With the Rajya Sabha passing the Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare announced that he would put an end to his indefinite fast on the ninth day, Wednesday, if the Lok Sabha also passes the bill on that day.
Ralegan Siddhi celebrated the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha with sloganeering, students’ rally and firecrackers.
Hazare said it was the victory of the people of the country and the bill was passed because it was the demand of the people. He said the bill would make people of the country experience the real meaning of freedom and democracy. Hazare said that even though the bill would not put an end to corruption, it would curb it by at least 40 to 50 per cent.
He said he would continue his fight for bringing about laws concerning right to reject, right to recall and giving authority to gram sabhas. These laws, if brought as early as possible, would bring down corruption by 85 per cent. Corruption was deeply rooted in the minds of the people and all these laws can bring it down, he added.
When Rajya Sabha started discussing the bill, Anna watched the process on a small television on the dais. Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, former Chief of Army Staff VK Singh, archivists Vishwambhar Choudhari, Datta Awari, Ganaptrao Auti and Suresh Pathare were also present on the dais.
Around 500 enthusiasts, including 100 women, were sitting patiently in the pandal listening to the debate on the bill. After the main speeches by law minister Kapil Sibal and leader of opposition Arun Jaitley and a few other speeches, patriotic songs were presented by Shahir Santosh Salunkhe and his accompanists.
Anna declared that the passage of the Lokpal Bill was not a match-fixing between himself and the Congress.
The villagers expressed joy with firecrackers. The schoolchildren took out a rally.
Hazare will break fast with juice
When asked as to what he would like to eat after nine days’ fast if the Lok Sabha passes the bill on Wednesday, Anna replied, “I have not eaten anything for the last eight days and my stomach can get problems if I eat solid food immediately. I will have to drink for a day or two. Drink means not that... I will have to be on liquid diet and have juice for a day or two. Afterwords, I would start solid food, which is the usual chapati and bhaji.”
Crusader loses another 200 gm weight
Anna’s health deteriorated further with loss of 200 gm in weight over the last 24 hours. His ketone level increased to between 3 and 4 instead of 3. Doctors announced that even though other parameters are stable, since ketone level has increased, they would go for another check-up in the late evening. Doctors said that in addition to temporary ICU room at Yadavbaba Temple, one ICU room at Dhariwal Hospital in Shirur, one room at Sassoon Hospital and one ICU room at Ruby Hall Clinic have been kept ready for meeting any emergencies.
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