The Ganga activist Gopal Das who has been on fast for the cause of Ganga since June 24 was forcibly taken to AIIMS Rishikesh from Matri Sadan by a team of the administration officers led by the SDM Manish Kumar on Wednesday evening. They picked him from his room in Rishikesh. This is the second time he has been shifted to the hospital.

Earlier in the day, the attempt of  the district administration team to lift him forcefully from Matri Sadan was foiled as the ascetic locked himself in a room. He also is said to have cut his finger and wrote a letter with his blood, protesting against the district administration’s attempts to admit him at AIIMS Rishikesh in a bid to break his fast for Ganga .

Notably, Das, 36, was on fast since June 24, demanding free flow of the holy river.

He had, earlier ,been forcefully shifted to the hospital by the district administration soon after he announced to take up the fasting stir at the same site at Matri Sadan where the former scientist-turned ascetic Sanand had done his fast, culminating in his death at AIIMS Rishikesh on October 11. 

Speaking to The Pioneer on Wednesday, the Matri Sadan founder Swami Shivanand said that his ashram would continue to undergo sacrifices for the cause of the holy river. “Three- Swami Sanand, Swami Nigamanand Saraswati and Brahmchari Gokulanand- have already sacrificed their lives while on fast.

We would make more sacrifices till our demand of ensuring unimpeded flow of Ganga is met,” he said.

Mention worthy, Swami Shivanand had announced some days ago that he would embark on an indefinite fast after the Navratris were over for the same cause.