aaye hain, aap Yamuna pe khelgan banana rok | | | | students. It started at 6:30 pm and around 70 |
| dijiye, dilli walon ki zindagi se khilwad mat | | | | students were present there to listen to |
| kariye”(we came from Yamuna satyagraha, | | | | waterman of India. Rajendra Singh Ji appealed |
| stop construction of games village on Yamuna | | | | them to think of environment around and to be |
| river, don’t play with lives of people of this | | | | vigilant about society around. He shared his |
| city). It resulted in a pin drop silence in the | | | | concerns and seriousness of problem concerning |
| hall…first time in history of Delhi assembly | | | | Yamuna River in Delhi. It was an interesting |
| someone has dared to shout from viewer’s | | | | interactive session with students. Mr. Diwan Singh |
| gallery for people’s cause. Everyone was | | | | has also interacted with students and explained |
| shocked and in a state of disbelief as if wakened | | | | them the need of Satyagraha and how students |
| up from deep sleep. | | | | can play an important role in it. In the end Youth |
| Soon they realized what has happened, marshal | | | | for Yamuna volunteers from Delhi School of Social |
| ran to Sunil, got hold of him he kept shouting | | | | Work sang song of Satyagraha and all students |
| while marshals were dragging him out of the | | | | present there decided that they will start a |
| house. Before anyone could understood another | | | | signature campaign and will also join Yamuna |
| satyagrahi Kapil Mishra raised his voice “hum | | | | Satyagraha on 2nd October 2007. |
| aapse nivedan karte hain ki khelgaon ke naam par | | | | During dinner the discussion on yamuna and |
| Yamuna nadi ko lootna aur bechna band karo, khel | | | | destructive developmental approaches continued. |
| gaon kahin aur bhi banaye ja sakte hai, aakhir jis | | | | “The mark of a successful man is one that |
| nadi se saare shahr ki zindagi hai, use kyo loot | | | | has spent an entire day on the bank of a river |
| rahe ho, kyo bhech rahe ho, main nivedan karta | | | | without feeling guilty about it.” |
| houn ki nadi ko lootna band karo” ( we appeal | | | | -Chinese philosopher |
| to you, stop looting and killing Yamuna river in the | | | | BAPU KI LAATHI FIR UTHEGI |
| name of games village, games village can be | | | | A clear message was conveyed to all those who |
| constructed at other places then why are you | | | | are ignoring the peaceful non violent protest by |
| killing a river which is life line of this city, why are | | | | citizens, on 2nd October 2007 a group of around |
| you selling our river, I appeal to you please stop | | | | 500 people including college students, farmers, |
| the loot of Yamuna). Kapil has got time, as | | | | school children, common people of Delhi marched |
| marshals were busy with Sunil. Again pin drop | | | | to Rajghat from proposed games village site near |
| silence in house, before marshal could come kapil | | | | Akshardham. This march by YAMUNA |
| mishra stopped and walked to marshal. | | | | SATYAGRHA was a last warning to Delhi Govt. |
| History was repeated, this time a bit differently, | | | | and from 3rd October onwards the movement |
| hot debate on Yamuna stated in the house, the | | | | has taken a new shape, more widespread, more |
| job was done. | | | | aggressive and critical of all aspects of this |
| Govt. initially threatened these satyagrahis that | | | | insensitive and ignorant system. |
| they would be sent to tihar but in next couple of | | | | On 7th October 2007 – a large mass got |
| hours they realized that these two have the | | | | together at bank of yamuna in Sonia Vihar in east |
| power of truth with them, by evening both were | | | | Delhi to support yamuna satyagraha. More than |
| released. | | | | 1000 local people who were lead by municipal |
| HINDUSTAN TIMES 19TH SEPT.2007They held | | | | councilor Dr. Annapurna Mishra pledged to save |
| countless demonstrations, several rallies and even | | | | yamuna. |
| an indefinite Satyagraha against the | | | | YOUTH FOR JUSTICE HAS DECIDED TO TAKE |
| Commonwealth Games Village on the Yamuna's | | | | NOTE OF COMPLETE FAILURE OF |
| riverbanks. To no avail, however, as the state | | | | ADMINISTRATION AND SYSTEM IN THE |
| government kept turning a blind eye. On Tuesday, | | | | CAPITAL CITY AND SOON YOUTH FOR |
| they decided to take their message to the state | | | | YAMUNA WILL GO TO ALL PARTS OF CITY TO |
| assembly, where they felt top leaders would no | | | | MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE ON |
| longer be able to ignore them. They were wrong. | | | | PART OF STAE GOVT. |
| For all their efforts, they simply landed behind | | | | |