Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has expressed grief at the demise of Gyan Swaroop Sanand. In his condolence message, the Chief Minister said that he was deeply saddened by the demise of Sanand who had been protesting on various issues related to the Ganga river. His main demands were that a separate Act be made for the Ganga and that all hydro power projects in the State be cancelled. “Studying such tasks and drafting plan for the same takes some time. Our Government and the Central Government were regularly in contact with him. Union Potable Water Minister Uma Bharti had also had a talk with him. After that the Union Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Nitin Gadkari had also had a telephonic conversation with him,” the CM stated.
Rawat, further, said that the State Government too had shown complete sensitivity on this issue. Government representatives were in regular contact with him. The Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had also gone to talk to him. The Government was attempting to somehow save his life. But despite all attempts, he had refused to break his protest fast.
As soon as he gave up drinking water on October 9, he was immediately admitted to AIIMS in Rishikesh. The doctors in AIIMS, Rishikesh, also made all attempts to save his life, added the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party State president Ajay Bhatt also condoled the demise of the ascetic.