Ramdev, sadhus join hands to save Ganga

  • 30/06/2008

  • Asian Age (New Delhi)

Amit Agnihotri June 29: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has joined hands with the Sadhu community to launch nationwide agitation if the Centre doesn't intervene in saving the river Ganga. "We are giving three months to the Centre and the five states, through which the Ganga passes, to take concrete action to save the holy river. Otherwise, I will launch a country wide agitation for it," said Baba Ramdev. The yoga guru further said that he has discussed the issue with the top spiritual leaders and members of the sadhu community like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswati, Chidanand Swami and Asaram Bapu along with various scientific and legal experts and has their consent in taking it to the streets if the government doesn't respond to their call. Stressing upon checking the river pollution, he also said UP chief minister Mayawati's mega project, Ganga expressway from Noida to Ballia, should be stopped. The Rs 40,000-crore Ballia to Noida Ganga Expressway announced early this year by UP CM Mayawati had generated a loud response from the Opposition, which had alleged a land scam behind it. "We are not anti development, but it should not happen at the cost of the holy Ganga. All the residential and shopping complexes proposed along the Ganga expressway will only add to the huge flow of pollutants, which are destroying the sacred river," said Baba Ramdev. Having formed the Ganga Raksha Manch, to spearhead the movement, the yoga guru said the central government should declare Ganga as a national heritage and set up a Save Ganga Authority. He also urged the governments of UP, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal, through which the rives passes, to take immediate steps to check pollution of Ganga.