Ahmedabad, Sep 1 : Anti-Narmada dam activist Medha Patkar was in for a surprise on Saturday when supporters of fasting Patidar leader Hardik Patel heckled her and prevented her from meeting him.
The 25-year-old Patel quota stir warrior has been on an indefinite fast for over eight days. Medha Patkar, who is an unwelcome face for many in Gujarat due to her stand on the Narmada project, which is hailed as the lifeline of Gujarat, was heckled and slogans were raised against her when she reached Patel's residence on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
Hardik Patel's supporters prevented Patkar from entering the premises. When the situation worsened, one of the close associates of Patel, Manoj Panara, requested her to return.
Although she maintained that she had reached the quota leader's place on an invite from him, she had to drop the idea of meeting him. However, two of her close associates and veterans, Jyotibhai Desai and Danielbhai, later went in to meet Patel.
Meanwhhile, Hardik who is on the eighth day of his fast, has stopped taking water for the last two days. Medha Patkar said, "If Hardikbhai's health deteriorates, then the fight won't reach its logical end. He should start drinking water. I am here to support Hardik for his demands for farmers. We have an alliance of 200 farmer unions demanding total debt waiver and right price for their produce."
Manoj Panara, however, claimed that no invite had been sent to Medha Patkar. "She had called Hardik, but that was just to ask his well-being. There was no talk about her meeting him," Panara said.
Gujarat Congress chief Amit Chavda too called on Hardik and extended his support.
Meanwhile, Patel on Saturday began consuming water at the instance of a religious leader who had come to visit him. This was after medical check-up showed that sodium and potassium levels in his body had been disturbed and there was a rise in acetone in his blood, which could harm his kidneys.
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Bengaluru: The director, K. Ramnarayan, has announced the removal of a song sung by Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam from his upcoming Kannada film Kuladalli Keelyavudo. The removal follows a backlash over the singer's remarks at a recent Bengaluru concert, in which he allegedly linked a fan's Kannada song request to the Pahalgam terror tragedy.
In an official press statement, the filmmaker said, "There is no doubt that Sonu Nigam is a good singer. But we are very upset by how he spoke about Kannada recently at a concert.”
The removed song, 'Manasu Haadtade,' composed by Manomurthy and penned by Yogaraj Bhat, which was recorded three months ago and gained popularity with the masses, will now be re-recorded with local Kannada singer Chethan, who will lend his voice for the film version.
Director Ramnarayan stressed the team’s stance, saying, “We cannot tolerate the insult that Sonu Nigam has done to Kannada, so we have removed the song.” Producer Santosh Kumar added that the decision is final and that Sonu Nigam will not be considered for any future collaboration.
The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce also declared on Monday that it would no longer extend cooperation to the singer.