Ken Betwa Link Project Activist Amit Bhatnagar Ends 18 Day Hunger Strike

Social activist Amit Bhatnagar, leader of the Jai Kisan Sangathan and the Ken Betwa Chita Andolan, called off his 18 day indefinite hunger strike after receiving assurances from the local administration and responding to a emotional plea from his mother. The fast, which began on 3 July 2026 under an under-construction bridge over the Barana river in Madhya Pradesh, was staged to highlight massive irregularities in the rehabilitation and compensation process for families displaced by the 44605 crore Rupees Ken Betwa river linking project and associated local irrigation schemes. Protesters alleged that hundreds of eligible tribal and rural families were excluded from government welfare lists, claiming discrepancies and corruption worth nearly 400 crore Rupees in the distribution of compensation packages.

The 18 day demonstration witnessed significant tension between local authorities and the protesting villagers in Chhatarpur district. On 19 July 2026, police cleared the original sit-in spot at Kupi village, citing rising monsoon water levels in the Barana river as a major safety concern. Following the site clearance, Bhatnagar was taken into custody and subsequently shifted to the ICU at the district hospital as his health deteriorated severely. Despite hospitalization, Bhatnagar maintained his hunger strike. Meanwhile, solidarity protests flared across neighboring villages in Chhatarpur and Panna districts, where local women launched a chulha bandh protest, refusing to cook meals in support of the activist and affected families.

Political pressure mounted inside the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, where opposition leaders raised questions regarding the administrative shortcomings in executing the country's first major river interlinking project. In response, Chhatarpur district officials and state administration showed a positive approach by agreeing to set up joint survey teams comprising government officials and representatives from the Jai Kisan Sangathan. These teams will conduct fresh village-level surveys to re-examine complaints, identify left-out displaced families, and rectify compensation discrepancies. Recognizing this administrative assurance as a key victory for the local population, Bhatnagar broke his fast by sipping coconut water offered by his mother after returning to his hometown of Bijawar.

While the indefinite fast has ended, Bhatnagar announced that the broader movement for justice remains active under a modified pledge termed Nyay Satyagraha. He confirmed that he will continue to abstain from consuming food grains until every eligible displaced family receives their legitimate statutory rights and compensation. The 44605 crore Rupees Ken Betwa Link Project involves transferring water from the Ken basin in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa basin in Uttar Pradesh via the construction of the Daudhan Dam and a 221 km link canal. While the government aims to irrigate 1.062 million hectares and supply drinking water to 6.2 million people across the drought-prone Bundelkhand region, the ongoing agitation underscores the critical challenge of ensuring fair compensation and humane rehabilitation for displaced local communities.