It was an emotional and worried Ralegan Siddhi, which bid a tearful farewell to veteran the Gandhian on Monday as he left his village for Mumbai.
It was an emotional and worried Ralegan Siddhi, which bid a tearful farewell to veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare on Monday as he left his village for Mumbai for his three-day fast starting today.
Many village elders, while talking to DNA, expressed fear that the 74-year-old anti-graft crusader might extend his three-day fast to coerce the government for a strong Lokpal Bill. This fear was compounded by the fact that Hazare was suffering from a bout of cough and cold which had left him weak.
PM Satpute, the ex-sarpanch of the adjoining village of Pimplenar told DNA that like many it was Hazare’s frail health that concerned him. “While addressing the Gram Sabha on Sunday, Anna was in pain while talking. This shows how weak he is. This fast has worried us no end,” he lamented.
It was the manner of Hazare’s speaking and his selection of words, which had many in the village worried. “While speaking about his fast, Anna was stopping often and he had a very perplexed look on his face. From his body language, it seemed he has embarked on a do or die mission. In order to exert pressure on the government, he might continue his fast beyond three days and continue fasting in New Delhi,” said a few village elders, expressing their apprehension.
After the Gram Shabha on Sunday, many villagers, including Anna’s younger brother Maruti Hazare, spent a sleepless night. Kaushalya Hazare, the daughter-in-law of the house stated, “The cold and cough has left Anna weak and despite that he would be fasting, for three days. Since morning, we are shedding tears and have sent out our prayers for his safety.”
When the time came for Anna to leave the village, elderly women could hardly control their tears, while conducting the customary “aarti” for Anna’s welfare.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}