Pujya Ramesh Baba Maharaj has called up a mass agitation against the unethical & irresponsible attitude of the State Government of Rajasthan in the matter of Ongoing massive illegal mining in Braj Area. During the 28th sojourn at Baad Village [ District- Mathura] of Radha Rani Braj Yatra, Pujaya Ramesh Baba Maharaj has declared that unethical attitude of the state Government will not be tolerated anymore. Now, this agitation will cease only when entire Braj area is being completely protected from callous illegal mining. He has made it clear that “no matter how many days will it take but this time the agitation will not be stopped till entire hilly area of Braj is not being declared as Reserved Forest area and mining in the region is not being totally stopped. ” He further added that this is not the only battle that we have to win, our immediate challenge is to develop greenery on these reverend Hills and for that we have to resolve the matter of protection of hills from mining. The issue of cessation of mining, which has been deliberately made difficult to be resolved by covetous and crooked politicians, is actually smaller work in front of a much bigger task of developing the entire hilly area of Braj into sprawling green orchards.
Zee News Exclusive Report on Illegal Mining in Braj
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It is evident that for last 10 years massive mining was going on in holy hills of braj which has brutally destroyed more than a dozen of religious places of high religious importance and has devasted ecology of the entire region. After consistent & untiring efforts from saint community, national & International organizations and Lord krishna’s devotees worldwide for, BJP led state government of Rajasthan banned all mining activities in Kaman and Deeg Tehsil of District Bharatpur by transferring the entire hilly area of Braj coming in Domain of Rajasthan to Department of Forest. Subsequently Rajasthan High court, on hearing of petition filed by Mining people against aforesaid order, banned all kind of mining activities in the said area. Despite of stern directions of Supreme Court & High court and orders of State Government, illegal mining continued on the holly hills of Braj. Local administration and officials of concerned departments showed a negligent and unscrupulous attitude towards the entire issue. Sadhu saints and thousands for devotees worldwide have repeatedly pleaded the government and concerned officials for checking of illegal mining but due to covetous involvement of local police and officials, massive illegal mining continued. Several times agitations have been organized and on assurance of Government they were called off. But the situation got more worsens. Callous Mining continued depleting the topography and religious harmony of the area.
Brutal Mining of Braj Hills
Creating more bitter circumstances, the state Mining Minister of Present Congress led Government coming under political pressure of certain crooked and self centered local politicians, took a decision to form a committee for reconsideration of the decision of banning mining in braj area taken by previous BJP led Government. This irresponsible and unreasonable decision of the minister is a mockery of hard struggle of 8 long years faced by sadhu –saints and millions of devotees world wide.
Realizing the impotency of the state government in checking out illegal mining in Braj area and negligent attitude towards such a vital issue of protecting our ancient religious heritage, sadhus-saints of Man Mandir, Gehvar Van, Barsana started a ‘Dharna’ on 30th Of September which is now converted in to a Hunger Strike. The ‘Dharna’ is being largely supported by hundreds of sadhus , local inhabitants and devotees worldwide.
They are also concerned
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Baba Maharaj has now decided to make this ongoing Dharna as Final Battle for protection of holy hills of Braj and has declared a Mass Agitation and Hunger Strike 9th November onwards in which thousands of devotees will participate and would raise their voice against the government’s neglectful attitude towards protection of our precious Holly hills of Braj. The world will witness the biggest ever Hunger Strike and struggle for protection of an ancient religious heritage. He declared an absolute decisive Mass Movement and showed strong determination to not withhold the movement before the said area is not completely protected.
Summary on Recent events regarding Braj Mining
After a consistent pressure from various NRI Groups of USA, Sadhu & Saints from all over India and several religious & environmental organizations, State Government Of Rajasthan banned entire mining in the Braj area which comes under its domain by order dated 08.02.2008.
Aforesaid and various subsequent orders were challenged in Rajasthan High Court, on which Hon’ble High court further passed directions to restrict any kind of mining activity in the said area on 03rd of July, 2008
But this is an absolute unfortunate that inspite of the fact that the State government of Rajasthan have already banned the mining in February, 2008 and Hon’ble Rajasthan High Court and Supreme court have passed stringent directions to restrict any kind of mining activity in the sacred area, massive illegal mining is still being carried out by the mining mafia. Local administration is helpless in checking it out. Though even after deliverance of messages to concerned authorities at various instants by several NRI representatives and non-stop pleading of Sadhu- saints and religious & environmental organization in front of the State Government and Local administration of Bharatpur district to take strong measures for banning the wanton illegal mining going on in the area , nothing result-oriented has been done yet. The situation which has occurred there due to uncontrolled illegal mining is indeed appalling.
After a consistent and untiring struggle for 8 years by saint community of Braj and various national & international organization, state government of Rajasthan banned mining activities in entire Braj area measuring 5232 hectares which comes under domain of Rajasthan.
Mine owners went to Rajasthan High Court against the aforesaid order passd by the State Government on which Hon’ble High court further passed directions to restrict any kind of mining activity in the said area on 03rd of July, 2008
Mining cases of 183 mining Leases in Braj area are still pending with Rajasthan High Court [ Jaipur Bench] in which interim order of Justice Dilip Singh ji is still effective by which no mining can take place in that area.
