Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

32 days on, sadhu on hunger strike, not ready to relent

- HT Correspond­ent

ROHTAK:Sant Gopal Das, who has been sitting on a hunger strike for the past 32 days seeking protection of cows, on Monday warned of intensifyi­ng his protest if the government did not take any concrete step on his demands within three days.

Das has been demanding the government to hand over ‘gauchar bhoomi’ (pasture land) in villages to develop gaushalas and grazing grounds for cows. The regular incidents of stray cows being killed and injured in road accidents in Haryana have allegedly upset him.

He has also demanded the government to set up a Gauchar Vikas Board on the pattern of the Gujarat government.

“The government should come up with a plan to protect the grazing land meant for cows within three days or I will take a concrete step,” Das warned.

Haryana state minister for cooperatio­n Manish Grover had earlier announced to hand over common land of five villages for gaushalas. The minister had also accepted the demand of giving cow milk to students in midday meal, but Das remained firm on his other demands. “Let them announce in public they are setting up Gauchar Vikas Board and I will get up from here,” he said. On Monday, Congress state president Ashok Tanwar visited Das for second time to extend his support.

SANT GOPAL DAS OF ROHTAK WARNS OF INTENSIFYI­NG HIS PROTEST IF GOVT DOES NOT TAKE CONCRETE STEP ON HIS DEMANDS WITHIN 3 DAYS

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