Numerous saints, political leaders, environmentalists and activists gathered at Rajghat in Delhi to raise awareness and advocate on the plight to restore Mother Ganga and Her tributaries.
The event began at the Gandhiji Memorial, where they offered Gangajal, and then moved towards Jantar Mantar. In addition to the hundreds of saints and environmentalists present, including Pujya Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Avimukteshwaranandji, Acharya Pramod Krishnamji and Shri Rajendra Singhji among many others. Thousands of members of the public also came to the event in support of the important cause.
At Jantar Mantar, various leaders spoke about the critical situation Ganga now faces due to over-pollution of Her waters dangerously coupled with low-flows due to over-extraction by dams and canals. Speakers called upon the Government of India to act immediately and effectively to restore and protect the national river. Ganga activists urged governing officials to critically reconsider the effects of over 300 hundred hydropower projects proposed on the Upper Ganga Region. They explained that not only will these run-of-river schemes aggravate the current pollution levels but also be an insult to the aastha of millions, as Ganga is not only a river but a Goddess and Mother to millions of Hindus. Speakers called upon the Government of India to act in ways that will help restore and protect Ganga, which has been declared as the National River, still bringing much-needed development to the country but ensuring that the Ganga is allowed to flow freely and pristinely.
Numerous political leaders were also present and spoke at the assembly, including prominent leaders of Congress such as Shri Digvijay Singhji, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Sadhvi Uma Bhartiji and Shri Vijay Kumar Malhotraji, and members of the Samajwadi and BKU parties. Various celebrities also came to support the cause and show their reverence to Mother Ganga.
This event was unique and inspiring as it brought together various sectors of the society, including political, spiritual, environmental and social leaders, for the common and crucial cause of restoring and protecting Mother Ganga and Her tribuatries.
