Team Anna’s hopes of a quick solution came crashing down on Wednesday when the UPA government refused to give a written commitment.
Team Anna’s hopes of a quick solution came crashing down on Wednesday when the UPA government refused it a written commitment on the Jan Lokpal Bill even as Hazare’s fast completed nine days.
Sources told DNA that all issues that had been agreed upon were all but reversed after the stormy CCPA meeting on Tuesday night.
Home minister P Chidambaram vehemently objected to the party yielding to Team Anna’s pressure tactics. This put the troika of Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi in a tight spot with Hazare’s health deteriorating even as doctors attending on him said his parameters such as BP and the pulse rate were normal.
He has become weak and has lost nearly 6 kilograms since the fast began. Ketone levels were also significantly high.
However, a determined Hazare brushed aside his health concerns. “I have been fasting for nine days; I can go on for another nine days. My health is fine. I will continue to fast. I am all right,” Hazare told the cheering crowd.
Key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said if anything happened to Hazare, the government would be held responsible.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) meeting, just after Mukherjee’s meeting with Team Anna, was a very difficult one. Sources told DNA: “Chidambaram was unhappy at concessions given to Team Anna. He was of the view that if the government bends over backward for the anti-corruption crusader, it will not send a right message and would harm government’s image.”
Sources said he voiced his disappointment. He felt yielding to such tactics would not only embarrass the government but felt it would also set a bad precedent. Reportedly, even during the meetings of the joint drafting committee of activists and ministers, Chidambaram was the most vocal from the government side.
The home minister had played a role in the eviction of Baba Ramdev from Ramlila Maidan and in the arrest of Hazare from Mayur Vihar on August 16. So, when Team Anna came to know that Tuesday night’s concessions no longer stood, things were back to square one.
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