Manoj Tiwari to continue hunger strike against Delhi government

Delhi BJP President Manoj Tiwari on Thursday said he will convert his day-long fast into an indefinite hunger strike against the Delhi government which according to him neglected the development work in his parliamentary constituency.

"I shall continue my indefinite hunger strike to protest against politically biased denial of development funds by Delhi government to my north-east parliamentary constituency," Tiwari said, who along with six other BJP MPs sat on a day-long fast against the washout of the second part of Parliament's budget session due to continuous disruptions.

Tiwari alleged that the Delhi government was delaying the funds for a link loop at Shastri Park flyover to ease heavy traffic congestion in the area.

"I shall not end my fast until I get assurance for my people on Shastri Park flyover, underpass, signal-free zone and clean water," he said.

Earlier in the day, Tiwari was also attended by a doctor after he complained of pain. He said that he had recently undergone a laser operation for stone, so there is some pain. "But my pain is not bigger than the pain of public."

Slamming the Congress and opposition parties, Tiwari said: "It is sad that even as politically rejected Congress and other opposition parties stalled the working of Parliament in the budget session."

"The government not only managed to complete important business transactions but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a precedent by deciding to forego salary of ruling NDA MPs for the 23 lost days of Parliament work.

"From now on this should become a rule that MPs will not get their salary when the House is stalled and the opposition parties need to take a lesson from this," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who represents the Chandani Chowk constituency, East Delhi MP Maheish Girri, New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi, West Delhi MP Pravesh Verma, North West Delhi MP Udit Raj, South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari participated in the day-long strike that concluded at 6 p.m.

Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu, Uma Bharti, Smriti Irani, Narender Singh Tomar, Vijay Goel, K.J. Alphons and Anupriya Patel and several senior party leaders visited the venues of these fasting MPs to enthuse the workers.

Modi and BJP President Amit Shah along with BJP MPs fasted across the country to protest against the washout of the second half of Parliament's Budget session.

--IANS

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