📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kannan Shanmugham
Politics
Patkar‑Chodankar Rift Deepens After PAC Meeting Snub
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 19 Aug 2026, 12:36 AM
👁 4
A growing rift between activist Medha Patkar and Chodankar has intensified after Patkar was reportedly excluded from a recent PAC meeting.
The relationship between veteran activist Medha Patkar and political figure Chodankar has entered a new phase of hostility after Patkar was not invited to a recent Parliamentary Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting. Sources close to the matter say the exclusion was perceived as a deliberate snub, prompting Patkar to label the move as marginalising her long‑standing advocacy work.
Both leaders have previously shared platforms on environmental and social justice issues, but underlying disagreements have surfaced over policy priorities. The latest episode appears to have revived those tensions, with each side reportedly avoiding direct contact and relying on public statements to convey their positions.
Political analysts note that the fallout could affect upcoming deliberations within the PAC, especially on matters where Patkar’s input has traditionally carried weight. The episode also highlights the fragile nature of alliances in Indian civil‑society politics, where personal grievances can quickly translate into broader strategic setbacks.
As of now, neither Patkar nor Chodankar has issued an official comment, and the PAC secretariat declined to comment on the attendance list. The situation remains under close watch as both parties navigate the growing cold war.
Both leaders have previously shared platforms on environmental and social justice issues, but underlying disagreements have surfaced over policy priorities. The latest episode appears to have revived those tensions, with each side reportedly avoiding direct contact and relying on public statements to convey their positions.
Political analysts note that the fallout could affect upcoming deliberations within the PAC, especially on matters where Patkar’s input has traditionally carried weight. The episode also highlights the fragile nature of alliances in Indian civil‑society politics, where personal grievances can quickly translate into broader strategic setbacks.
As of now, neither Patkar nor Chodankar has issued an official comment, and the PAC secretariat declined to comment on the attendance list. The situation remains under close watch as both parties navigate the growing cold war.