Jai Kisan Sangathan Leader Suspends Hunger Strike After MP Govt Agrees to Fresh Rehabilitation Survey

Bhopal: Jai Kisan Sangathan leader Amit Bhatnagar has suspended his 18-day indefinite hunger strike after the Madhya Pradesh government agreed to conduct fresh village-level surveys to identify families allegedly left out of compensation and rehabilitation under the Ken-Betwa Link Project. Calling it the “first success” of the movement, Bhatnagar clarified that while he has ended the indefinite fast, the broader agitation will continue until every eligible family receives justice. He announced the launch of a “Nyay Satyagraha,” pledging to visit affected villages, monitor the government’s commitments, and cooperate with authorities while continuing the campaign for fair rehabilitation.

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Government Agrees to Fresh Village-Level Rehabilitation Survey

The protest focused on the rehabilitation of families living in villages affected by the Daudhan Dam submergence zone. Bhatnagar alleged that hundreds of eligible families were excluded from rehabilitation lists, compensation assessments were flawed, and Gram Sabha proceedings contained serious irregularities. As his health worsened during the fast, civil society groups, activists, and political leaders appealed to him to end the hunger strike. Speaking from a hospital, Bhatnagar broke his fast by accepting coconut water from his mother and tribal women who had participated in the protest, citing the administration’s positive response.

According to Bhatnagar, district authorities have agreed to form joint teams consisting of government officials and Jai Kisan Sangathan representatives to carry out fresh village-by-village surveys across Chhatarpur district. He also announced that his protest would continue in a different form, describing it as a “Nyay Upvaas” (Justice Fast). Although he has suspended the indefinite hunger strike, Bhatnagar said he will continue abstaining from food grains until every eligible family receives compensation and rehabilitation benefits.

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Ken-Betwa Project Rehabilitation Remains Under Scrutiny

The issue also triggered a heated debate in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, where Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar accused the government of irregularities in rehabilitation and compensation under the ₹44,605-crore Ken-Betwa Link Project. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav assured the Assembly that all complaints would be thoroughly investigated and promised the review would be completed within one month. Government data stated that 1,321 families in seven villages of Panna district had been displaced, while 3,718 families across 14 villages in Chhatarpur were affected by land acquisition or submergence.

During the Assembly debate, Umang Singhar demanded that the government present survey reports and Gram Sabha records, alleging that compensation had been distributed unevenly, leaving several eligible families without benefits. Revenue Minister Karan Singh Verma rejected allegations of any scam, stating that compensation had been provided to nearly all eligible families, with only a few cases pending due to documentation or banking issues. Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav promised that every legitimate complaint would be investigated. The Ken-Betwa Link Project, India’s first river interlinking initiative, includes the construction of the Daudhan Dam, a 221-kilometre canal, and related irrigation infrastructure to transfer water from the Ken River basin in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa basin in Uttar Pradesh.

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