In a powerful stand for the rights of millions, Delhi’s Water Minister and Senior AAP Leader, Ms. Atishi, will embark on an indefinite ‘Satyagraha’ (hunger strike) at 12 noon tomorrow in the Bhogal area of Jangpura. This courageous hunger strike is a bid to secure the rightful share of water for Delhiites from the state of Haryana. Before beginning her fast, Minister Atishi will visit Rajghat to honor Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, whose teachings on ‘Satyagraha’ as a means of nonviolent resistance inspire her actions.
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Ms. Atishi shared that Delhi is currently experiencing severe heat. Delhiites are troubled by this heatwave. The day temperature is more than 47 degrees. In this heatwave, when Delhiites need more water, there is a shortage of water in Delhi. Delhi’s total water supply is 1,005 million gallons per day (MGD). Out of this, 613 MGD comes from Haryana. However, the Haryana government has been giving only 513 MGD water for the last few days, meaning Delhi is receiving 100 MGD less water every day. Due to this, more than 28 lakh people in Delhi are not getting their share of water, the supply of water. Due to this, Delhiites are very troubled, there is a water crisis in Delhi.
The Delhi Water Minister continued, stating, “As the Water Minister, I tried everything possible. I spoke to the Central Government, Haryana Government, and Himachal Pradesh Government. Himachal is ready to give water but that too has to come through Haryana and the Haryana Government refused to do so. We went to the Supreme Court. We sent our officers to the Haryana Government, but even then the Haryana Government refused to give water. Delhi Government MLAs went to meet the ‘Jal Shakti’ (Water Resources) Minister to ask the Haryana Government to release water for Delhi. I also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister yesterday. But despite all this, the Haryana Government has still not given water to the people of Delhi.”
Minister Atishi said, “Now I have no other option left to provide water to the people of Delhi. Despite making every possible effort, I have not been able to provide water to the people of Delhi and I cannot see the suffering of the people of Delhi anymore. Therefore, from tomorrow, i.e. 21st June, I will sit on an indefinite fast to provide water to the people of Delhi, to get the rightful share of water from Haryana, which will quench the thirst of 28 lakh people. Till the time Delhiites do not get water, till the Haryana government does not provide the rightful share of water to the people of Delhi, I will sit on an indefinite fast.”
Minister Atishi shared that, tomorrow at 11 am she will go to Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and after that from 12 noon she will sit on an indefinite fast in ‘Bhogal’ Colony, Jangpura. “Many times there comes a time when there is no solution to any problem. At such a time, Gandhiji has taught us that to fight the battle of truth, there is no other option left except ‘Satyagraha’. And from tomorrow I will definitely fight this battle for the 28 lakh people of Delhi,” she concluded.
