Health of social activist, Baba Nagnath, turns critical after completing 1071 days of fast, protesting against the affected flow of the holy Ganga river by the Tehri Dam, in Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state on Monday (July 04).
Nagnath, who is also the chief priest of the city's Mahashmashana Nath Peeth shrine, was fasting as he demanded uninterrupted flow of the river Ganga. The flow of the river was affected owing to the construction of the Tehri Dam that was built over the Bhagirathi river, which is also considered a part of the Ganga in northern Uttarakhand state.
The chief priest, who is admitted in the city's Banaras Hindu University medical college hospital, said that despite fasting for the past so many days, the authorities have failed to pay any heed to his demand.
The chief priest, who is admitted in the city's Banaras Hindu University medical college hospital, said that he has been fasting for such a long period, but the authorities have still showed no response to his demands.
"I have been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 29, 2008, for the uninterrupted flow of the river Ganga. Today is the 1,071day of my hunger strike. During this period, I wrote many letters to the authorities to attract attention to my cause, but till now no action has been taken. There was also correspondence with the administration, but it was again of no use. Due to this, I am in this condition today," said Nagnath.
Nagnath's demand includes ensuring free flow of the river water from Gaumukh, the origin of the river, to Gangasagar, where it meets the ocean.
The recent death of Swami Nigamanand who was fasting against the illegal quarrying of rocks near the river Ganga, had prompted the authorities to admit Nagnath in the hospital after his condition worsened recently.
Nagnath further stated that this cause is very important to him and he does not mind dying for this.
"I can give up my life but cannot leave my resolve for the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga. And if I die without achieving my cause, then the government will be responsible for this," he said.
Of late, Nagnath's initiative has evoked widespread support in the city with several organisations rallying behind him, urging the federal and the state government to meet his demands forthwith.
Despite spending a huge amount of money under the much-hyped Ganga Action Plan, the river continues to be highly polluted. Water samples taken from the river in Varanasi have shown presence of alarming level of faecal-coliform.
Health of social activist, Baba Nagnath, turns critical after completing 1071 days of fast, protesting against the affected flow of the holy Ganga river by the Tehri Dam, in Varanasi city of India's northern Uttar Pradesh state.
PLEASE NOTE THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIALS
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JULY 04, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. TWO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE EMERGENCY WARD OF THE HOSPITAL
2. BABA NAGNATH, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, LYING ON A BED UNDER A BANNER READING HIS NAME IN HINDI
3. NAGNATH LYING WITH AN OXYGEN MASK ON HIS MOUTH
4. A BOTTLE OF GLUCOSE NEAR NAGNATH
5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BABA NAGNATH, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, SAYING:
"I have been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 29, 2008, for the uninterrupted flow of the river Ganga. Today is the 1,071day of my hunger strike. During this period, I wrote many letters to the authorities to attract attention to my cause, but till now no action has been taken. There was also correspondence with the administration, but it was again of no use. Due to this, I am in this condition today."
6. NAGNATH LYING ON THE BED
7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BABA NAGNATH, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, SAYING:
"I can give up my life but cannot leave my resolve for the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga. And if I die without achieving my cause, then the government will be held responsible for this."
8. NAGNATH WITH HIS OXYGEN MASK
9. NAGNATH LYING ON THE BED
10. NAGNATH LYING ON HIS BED IN HIS WARD
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