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India’s Formidable Green Warrior Refuses to Give Up Fight For Ganga

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6 years ago

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India's Formidable Green Warrior Refuses to Give Up Fight For Ganga

~By Rashme Sehgal

With the meeting between Minister of Sanitation and Drinking Water Uma Bharti and Prof GD Agarwal (Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand) in Hardwar proving a failure last week, river activists across India are planning to intensify their stir to get the Modi government to acquiesce to this formidable environmentalist’s demands to restore the flow of the Ganga and to stop polluting the river.

Recognising the need to clean the Ganga on an immediate basis, on July 27, the National Green Tribunal asked the government to educate people about how the Ganga water was unfit both for drinking and bathing purposes.

The NGT declared that if cigarette packets can contain a warning saying it is injurious for health, why not the people be informed about the adverse effects (of Ganga water). The public can be educated by the authorities installing display boards at a gap of 100 kilometres. On July 19, the NGT had admonished the government stating that already it had spent over Rs 7000 crores in the last two years to clean the river, it still remained highly polluted.

From August 3, Agarwal’s supporters have been on a relay fast in the capital. On July 30th on the 38th day of Agarwal’s fast, his supporters and Ganga activists from 11 states converged for a prayer meeting at Rajghat. They are now planning to hold these prayers meetings at Rajghat on a weekly basis.

Agarwal is on a fast unto death at the Matri Sadan ashram in Hardwar to force the government’s hand to clean up the Ganga river for which he is willing to give up his life.

Bharti assured him that the Ganga Bill – an amended form of the “National River Ganga (Conservation and Management) Act 2012″ drafted by some non-government members of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) – will be passed by Parliament during the winter session of Parliament. The amendments will include the banning of all pollutants in the river as also removal of encroachments along the river.

Bharti even got Agarwal to speak on the phone to Minister of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari but Agarwal refused to bend. He told both ministers in no uncertain terms that  unless some concrete step were taken to save the Ganga there was no question of ending his fast which entered its 46th day on Sunday.

Agarwal had earlier written to Gadkari that the Ganga conservation law ensuring concrete action be taken to clean up the Ganga be passed in this Monsoon Session of Parliament. But Gadkari had in turn informed  him that the earliest the bill could be presented in Parliament was during the Winter session.

“Just placing the bill in Parliament does not mean anything. It can be kept pending for 2-3 years and then also there can be many changes in the bill. The day the Bill is passed, I will break my fast,” said Agarwal.

Agarwal has undertaken several fasts in the past in a determined attempt to save the Ganga. Even in 2013, he had put his life at stake by undertaking a three-month long fast. The previous Manmohan Singh government had to acquiesce to his demands and had stopped three key projects on the Ganga in Uttarakhand including the Loharinag-Pal Hydropower project. They had also banned all construction on the upper stretch of Bhagirathi from Gaumukh up to Uttarakashi.

Rajendra Singh and other activists have been actively garnering support for Agarwal including appealing to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and save his life.

Criticising their lack of  commitment in cleaning up India’s most important river, Rajendra Singh  said, “Ever since the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come to power at the Centre, the Ganga has been completely ignored. The Prime Minister had proclaimed that he was the son of the Ganga but has acted in a contrasting manner. Nor have they focused on reviving a single tributary of the river without which  the Ganga cannot survive.”

Physicist and water activist Prof Vikram Soni also pointed out, “If the country has a soul, we should all support Prof GD Agarwal who has placed his life on the line for the Ganga. It is only right for the Prime Minister to go to him and not allow him to sacrifice his life like this. Modi must reassure him that concrete action will be taken on the ground so that his life is saved.”

Singh and other activists also met Congress President Rahul Gandhi and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav to seek their support and also to ensure the issue be raised in the current session of  Parliament.

Agarwal became a Hindu ascetic some years ago and took on the name of Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand, spending his time at the Matri Sadan ashram in Hardwar. The Matri Sadan ashram has emerged as the hub of the save the Ganga movement and has witnessed forty fasts to save the Ganga including the fast by Swami Nigamanand resulting in his death.

He has an impeccable academic background, having previously held the chair at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had appointed him as the first member secretary of the Central Pollution Control Board and he has also been a member of the National Ganga River Authority (NGRA). He resigned from the NGRA in 2012 stating that it was a toothless organisation that was not focusing on its job of cleaning up the Ganga. Three other members resigned with him.

He had between 2008 and 2012 conducted four fasts to save the Ganga forcing the then Minister of Environment Jairam Ramesh to enter into negotiations with him that led to the cancellation of all hydro projects on the Bhagirathi river, a tributary of the Ganga.

This time, though, the government both at the state and central level have failed to respond to him in an effective manner. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made restoring the Ganga to health one of his planks while campaigning for the 2014 elections, his government’s Namani Gange project to clean the river has so far failed to come up with any substantive results.

