BJP MP ends hunger strike on Rajnath's 'persuasion'

BJP's East Delhi MP Maheish Girri, who was protesting outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence since Sunday, broke his fast-unto-death on Tuesday on the urging of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Rajnath Singh on Tuesday evening reached the Civil Lines where Girri was sitting on a hunger strike and persuaded him "not to put his life at stake".

Girri was on fast-unto-death since Sunday after Kejriwal declined to join an open debate over his accusation that the Bharatiya Janata Party MP was involved in the murder of a New Delhi Municipal Council estate officer M.M. Khan.

Rajnath Singh assured Girri that the police in its investigation has not find anything against him and hence he should not be disturbed by the allegations levelled due to political malice.

"Everywhere in the society people are praising the moral courage and the works of Maheish Girri. It is necessary that he should disregard the allegations levelled due to political malice and concentrate on human service," he said, while addressing the gathering.

The Home Minister offered Girri a glass of juice, which he drank to break his two-day fast.

"I challenged Kejriwal for a debate over his accusation. It has been three days but he didn't turn up. So, its their defeat. I am going to end my hunger strike," Girri said in presence of Rajnath Singh.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who also reached the venue said: "Delhi is passing through a phase of anarchy and if this does not end soon, then there will be constitutional crisis in Delhi."

He, too requested Girri to continue his fight against the mis-propaganda of Kejriwal government but end his hunger strike in view of human life being precious.

Earlier in the day, Girri performed yoga at the agitation venue to mark the second International Yoga Day here.

"On IDY2016 today, participated in a Yoga Session with all karyakartas, here at the venue of my Anshan," he tweeted.

BJP's Delhi unit President Satish Upadhyay, MP Pravesh Verma and several other leaders joined the hunger strike led by Girri.

Khan was shot dead in Jamia Nagar here on May 16 -- a day before he was expected to pass an order on the terms of the lease of The Connaught, a four-star hotel.

Kejriwal had reiterated his demand for the arrest of Girri and urged Delhi Police to probe the relationship between Girri and hotelier Ramesh Kakkar, who ran The Connaught and is the main accused in the murder of Khan.

--IANS

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