Delhi water crisis: Atishi ends indefinite hunger strike after health worsens

Delhi water minister Atishi on Tuesday ended her hunger strike after her health deteriorated and she was hospitalised, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh. He also said that he will be writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide the national capital with its rightful share of water from Haryana.

“The issue will also be raised by AAP and its political allies,” Singh said while addressing the media.

Atishi, who began her hunger strike on June 21 amid the Delhi water crisis, was hospitalised early Tuesday after her blood sugar levels dropped. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party informed that the AAP minister was admitted to the emergency ICU at the Lok Nayak Hospital in the national capital.

“Water Minister Atishi's health deteriorates. Her blood sugar level dropped to 43 at midnight and to 36 at 3 am, after which LNJP hospital doctors advised immediate hospitalisation…She has not eaten anything for the last five days and is on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the Haryana government to release Delhi's share of water. She's been admitted to the emergency ICU at LNJP. We pray for her speedy recovery,” the party said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A while later, the hospital's medical director, Dr Suresh Kumar, informed that while the minister had been in the ICU, her condition was stable. Kumar further added that Atishi was advised hospitalisation on Tuesday evening, however, she had declined.

“…Her sugar levels declined and the presence of ketones was detected in her urine. At midnight, as her condition deteriorated and she was drowsy, she was admitted. She is currently stable and in the ICU. Her blood tests are being done,” the doctor said.

The residents of Delhi have been struggling with a massive water shortage triggered by the scorching heat temperatures.

Atishi began her hunger strike, demanding the Haryana government increase its water supply to the national capital. She also alleged that since she began her protest, the BJP government in the state had reduced its water supply to Delhi.

According to the minister, Delhi's water requirement is 1,005 million Gallons per Day (MGD), of which 613 MGD comes from neighbouring Haryana. However, she said that Haryana has only been sending 513 MGD of water. “1 MGD of water can serve 28,500 people, so if Haryana is sending 1000 MGD less water to Delhi, this is ultimately affecting around 28 lakh people,” Atishi said.