Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal on Tuesday criticized Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi for ending her hunger strike after being hospitalized due to deteriorating health. Maliwal’s comments came after Atishi was taken to the ICU when her blood pressure and sugar levels dropped drastically.

“The strength to go on a hunger strike is gained only by struggling on the ground for many years. Not by speaking lies and dirty things about others the whole day,” Maliwal stated. She emphasized that fasting as a form of protest, termed Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi, requires a true and pure heart. Maliwal highlighted her own experiences, noting, “I fasted twice. Once for 10 days and once for 13 days. After my fast, a law was made in the country that child rapists should be given the death penalty. The path of struggle is very difficult.”

Despite her criticism, Maliwal wished Atishi well, saying, “Well, hope Atishi ji’s health will improve soon and she will work for the people of Delhi.”

Atishi had to end her hunger strike on Tuesday after being admitted to the ICU as her blood sugar level fell to 36. A video showing her being taken into an ambulance on a stretcher went viral on social media. AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj shared an update on her condition, stating that she was under medical supervision.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s team accused the BJP of injustice towards Delhi, linking Atishi’s hunger strike to a broader political struggle. “The people of Delhi will definitely give a reply to the injustice that the BJP government is doing to Delhi,” Kejriwal’s team posted on X. They expressed concern for Atishi’s health and solidarity with her cause, stating, “Every Delhiite is with her in this Satyagraha.”

Atishi began her indefinite hunger strike in South Delhi’s Bhogal on Friday to demand more water from Haryana. She claimed that Haryana had been releasing 100 million gallons per day less water to Delhi than its rightful share of 613 MGD for the past two weeks, affecting 2.8 million residents.