After Rajasthan ex-MLA's death, family warns of indefinite fast

A day after former Rajasthan legislator who went on hunger-strike to press his demands for liquor ban and a strong Lokpal died, his family said it too would observe fast unto death if the demands were still unheeded.

The 69-year-old, former Janata Party legislator Gurusharan Chhabra, who was on a hunger strike for 32 days since October 2, died Tuesday morning (November 3).

His family members said it has been conveyed to the Rajasthan government that they would be forced to sit on "hunger strike" in front of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's residence if the demands remained unfulfilled.

"We have conveyed to the two ministers - Rajendra Rathore and Arun Chaturvedi - who visited us today morning that my father's struggle would not go in vain," Gaurav Chhabra, son of Gurusharan Chhabra, said.

"I along with my other family members will sit on a fast unto death if demands of my father relating to strong Lokpal and liquor ban are not met with in next couple of days," Gaurav told IANS.

Stating that his father sat on indefinite fast on October 2 and staged a completely peaceful protest, he said: "This state government was completely insensitive."

"What he wanted was in public interest, he wanted a stronger Lokpal and state wide ban on liquor. We will continue to fight for his wishes and demands", Gaurav said.

Gurusharan Chhabra was admitted to government-run SMS Hospital over a fortnight ago when his health started deteriorating. He was shifted to the ICU after going into a coma a few days ago.

As per Gurusharan Chhabra's wishes, his body was donated to SMS Medical College here.

His son Gaurav accused the state government of not fulfilling the assurances it gave to his father almost 18 months back.

"They (the state government) assured and made a commitment to my father that they would consider his demands. But for 18 months nothing happened. This forced my father to sit on a hunger strike again on October 2," he said.