High drama took place at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh on Friday with social activists and Congress leaders demanding that the body of deceased environmentalist GD Agarwal alias Swami Gyan Swaroop should be kept for public display.
Water conservationist and environmentalist Rajendra Singh, popularly known as waterman of India, and Uttarakhand Congress vice president Jot Singh sat on a dharna after the AIIMS authorities refused the demand for keeping the body for public display. The Matri Sadan, the Haridwar-based Ashram where Agarwal was fasting, had also made a similar demand.
Earlier this year G.D Agarwal said he was donating his body after death to AIIMSRishikesh.
Prof Ravikant, director of AIIMS Rishikesh, said, “AIIMS is not a place for display. G D Agarwal had decided to donate his body after death for medical research with consent from his family members.”
The Matri Sadan hosted a simple ceremony at the Ashram on Friday and offered floral tribute to the saint who died fighting for preservation and conservation of Ganga.
Environmentalist Rajendra Singh alleged, “Nitin Gadkari lied that he has accepted 80 per cent of the demand of Swami Gyan Swaroop. Rather than fulfilling the demand of the swami, the central government suppressed his voice.”