Narmada Bachao Andolan supports AAP

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and its allied groups Monday announced their support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Maharashtra, activist Medha Patkar said.

In New Delhi, AAP leader Prashant Bhushan said that such movements, which are immensely respected all cross the country, are associating themselves with the party "to improve the country".

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Patkar said: "We have endorsed all the policies of AAP, and have extended our full support to the party. Our struggles and campaigns on various issues shall continue jointly."

Contrary to earlier speculation, Patkar did not announce her entry into the AAP, and only extended the NBA and NAPM's "full support" to the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Patkar is also a member of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).

Patkar said that all future people-oriented agitations of the NBA and NAPM will now be carried out jointly with the AAP.

She said corruption has increased and people are being looted in the name of politics.

"The AAP was born out of an agitation against corruption. This struggle is for 'satya' (truth), not 'satta' (power). The exact nature of our collaboration will be decided at a meeting in Delhi later this week," Patkar said.

She said the AAP manifesto concerns issues related to the common masses and the NBA will fully supports it.

The details will be finalised after the Delhi meeting, scheduled Jan 16-17.

Patkar said many legislations were born out of people's agitations.

The campaign against corruption by Anna Hazare has also increased awareness among people on various issues, she said.

Cutting across religion-caste lines, the NAPM comprises over a dozen people-oriented grassroots organisations carrying out agitations concerning tribals, fishing communities, domestic workers and rural people at the receiving end of various government policies in several states in India.

At a press conference in New Delhi, Bhushan said: "I believe that with this, a new change is about to take place in this country."

Professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy of the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University also joined the AAP Monday.