Anna’s kin a worried and anxious lot

Even as Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast entered the 11th day on Friday, his younger brother, Maruti, 65, and his family in Ralegan Siddhi, 75 km north of Pune, are a worried lot. Most of them have not slept through the night as they are glued to the television, keeping tab of the latest from New Delhi.

Maruti, a farmer, minces no words in lambasting the government for pushing his eldest brother to the wall. “The government only needs to agree to Anna’s three key demands in writing and he will be able to give up his fast. They can take their own time to deliberate the Bill. At this moment, they are purposely playing with my brother’s life,’’ Maruti said.

Explaining the difficulties of fasting in such a situation, Maruti, who himself fasted for four days said, “I could last only four days without food. It is Anna’s steely determination and willpower which keeps him going. The government is playing with his patience.’’

Kantabai, Maruti’s wife and Anna’s sister-in-law, is also very vocal in her argument. She said, “This government is completely heartless. They do not seem to have a soul. We are all extremely worried about Anna’s health. It is terrible to see him suffer
like this.’’

However, the fiery lady was confident that her brother-in-law would succeed. “Anna has never failed in any of his projects. He is determined and he is stubborn. God will protect him. We are praying continuously for his success and health," Kantabai said.
Maruti’s son Ganesh, a corporal in the Army’s Signal Corps, presently in Ralegan Siddhi on leave, said he was worried for his uncle.

“I am worried about the repercussions of something happening to Anna. There could be violence on the streets and a major law and order problem. The government should have sorted out the issue in three or four days," Ganesh said.