Activist GD Agarwal dies after 112-day fast for 'Gangaji'; Congress terms another 'Jumla' of Modi govt

The Opposition Congress on Thursday jumped the gun on yet another 'jumla' of Narendra Modi-led BJP government, after Environment activist GD Agarwal, who was on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the Centre to clean the river Ganga, died at the AIIMS hospital in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh at around 2 pm Thursday.

Agarwal was moved to the AIIMS after his condition deteriorated on October 9. According to the hospital authority, he suffered a cardiac arrest and was administered a potassium and heart-related medicine intravenously when he was brought there.

Soon after the news of Agarwal's death came in, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, hit out at the ruling BJP, saying "Modi ji said river Ganga is calling him but it is even more polluted than it was in 2014".

In a veiled attack on the BJP government, Surjewala further mocked at the Centre's 'Namami Gange Programme', which is said to be an Integrated Conservation Mission to clean the Ganga and its tributaries in a comprehensive manner.

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"Rs 22000 Crore was allotted for cleaning it, not even 1/4th of it has been used. Is Namami Gange also a 'jumla'? Maybe GD Agarwal ji's sacrifice will provide vision to this blind government," Surjewala was quoted as saying by ANI.

Modi ji said river Ganga is calling him but it is even more polluted than it was in '14. Rs 22000 Cr was allotted for cleaning it,not even 1/4th of it has been used. Is Namami Gange also a 'jumla'?Maybe GD Agarwal ji's sacrifice will provide vision to this blind govt: R Surjewala pic.twitter.com/H2tGPQb7eg

— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2018

Meanwhile, lamenting the tragic death of the activist, PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said, “Saddened by the demise of Shri #GDAgarwal Ji. His passion towards learning, education, saving the environment, particularly Ganga cleaning will always be remembered. My condolences”.

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Saddened by the demise of Shri GD Agarwal Ji. His passion towards learning, education, saving the environment, particularly Ganga cleaning will always be remembered. My condolences.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2018

Reacting to Agarwal's death, Union Minister Uma Bharti, on the other hand, said, "I am shocked by his demise. I had feared that this would happen. I have informed Nitin Gadkari and others about his demise".

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council which was set up in October 2016 under the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities order 2016.

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In June 2014, the Union Cabinet approved the Namami Gange as the ‘Flagship Programme’ of the government while allotting a whopping amount of Rs 20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.