First phase of Uma Bharati’s Save Ganga Campaign concludes
Pramod Kumar
“ENSURING free-flow of the Ganga and cleanliness of her water are non-political issues and almost every political party agrees to it. Like character building, it is an eternal task, which never ends,” said veteran BJP leader Shri LK Advani while speaking at a function organised in New Delhi to mark the completion of first phase of Uma Bharati’s Samagra Ganga Abhiyan. BJP national president Shri Nitin Gadkari and national organising secretary Shri Ramlal were also present on the occasion.
Shri Advani called upon Uma Bharati to take her agitation to the height that the entire society, irrespective of the political differences, joins hands for the noble cause. He accused the UPA government of not implementing the schemes for cleaning the Ganga River and inter-linking of rivers to combat recurrent floods and droughts despite a Supreme Court directive. He said he had told Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh that the issue of inter-linking of rivers should be pursued. “It was not done. Supreme Court also gave its voice that this work should be done,” Shri Advani said. The Supreme Court had, in February last year, directed the Central government to constitute a ‘special committee’ for inter-linking of rivers for the benefit of the country.
Shri Nitin Gadkari said the BJP would promise cleanliness of the Ganga in its manifesto for the next general election, and a BJP-led government, if elected, will initially allocate Rs.10,000 crore for the purpose. He also said to have a special Ministry for this task, if the party comes to power. He said the issue of cleaning the Ganga should not be politicised, as it was linked to cultural thinking of the country. He also referred to the plight of the Yamuna in Delhi and said he felt ‘shame’ seeing its condition. He further said a BJP government in the capital would take steps for its cleanliness. He called upon the people to extend full support to the campaign launched by Uma Bharati.
Shri Ramlal stressed the need to constitute Ganga Posts involving the people residing in the villages, towns or cities situated on the banks of the Ganga under second phase of the campaign. Uma Bharati pointed out that over 21,000 people have already enrolled themselves for the proposed Ganga Posts. She said an international campaign would be organised in March involving scientific and environmental aspects of the Ganga. She further said she got support from MPs of various parties and President Pranab Mukherjee in her campaign for a clean Ganga and safety of women. She said the campaign to clean Ganga would continue till they are able to drink water from the river in Kanpur, where it is the ‘dirtiest’.
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