Rourkela: Muktikanta Biswal, the Rourkela youth who made headlines recently for walking 1,350 km on foot to Delhi to remind Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi of the promises he had made to the people of his village three years ago, has now began an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) here.
Pressing his demands, Muktikanta began the hunger strike from today. He lamented that despite his best efforts, he was not allowed to meet the PM. A few days back, PM Modi had come to Odisha to inaugurate the Jharsuguda airport. However, he did not remember his promise of turning the IGH hospital into a better super specialty hospital.
“The PM has forgotten his promise. The situation has remained the same. Villagers are dying every day due to lack of proper medical care,” Muktikanta said adding that he would continue the hunger strike until the PM fulfilled his promises and his demands were fulfilled.
Extending support to Biswal, convenor of Yuva Jagruti Manch, Gopal Jena also joined him in the agitation.
Upgradation of Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into Super Speciality Hospital & Medical College, construction of second Brahmani bridge in Rourkela and construction of Koel barrage are the prime demands of Muktikanta.
It may be recalled here that, Biswal, after walking around 1,350 km over 70 days, had reached Delhi June 27 to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promises made April 1, 2015 to upgrade SAIL’s Ispat General Hospital (IGH) into Super Speciality Hospital & Medical College and construction of second Brahmani bridge.
He then staged hunger strike initially at Ramlila Maidan and later at Jagannath Temple, Hauz Khas as he was unable to meet the Prime Minister despite repeated attempts.
Later, Biswal had launched a Padajatra from Rourkela to Bhubaneswar to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik July 30. The CM had assured him to look into the demands.
PNN
