Uma Bharti retracts claim of informing Gadkari about GD Agarwal's health

Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Uma Bharti on Thursday expressed shock over environmentalist G. D. Agarwal's death on twitter, adding that she had anticipated the same and had earlier alerted Union Minster for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and others about Agarwal's declining health. Bharti later deleted the thread.

Bharti said in the tweet, "I am stunned by Shri Sanand Swamy's death. I had anticipated it as his health was declining due to his old age. Despite of which, his hunger strike continued steadfast, thus making this situation an increasing possibility."

"In this regard, I had informed Nitin Gadkari Ji and others in the past. It is very difficult for me to appear publicly right now. I need time till dusk tomorrow," the former Union Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation said in a separate tweet.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over Agarwal's death.

However, the Congress cornered the Central Government, alleging that it did not do enough under the 'Namai Gange Programme' and also ignored Agarwal's indefinite-fast. The Congress also questioned the 'Namami Gange Programme' and alleged that Ganga has become more polluted than before in the last four years.

A former IIT Kanpur faculty member, Agarwal was on an indefinite fast demanding the government to clean river Ganga.

The 86-year-old environmentalist was on fast since June 22 and had also given up drinking water on Wednesday. Before his death, he wrote a letter alleging that the Haridwar administration officials forcibly shifted him from his protest site to AIIMS, Rishikesh, where he passed away after suffering a heart attack.