Iconic protest site Jantar Mantar witnessed one of the first protests on Saturday less than a week after the Supreme Court struck down the National Green Tribunal ban. The Delhi unit of Bharatiya Janata Party staged dharna here against Kejriwal government and in solidarity with the family of the three minor girls who had allegedly died of starvation on Tuesday.
The SC lifted the embargo imposed by the green body on agitations and protests at Jantar Mantar, citing environmental reasons.
The street which was deserted for the past eight months after the ban came into place, came alive with Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari who, along with around 100 party members, sat at Jantar Mantar in the morning to express grief over the death of the girls. Tents and banners were set up, demonstrators held placards that criticised the government- signifying how the spirit of the monument was set to become alive with more protests in days to come.
Meanwhile, the leader and party workers also observed a day long fast as a gesture of solidarity towards the victims. Addressing the media, Tiwari said, "It is extremely shocking that the girls died because of lack of food. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should resign taking moral responsibility of the act. It was his duty to ensure ration reached the family," Tiwari said. "This government has no right to remain in power. It has miserably failed its citizens," he further said.
The BJP leader accused the government of playing politics over such an inhuman act. "It is both sad and shocking to know that the three children died in the CM's constituency. Who's duty is it if not the government to provide food to people? We will ensure that such heart wrenching incidents do not occur in future," Tiwari stated.
Three girls, all below 10 years, were found dead due to hunger in East Delhi's Mandawali area on Tuesday. According to autopsy reports, the deceased sisters did not have any trace of fat in them, their stomach was absolutely empty as gross malnutrition killed them.
