Mumbai, Dec 27: The deterioration of his health notwithstanding, Anna Hazare, who began his three-day fast against the government's ‘weak' Lokpal Bill today, refused to give up his agitation despite requests from close aides.
“When the doctor checked me, I did not have fever. But now, the fever has returned,” Hazare told his supporters, who had gathered at the MMRDA ground where he began his three-day fast, this afternoon.
Hazare said he had not eaten anything for the past three days as he was unwell.
“I haven't had food for past three days. Today for two-and-a-half hours, I was standing atop a vehicle. Still, I don't have any problems,” he told supporters shortly after close aides Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi appealed to him to end his fast.
There were concerns about 74-year-old Hazare's health as he was suffering from viral infection.
“Anna is unwell. Will you request Anna to withdraw his fast,” Bedi had asked the crowd earlier, which responded with a loud “Yes”. However, Hazare, looking quiet under the weather, waved his hand in a gesture of “No”.
Talking to reporters later, Kejriwal said, “We tried to persuade Anna several times to withdraw his fast, eat food and take medicines. Medicines cannot be taken on an empty stomach. But Anna is not at all ready to break his fast.”
According to a doctor who attended the Gandhian, Hazare's fever has shot up to 102 Fahrenheit and his pulse rate too has increased considerably.
“Anna was suffering from fever since the last 4-5 days. Yesterday, his fever was a bit low but he had fever throughout today. He is also facing acute weakness. His pulse rate has also gone up to 98 as compared to what it was in the morning.
“There is an imbalance in the physical parameters because of which Anna's blood pressure has increased from 140/86 in the morning to 170/96 now. There is also some infection in his chest due to cough. Because of fever Anna hasn't been able to eat for the past 4-5 days. His health is deteriorating and he is not in a position to walk,” the doctor added.
