Activist on hunger strike over Ken-Betwa river link project ends fast after 18 days
Activist Amit Bhatnagar has ended his 18-day hunger strike against the Ken-Betwa river linking project following government assurances regarding the rehabilitation of affected tribal communities. He has pledged to continue his fight for justice through a new movement called 'Nyay Satyagraha'.
Why it matters
The protest highlights the ongoing conflict between large-scale infrastructure development and the rights of displaced indigenous populations in India.
Activist Amit Bhatnagar, who had been on a hunger strike against the Ken-Betwa river linking project for 18 days, suspended his fast on Thursday (July 23, 2026) after the government’s assurance to include the people left out of the rehabilitation process.
After breaking his fast, Mr. Bhatnagar said that he took the decision as several tribal women who had been part of the protest had also stopped eating since July 19 when the police forcibly took him to a hospital and dismantled the demonstration site on the banks of Barana river in Kupi village of Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district. He had been in the Chhatarpur district hospital since then and continued his fast.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in