Swami Atmabodhanand
Swami Atmabodhanand, has broken his 194-day fast in protest against sand mining and the upcoming dams on key rivers that feed the Ganga. Atmabodhanand had begun fasting days after G.D. Agrawal, 86, a former professor and hermit, died of a heart attack on October 11 after a 111-day fast.
The young ascetic, based at Matri Sadan in Haridwar, said he had decided to break his fast after “assurances” from Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director-General, National Mission for Clean Ganga, that laws banning sand mining on certain stretches of the Ganga would henceforth be enforced.