Cong demands CBI inquiry into Nigamanand's death

Dehra Dun: Dismissing the CB-CID inquiry into the death of Swami Nigamanand as ordered by the Uttarakhand government, the Congress today demanded a CBI probe into the case.

"Ramesh Pokhriyal government is responsible for the death of Swami Nigamanand as it failed not only to check illegal quarrying in the Kumbh area at Haridwar but also failed to administer proper medical care," Uttarakhand PCC President Yashpal Arya said.

The PCC President said that the Congress has no faith in the state government and demanded handing over the inquiry to CBI to reveal the truth behind Swami's death. He accused the BJP government of making Bollywood actor Hema Malini the brand ambassador of Ganga Cleaning Campaign and for not taking any action in response to the demands of a Sadhu, who had sacrificed his life after fighting for 114 days for the same cause.

Arya also alleged that the state government had not taken any action to stop immediate quarrying activities in the Ganga and had taken no steps to shift the Himalaya Stone crusher from the Kumbh area.

The Congress is holding a dharna and protest demonstrations across the state, Arya said, adding that he himself would sit on a dharna in Haridwar tomorrow in support of the demand for a CBI

probe.

Swami Nigamanand, a seer of Matri Sadan ashram in Haridwar, died in the Himalayan hospital near here on June 13 after remaining in coma for 43 days. Nigamanand had begun his

fast on February 19.

Arya said that the party would also submit a memorandum to Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva requesting her to intervene in the matter.

While the state government has maintained that it is not responsible for the death of Swami Nigamanand as it had already stopped all quarrying in the area in April, the

founder head of Matri Sadan ashram Swami Shivanand has alleged that Nigamanand was poisoned during his treatment at the behest of quarrying mafia.

The postmortem report of Swami Nigamanand has said that his death was due to septicemia and degenerative brain disorder.

However, under pressure due to allegations that Swami had been poisoned, state Urban development minister Madan Kaushik yesterday announced that the inquiry would be handed over to CB-CID.