While Anna goes on, Uma Bharti breaks three-month-old fast

Haridwar, Aug 19: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti, who was on fast for last three months seeking review of all hydel projects on river Ganga, has eaten food after getting assurance from sadhus and seers that they would also join the agitation.

Bharti, who has been fasting since May 9 at Chandighat area by consuming only fruits, ate "Khichdi" on Thursday in Jagadguru ashram here in presence of former union minister of state Swami Chinmyanand and Jagadguru Rajrajeshwaranand.

Later, Bharti told reporters that she has eaten "ann" after getting assurance from sadhus and seers that they would also join the agitation for protection of river Ganga with the help of other nationalist organisations.

She also admitted that she was finding it difficult to run the agitation for Ganga without eating "ann".

Bharti had begun her fast in Chandighat bridge area here on May 9 over demands that include review of hydel projects on Ganga especially in Himalayan region, enactment of a law for protection of Ganga and scrapping the idea of shifting ancient Dhari Devi temple of Srinagar coming under submergence area due to under-construction 330 Mw Alaknanda hydel project.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank accepted the demand of not shifting the old Dhari Devi temple to elsewhere following which Bharti broke her fast on May 18.

At that time, Bharti said her first leg of agitation for Ganga has completed but she would not eat "ann" till her demand of review of all hydel projects on Ganga is not met by the Centre.

PTI