Dehra Dun, Jun 15: Uttarakhand government today said it is ready to order a CBI inquiry into the death of Swami Nigamanand, who was on fast for about four months protesting against corruption, as pressure mounted on it for a thorough probe amid allegations that he died of poisoning.
“The government had yesterday handed over the inquiry into the death of Swami Nigamanand to CB-CID. But if the Matri Sadan ashram and family members of Swami Nigamanand wants inquiry by any other agency or CBI, we are ready for that also, “ State Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik told reporters here.
Stating that though the postmortem report of Nigamanand has stated coma, septicaemia and degenerative brain disorder as the cause of death and his viscera has been preserved for further forensic examination, Kaushik said the government can also facilitate another sample of his viscera for the satisfaction of his ashram and family.
Swami Nigamanand, who died in a hospital here on June 13, was on fast since February 19 demanding immediate stopping of illegal quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya stone crusher to elsewhere from Kumbh area.
The statement from government expressing readiness for a CBI inquiry came after the pressure mounted on it from various quarters for a through probe, including Swami Nigamanand's family members, Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva and main opposition Congress besides Sadhus of Matri Sadan ashram.
In Darbhanga, the family members of Swami Nigmanand demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his death and accused Uttarakhand government of insensitivity towards him.
Meanwhile, dismissing the CB-CID inquiry into the death of Swami Nigamanand as ordered by the Uttarakhand government, Congress today demanded a CBI probe in 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 provide proper medical care to him," Uttarakhand PCC President Yashpal Arya said.
He accused the BJP government of making Bollywood actor Hema Malini the brand ambassador of Ganga Cleaning Campaign and said it did not take any action on the demand of a Sadhu, who sacrificed his life after fighting 114 days for the same cause.
Arya also alleged the state government of patronising quarrying mafia and said it did not take any action on the demand of Swami, who was asking for immediate stopping of quarrying in Ganga and shifting of Himalaya Stone crusher to some where else from Kumbh area.
Arya said the party would also submit a memorandum to Uttarakhand Governor Margaret Alva with a request asking her to intervene in the matter.
While state government is maintaining that it is not responsible for the death of Swami Nigamanand as it had already stopped the quarrying in the area in April, the founder head of Matri Sadan ashram Swami, Shivanand has alleged that Nigamanand was poisoned during treatment at the behest of quarrying mafia that led to his death.
The postmortem report of Swami Nigamanand has said that his death was caused due to coma, septicemia and degenerative brain disorder. However, under pressure due to allegations that Swami was poisoned, state Urban development minister Madan Kaushik yesterday announced that the inquiry has been handed over to CB-CID.
In Darbhanga, family members of Swami Nigmanand, today demanded a thorough probe into the circumstances leading to his death.
Uttarakhand government's insensitivity can be gauged from the fact that it arranged the best medical facility to Yoga guru Ramdev at the same hospital in Dehradun where Nigmanand died for lack of treatment, Nigmanand's father Subhash Chandra Jha, grandfather Surya Narayan Jha and grand mother Jaikali Devi said.
The family members spoke to Bihar Director General of Police Neelmani and Home department's Principal Secretary Amir Subhani, seeking their help for bringing the body to the native village Ladari in Uttrakhand.
Justice should be done and the "Bihar government should also take up the matter with the Uttrakhand government," they said.
"We want to cremate the body at the village," they said and added that the role of Shivanand, another Swami of Matra Sadan in Hardwar, should also be probed. PTI
