Relay hunger strike launched over GDA proposal to lease out stadium

Activists of the 'Stadium Bachao Samiti' started a hunger strike on the eighth day of their ongoing protest against the Ghaziabad Development Authority's proposal to lease out a local stadium to a private builder for maintenance and development.

Eleven members of the committee sat on the hunger strike demanding the GDA to scrap the proposal to lease out the stadium to a private a builder.

The Aam Admi Party had also joined the sit-in protest on Tuesday, sources of the committee said.

Coordinator of the 'Stadium Bachao Samiti' Advocate Ajay Veer Singh said the stadium was built for sports, athletic activities, yoga practice and to facilitate morning walkers of the city.

Singh raised apprehensions that exorbitant fees would be charged from people in case the stadium is leased out to a builder.

On Thursday, a protest march will be carried out from the stadium in Nehru Nagar to the GDA office by political parties and the Samiti, Singh said.

Congress leaders including former MP Surendra praksh Goel and ex Uttar Pradesh minister Satish Sharma met the vice-chairperson of the GDA, Kanchan Verma, and pressed for the demand.

Members of the GDA board also handed over a memorandum to Verma and lodged their resentment on the issue.

The GDA vice-chairperson said the issue is being reviewed and the "lease out process will be reconsidered and thereafter it may be scrapped".