“I appreciate Harish Rawat (former Uttarakhand chief minister) and all the river activists across the country who came to Delhi and held prayers in Rajghat,” Agarwal told reporters.

But whether the government is able to give a concrete commitment to this frail but determined green warrior is yet to be seen. It is an open secret that the Modi government has no clear road map on just how they plan to clean up the Ganga and its many tributaries by reviving both their flow and ending the huge amounts of sewage and industrial pollution being dumped in it.

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Parliament winter session: Government lists 15 bills, including Waqf bill

The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

Published

15 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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The government has listed five new ones and one to amend the contentious Waqf law out of 15 bills for the winter session of Parliament. The session will kick off on November 25 and conclude on December 20.

The government has introduced five new bills, including the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to promote coasting trade and increase the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for both national security and commercial purposes.

Another significant legislation that will be introduced by the government is the Indian Ports Bill, 2024. This bill is designed to implement measures for the conservation of ports, enhance security, and manage pollution, ensuring compliance with India’s international obligations and statutory requirements.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which aims to meet India’s obligations under maritime treaties and support the development of Indian shipping while ensuring the efficient operation of the Indian mercantile marine in a way that serves national interests.

Pending legislation includes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is awaiting consideration and passage after the joint committee of both Houses submits its report to the Lok Sabha. The committee is expected to report by the end of the first week of the winter session.

Currently, there are eight bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, pending in the Lok Sabha, while two additional bills are in the Rajya Sabha.

Furthermore, the government has also listed the Punjab Courts (Amendment) Bill for introduction, consideration, and passage, which seeks to increase the pecuniary appellate jurisdiction of Delhi district courts from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.

The Merchant Shipping Bill, along with the Coastal Shipping Bill and the Indian Ports Bill, is slated for introduction and eventual passage.

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

Published

16 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The court accused Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant of crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, inhumane acts, and the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The leaders allegedly restricted essential supplies such as food, water, and medical aid to civilians in Gaza, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and deaths, including among children.

Last year in October, Israel had launched attacks on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack by Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war has led to the death of thousands of civilians, while lakhs have been displaced. The major infrastructures in Gaza, including hospitals and schools, were also destroyed as Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas.

The International Criminal Court stated that it found reasonable grounds to believe the accused intentionally targeted civilians and limited medical supplies, forcing unsafe medical procedures, which caused immense suffering. This ruling was based on the findings from at least October 8, 2023 until at least May 20, 2024.

The court remarked that it has assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza.

Furthermore, it also noted that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and medical supplies created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, leading to death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Additionally, the International Criminal Court dismissed two challenges by Israel against its jurisdiction in the situation in the State of Palestine.

Notably, Israel had contested the ICC’s jurisdiction, claiming it could not be exercised without Israel’s consent. Nonetheless, the Chamber ruled that the Court has jurisdiction based on Palestine’s territorial scope, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. It further noted that Israel’s objections were premature, as jurisdictional challenges under the Rome Statute can only be made after an arrest warrant is issued.

Reportedly, Israel had also requested a fresh notification regarding the investigation, started in 2021. Denying the request, the court stated that Israel had earlier declined to request a deferral, making additional notifications unnecessary.

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Yogi Adityanath accords tax-free status to Sabarmati Report film in Uttar Pradesh

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

Published

16 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accorded a tax-free status to ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film, based on the train burning incident at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002, in the state.

The announcement was made after Chief Minister Adityanath attended the screening of Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna-starrer ‘The Sabarmati Report’ in Lucknow with the film’s cast.  

Speaking to reporters, actor Vikrant Massey thanked the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister for making ‘The Sabarmati Report’ film tax-free in the state. “I want to thank Yogi Adityanath ji. This is an important film and I appeal to everyone to go and watch this film,” he said.

Chief Minister Adityanath along with many of his cabinet colleagues watched the film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ under a special screening at a cinema hall in the capital, said a spokesperson of the state government.

Several people associated with the film unit were also present on the occasion. Later the chief minister announced to make this film tax-free in UP.

The BJP-ruled states have been praising the makers of The Sabarmati Report, claiming the team has tried to bring out this truth in front of the people of the country through the film.

The saffron party is appealing to people to watch this film and try to get closer to the truth of Godhra.

Uttar Pradesh becomes the sixth BJP-ruled state after Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to declare lead actors Vikrant Massey and Raashii Khanna’s film tax-free.

Adityanath said along with identifying the faces of those who are conspiring against the country for political gains, there is also a need to expose them. The film team has discharged its responsibilities to expose the truth, he said, adding an attempt has been made to bring the real truth in front of the country in a big way through the film.

The Sabarmati Report is said to be based on the incident of setting fire to a train full of ‘karsevaks’ in Godhra on February 27, 2002, killing 90 devotees. After this incident, communal riots broke out in Gujarat. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have also praised this film.

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