Naresh Meena’s Hunger Strike Enters Eighth Day Over Piplodi School Tragedy in Rajasthan
Jaipur, Sep 19: Independent candidate Naresh Meena from the Deoli Uniara bypoll is on day eight of his fast-unto-death protest. He’s fighting for justice for the families of seven children who died in the heartbreaking Piplodi school tragedy in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district.
Meena’s health took a turn for the worse late Thursday night. Police rushed him to Jaipur’s SMS Hospital and forced him into the ICU. But even from his hospital bed, Meena stands firm. "I’ve only had water. My fast isn’t over," he declared. "This silent protest will go on until the families get real justice."
Rumors spread earlier that Meena had broken his fast after Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas visited him and offered water. Meena shut down those claims right away with a statement and a social media post. "My hunger strike ends only when the government meets my demands fully," he wrote. He called on supporters to keep the movement peaceful, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.
The protest kicked off after the tragic accident at Piplodi school in Jhalawar, where seven young lives were lost. Grieving families want compensation, jobs, and proper government help. The Rajasthan government promised ex-gratia payments and recently approved Rs 13 lakh for each affected family, as announced by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. But families say it’s not enough—they feel insulted and neglected by the administration.
Things got even more controversial when reports emerged that officials gave goats to the victims’ families as "compensation." Families claim the goats are falling sick, turning what should be support into a bigger humiliation.
Khachariyawas, a former Rajasthan cabinet minister, visited Meena at the hospital and backed the protest fully. He slammed the state government hard. "Treating these families so insensitively is shameful," he said. "Handing over goats instead of real aid? That’s not help—it’s an outrage." He also blasted the police for dragging Meena away from his protest site, calling it an attack on democratic rights.
Khachariyawas urged the Rajasthan government to step up immediately, meet the families’ demands, and handle the Piplodi school tragedy with respect and empathy. As Meena’s health hangs in the balance, the spotlight stays on this push for justice in the Jhalawar incident.
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