SWAMI NIGAMANAND FASTING TO SAVE GANGA

Swami Nigamanand

 Fasting to save Ganga

     A 34-year-old ascetic, Swami Nigamananda, died here after fasting for two and a half months to save the river Ganga from pollution, yoga guru Baba Ramdev said Tuesday, 15th June,2011.
Nigamananda died here Monday, 14th June, 2011 at the same hospital where Ramdev was being treated until his discharge Tuesday. 'The saint was fasting for the Ganga since the last many days. He laid down his life for the Ganga. I pay my tribute to Swami Nigamananda,' Ramdev told reporters.Ramdev was admitted to the hospital June 10, the seventh day of his nine-day long fast, after his health deteriorated. Seer of Haridwar-based Matri Sadan Ashram, Swami Nigamanand, who was on fast for nearly four months demanding immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya stone crusher from Kumbh mela area, today died in a hospital .

      District Magistrate of Haridwar R Meenakshisundaram said Swami Nigamanand (36) died at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences at Jolly Grant this afternoon. Nigamanand had begun his fast on February 19 and was in coma since May 2. A postmortem of Swami Nigamanand would be conducted in view of the complaints of poisoning to him by his fellow sadhus of the ashram, the DM added.The founder head of Matri Sadan Ashram Swami Shivanand had lodged a complaint against Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of Haridwar district hospital Dr P K Bhatnagar and owner of Himalaya Stone Crusher Gyanesh Kumar in Kotwali police station of Haridwar on May 11 alleging Swami Nigamanand was poisoned on April 30 during treatment, following which he went into coma on May 2.

The Uttarakhand government conducted an inquiry in to the death of swami Nigamanand. The Congress demanded a CBI probe in the case. 'Ramesh Pokhriyal government is responsible for the death of Swami Nigamanand as it failed not only to check illegal quarrying in the Kumbh area at Haridwar but also failed to provide proper medical care to him,' Uttarakhand PCC President Yashpal Arya said.The PCC President said Congress has no faith in the state government and demanded handing over the inquiry to CBI to reveal the truth behind Swami's death. Swami Nigmanand's family also demands probe

                                                                       Prof. John Kurakar