Activists plan contempt suit against Narendra Modi for Lavasa visit

Angered by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the controversial hill station project, Lavasa Lake City; activists of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) are now planning to file a contempt suit against him.

This was told to DNA by advocate Vishwambhar Chowdhury on Sunday. “Knowing well, that the Bombay high court (HC) has ordered to stop the construction work at Lavasa due to irregularities in the project, Modi chose to visit the site. It is very unfortunate,” he said.

Chowdhury also said that this visit once again showed the scant respect Modi had for law.

On the other hand, NAPM activist Medha Patkar interpreted Modi’s visit as a ‘political move’. “May be Modi is thinking about the project, along with Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, and thus this visit,” she said.

Advising Modi not to express his opinion on the project, Patkar said, “Both the central government and the Bombay high court have recognised the illegalities in the project, and have issued an order to stop work at the site.”

According to Patkar, the convention centre at Lavasa, which Modi visited, is also illegal.

“The government of Maharashtra should take steps to ensure that such future visits are avoided,” she said.