8 Major [ Big area lease] mining leases in Braj area are not yet being cancelled as it has to be done by Central Government. 3 of which are still working at large scale, flouting the direction of Supreme Court by which no-mining activity could take place in forest area.
Mining officials, under pressure of mining mafia, are allowing them to carry out mining in forest.
Divisional commissioner, who is head of a dvision and collector bharatpur comes under him, has several times passed strict direction to various departments to check out illegal mining but nothing has happened yet and massive illegal mining is still going on.
Entire Government machinery has failed to check out illegal mining in Braj as lower police and mining staff are involved in promotion of illegal mining. Recently few laborers were killed during illegal mining operation.
Coming under politically motivated pressure from Jayeda Khan, the sitting MLA from Kaman who is under strong influence of mining and crusher mafia, Minister of state for Mining and forest [ Govt. of Rajasthan] has taken an unreasonable & imperious decision of forming a committee for re-examination of decision to ban mining in enitre Braj area taken by past government. By doing this the state government of Rajasthan has mocked the 8 years long dedicated and untiring struggle of various communities who wanted to protect and preserve their holy land.
Now after a consistent perusal and repeated request to State Government of Rajasthan and Central Government by sadhu Saints, Various religious organizations, NRI Community sadhus of Man Mandir, Gehvar van, Barsana have decided to make it Final Struggle this time as nothing satisfactory has been done yet in order of check illegal mining.
Sadhus from Man Mandir have sat on a timeless Dharna on 25th of September and when no action was taken on plea of these Braj Saints, the Dharna was converted into Hunger strike on 19th of October.
On 23rd of October about 40 policemen came at Midnight and grabbed all the saints sitting on Hunger strike who later were forcefully sent to Hospital. This conspired action of police administration was condemned by people at large.
But notwithstanding with all kind of adversities 6 more sadhus sat on Hunger strike next day. Now there are in all 25 sadhus sitting on Hunger Strike and who represent various part of the country.
Questions That Are Yet To Be Answered
Why hasn't the entire Braj area which is in the jurisdication of the state of Rajasthan been declared as ‘Reserved Forest’? This proposal was prepared last year, and this matter has been pending by the government for over a year now.
Why haven't notices of mine closures been given to MAJOR MINES LEASE owners namely ‘Ramesh Punjabi’ & ‘Jain Silica Sand’? Their leases expired in 2005, and the area which they own, comes within the declared forest area. Taking advantage of the lethargic attitude of the mining department these two major mine owners have insensibly started brutal & rapid destruction of sacred hills of Braj.
Why hasn't any strong measures been taken to curb massive illegal mining? Clear cut directions were given from the courts and there is mass concern among all Lord Krishna devotees world wide.
Why hasn't any strong action has been taken on massive movement of trucks & vehicles carrying illegally mined stones? The government and District Administration of Bharatpur has been repeatedly reminded about the on-going unscrupulous activity.
It has been reportedly mentioned that certain government official, specially from Department of Mining [ District- Bharatpur], are underhandedly supporting the mine mafia in carrying out illegal mining operations by taking huge bribes. They are also creating hindrance for some of the official who are genuinely working for the cause. Immediate action needs to be taken against them.
Long Journey of Braj Hill Protection - News Paper Coverage Collection
Struggle of saving divine hills of shri Braj dham led by Shri Ramesh Baba Ji Maharaj is well known in Braj in particular and in India in general. Shri Maan Mandir Seva Sansthan Trust under the guidance Shri Remash Baba Ji has been fighting with local mining mafia and government administration for past 55 years to save the hills of Braj Dham, which are full of marks of Shri Radha Krishna's pastime, from brutal destruction. Following is a collection of news paper coverage that summarizes the full story:
How You Can Help
Spread the awareness to you friends and family here and in India
Contact Media in India to cover the event on Nov 9th.
Let us know if you have contacts and you would like for us to make the contact
If you want to join the movement but need more details, let us know what you need.
If you want to join the Dharna in India and need additional logistical information, please let us know.
Pray – Don’t underestimate the power of prayer.
Soon we will prepare and send information on key officials who can stop the mining and declare this site a heritage. You can then call them, email or fax them.
Shri Radha Rani Braj Yatra is 40 days long spiritual journey around Braj Mandal. This yatra is completely FREE and anybody can take part in this event.
Shri Yamuna Ji
Shri Yamuna Ji is one of the most sacred rivers in India. It is considered as Patrani of Shri Krishna. However, it has been declared as dead river because of pollution.
Mountains of Braj
The famous mountains of primary sites of pilgrimage were given space in Braj. All the visible mountains in Braj represent these sites of great religious and ecological importance.
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Hill Restoration 
Shri Radha Rani Braj Yatra is 40 days long spiritual journey around Braj Mandal. This yatra is completely FREE and anybody can take part in this event. 
Shri Yamuna Ji is one of the most sacred rivers in India. It is considered as Patrani of Shri Krishna. However, it has been declared as dead river because of pollution. 
The famous mountains of primary sites of pilgrimage were given space in Braj. All the visible mountains in Braj represent these sites of great religious and ecological importance.