I'm deeply appalled by the state of insensitivity and absolute apathy of our government which was exposed by the death of a senior satyagrahi yesterday.

111 day fast unto death

G. D. Agrawal, an eminent academic and environmentalist who turned into an ascetic named Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand some years back was on a fast unto death for last 111 days.

He had 4 key demands from the Government to protect the river Ganges:

1. Assurance for passing the 2012 Ganges Protection Management Act by the government.
2. To form a non-governmental council of people devoted to the cause of Ganga so that all decisions regarding Ganges should get a statutory consent from it.
3. To immediately abandon the proposed and under-construction hydro-electricity projects Mandakini, Alaknanda, Pinder, Dhauli Ganga and Nandakini tributaries of Ganges until the Ganga Protection Act is passed and a Council as stated above is formed to decide about it.
4. Notification to ban mining and deforestation in high flood prone zones of Ganges.

He had given a deadline of 22nd June, 2018 (the traditional b'day of river Ganges) for these actions and vowed for a fast until death if his demands are not met. But government has shown no interest in his demands.

Prof. G, D, Aggrawal had worked as a faculty in India's premier technology institute viz. I.I.T. - Kanpur. He himself was an alumni of I.I.T. - Roorkee and University of California, Berkeley. He also served as Member - Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board.

All his demands and proposals had a sound evidence-based scientific research behind it. For example, he not only demanded nirmal ganga (clean Ganges) but also aviral dhara (uninterrupted flow) and told that it was essential for the healthy existence of Gangetic basin system. A recent report published in Hydrological Sciences Journal states that increased sedimentation in Ganga due to climate change and building of huge dams is leading to the increased risk of floods.

Today, there are 784 big and small dams on Ganges and several more projects are in the pipeline.

For last two days, Swami ji has stopped consuming water too. He was forced lifted by the police to a hospital against his will. You can watch the force imposed on a person who has no food in his body for last 111 days in the following video:

_{Video clip courtesy Youtube uploads for news reference}

Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand's contribution to the environment and the society was unparalleled in his life as well as death.

Abourt 7 years back Swami Nigamanand too sacrificed his life for saving Ganga after a 76 day fast.

But nothing happened except the normal blame game in political circles.
Today also, some people are talking to sue Prime Minister, Chief Minister and some Cabint Ministers for Swami ji's planned assassination. But the best tribute to Swamiji would be to follow his ideals and walk the talk to fulfill his dream.

Can this country respect the ideals of Satyagrah as propagated by Mahatma Gandhi whose 150th birth anniversary we are celebrating this year? Or it has lost its relevance?

• Do you think Democratic Governance System actually works and delivers what is right?
• How do you look at the arrogant and contemptuous indifference of the Governement to this important issue?