From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi on Monday ended his 11-day long fast unto death agitation on being requested by Anna Hazare over phone in presence another Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal here.
Extending his support to the anti-mega dam movement spearheaded by the KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi in the north East, Anna Hazare requested Akhil to end his fast-unto-death saying that the latter’s health is more important for the sake of spreading the movement against mega dams not only in Assam but also across the country.
“On being requested by Annaji, I have ended my fast this afternoon to regain my health to intensify the movement against mega dams’ construction,” Akhil Gogoi said from his bed in Guwahati Medical College Hospital where he was admitted by Assam police on May 25 last.
Akhil has been on fast since May 19 demanding immediate halt to construction of mega dams in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to avoid catastrophic environment impact. He demands a cumulative assessment of downstream impact of mega dams being constructed or proposed to be constructed in Assam and on upper reaches of rivers in Arunachal Pradesh.
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal on his arrival in Guwahati arrived in Guwahati on Monday organized a telephonic conversation between Anna Hazare and Akhil Gogoi.
“Assam government’s move to forcefully end fast of Akhil was not only inhuman but also an attack on the Constitution of India which allows every citizen the right to peaceful protest and demonstration,” Kejriwal said.
“Annaji has also asked Akhil Gogoi not only to end fast but also to spread awareness against mega dams in the entire northeast and in the country and create a nation-wide mass movement against the mega dams. Annaji has also asked Akhil Gogoi to fix a date on which a massive anti-dam movement can be launched across the country and Annaji will himself sit in an indefinite fast along with Akhil Gogoi,” said Kejriwal.
Kejriwal also questioned the transparency behind allotting the power projects to various corporate houses. He also appealed the Arunachal Pradesh government to stop the construction of mega dams in the state.
“We are not against dams. We want electricity too but that should not be at the cost of local people’s lives and property, environment of the region,” Kejriwal said.