Manmohan Singh sends emissary to persuade save Ganga activist to end fast

NEW DELHI: As the health of ' Save Ganga' activist GD Agarwal deteriorated, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sent coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal as his emissary to persuade him to break his fast.

Jaiswal will be discussing the issues raised by Agarwal, who has been fasting on the banks of the Ganga since January 14, and is expected to brief the Prime Minister tomorrow.

Noted water conservationist Rajendra Singh has been asked by environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan to join Jaiswal in the discussions with Agarwal.

Agarwal has been hospitalised as his health deteriorated further after he stopped drinking water since March 8.

Three non-official members of the National Ganga River Basin Authority, including Rajendra Singh had resigned from their posts protesting protesting government's "apathy" towards Agarwal.

Agarwal, who has served as a scientist at IIT-Kanpur and with the Central Pollution Control Board, has been consistently campaigning for several years to save the holy river Ganga.