Seers call off stir as MP govt assures redressal of demands

Indore, Feb 22: The seers agitating for a month in support of their various demands including cleaning of Kshipra river ahead of Simhastha Kumbh fair in April today called off their protest, saying an assurance has been given by state government.

"Madhya Pradesh Transport Minister Bhupendra Singh came with a message from Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to meet our president 'Computer Baba'.

"He said the government will take all appropriate steps to meet our demands, following which we have decided to end the month-long protest," said 'Shatdarshan Sadhu Mandal' state general secretary, Naveenanand Saraswati.

The seers also sought solution to various problems prevailing in the Kumbh Mela area and demanded old-age pension for members of their fraternity who are dependent on others. He said the minister told the seers that government is taking all possible measures to clean the river, especially preventing waste water from entering into it.

Saraswati said the group of seers was scheduled to stage a protest on the issue at Jantar Mantar in Delhi from tomorrow, but has cancelled the plan after Chouhan's assurance. The religious congregation, held once in 12 years, will be organised on the banks of Kshipra in Ujjain during April 22 to May 21, wherein nearly five crore people are expected to take part.

PTI