Ganga crusader refuses to end stir

sanjiv@tribunemail.com

Tribune News Service 

Dehradun, August 5

Ganga conservation crusader Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand has once again rejected Union Minister Uma Bharti’s plea to end his stir, saying he won’t do the same until his demand for passing the draft of  Ganga Protection Act was met.

Union Minister Uma Bharti met him in Haridwar, appealing to him to end the stir. She assured Swami Sanand that the Union Government was serious towards Ganga conservation and the matter would be taken up in the next session of Parliament. She also expressed concern over his deteriorating health.

Bharti had earlier written a letter to Swami Samand to end his stir. This time, she went to meet him in person. However, he remained adamant.

“Though I respect Bharti, I cannot go back on my pledge to save the Ganga. I won’t call off my stir until the Ganga Protection Act becomes a reality,” Swami Sanand said. 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari too had earlier appealed to him to end the stir, but that too didn’’t help. The octogenarian, known as Prof GD Aggarwal, has been on a fast for more than a month now. He was shifted to the All-Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, when his health condition deteriorated.  Though, he is fine now, he has returned to Matra Sadan, Haridwar, to continue with the fast. 

Bharti disclosed that she had come to meet Swami Sanand on the request of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. She asserted that she was hopeful that Ganga Protection Act would come into existence in October-November in the next session of Parliament. She reminded that a consortium of IITs had already given a report on the Ganga.

Meanwhile, eminent environmentalist from Andhra Pradesh Sagardhara has announced to come to Haridwar and sit on a dharna in support of Swami Sanand.