Medha Patkar supports AAP

Mumbai: AAP got a boost ahead of its debut in the Lok Sabha polls, with eminent activist Medha Patkar extending "complete" support to it and even not ruling out contesting elections herself.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan leader said the decision to lend "complete and vigorous" support to AAP was taken after extensive discussions among the constituents of the National Alliance for People's Movements (NAPM), an umbrella organisation of over 200 activists' groups.

"We have decided to extend complete and vigorous support to the AAP," she told a media conference here. Asked to clarify the kind of support to be extended to AAP, Patkar said, "It would be of voting, of joining AAP membership and contributing in whichever way (we can), propaganda and mobilising the masses in different parts of the country."

Patkar, who stopped short of announcing joining AAP, said, "A number of organisations (in NAPM of which she is convenor) have come forward except a handful who are allies of NAPM. All say that definite, active support should be given to AAP." She said the NAPM constituents would, however, continue with their mass movements even while working for AAP. Asked if the general elections due in a few months from now could see her making an electoral debut, the 59-year-old activist said, "I am not ruling out anything, but I am not giving you any decision.

We do not consider electoral politics untouchable." "We have studied their (AAP's) documents and found that our micro and macro-economic view points are more or less reflected in them. We will further continue with our dialogue and will like to contribute our views in not just the manifesto but also in the working culture and their working documents," she said.

She acknowledged the role of Anna Hazare's movement against corruption in the mass awakening against the malady, saying, "The anti-corruption movement has really shown the way." In a significant decision, AAP Government withdrew the approval given by the previous Sheila Dikshit dispensation to FDI in multibrand retail in Delhi, its first major reversal of policy.

Delhi's Industry Secretary Amit Yadav told PTI that the city government has communicated its decision to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of the Union Government. Delhi CM has abandoned plans to hold a janta darbar or public feedback session every week, vowing instead to meet people more informally. His inaugural darbar on Saturday ended in chaos after thousands showed up. "Every Saturday, I will meet people in different areas of Delhi.

They don't need to come to me for grievances, I will go to them," Kejriwal said. Delhi government launched a helpline for parents to register their grievances pertaining to the nursery admissions which are set to begin on Wednesday. "Parents can register their complaints against any school by calling the helpline. Their grievances would be addressed in three working days," Education Minister Manish Sisodia said while announcing the helpline, whose number is, 011-2735 2525.

AAP has called for a probe against Robert Vadra, the son-inlaw of Sonia Gandhi, often described as the country's most powerful politician. Yogendra Yadav, a senior leader of the AAP, has said that there must be an independent investigation into Mr Vadra's land deals in Haryana. "Land-related corruption is the biggest issue in Haryana.

There should be an independent inquiry against Vadra,'' the AAP leader said. Meanwhile, a press conference addressed by AAP leader Prashant Bhushan was disrupted by a man here, protesting his comment on presence of army in Jammu and Kashmir. The man identified as Vishnu Gupta shouted slogans against the noted lawyer and called him a "traitor" for his recent comments relating to army's presence in Kashmir. AAP said BJP should project Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as its prime ministerial candidate instead of its present nominee Narendra Modi.