New Delhi: Even as the Government is trying hard to come up with a Lokpal Bill draft that will satisfy Anna Hazare and his associates, the 74-year-old social activist is continuing with his protest fast for a strong anti-corruption legislation. Hazare's hunger strike entered its ninth day on August 24 and he has announced that he will continue his fast for nine more days if the Government does not concede to all his demands.
Several eminent people including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have appealed to Hazare to break his fast as his health has been deteriorating. But Hazare and his close associates - Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan - are adamant that he will continue his fast until and unless the Government tables the Jan Lokpal Bill prepared by them in Parliament and ensure that it is passed.
Some close associates of Hazare like Justice Santosh Hegde and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar have, however, said that he should end his fast. But Kejriwal, Bedi and Bhushan have taken a hardline stand.
While the Government tries to wriggle out of the mess and Hazare's health deteriorates, his associates are aware that they too can't allow him to carry on with his fast for a longer duration because if something happens to him, the peaceful agitation might spill out of control and become a free-for-all.
In one of her tweets Kiran Bedi said that Team Anna is running out of time.
Hazare is also aware that the Government has been forced to come to the talking table because his agitation has been peaceful and he has appealed to his supporters not to indulge in any violent act. And his associates know that Hazare is the face of the agitation and it is his simplicity and clean image that has been the rallying point for the people.
If Hazare were to be hospitalised or forced to break his fast because of his health, the movement would lose its momentum and give the Government a breathing space.
But with doctors already advising that Hazare needs to be hospitalised or at least be administer intravenous drip, the time frame to arrive at a common Lokpal Bill draft is shrinking.
Hazare's protest for a corruption-free India has struck a chord across India and people have come out in large numbers in his support forcing the Government to engage once again with Team Anna.
As his team brainstorms with the Government over the contentious issues, India hopes that the agitation launched by Hazare is able to achieve its goal even though all may not agree with his version of the anti-corruption legislation and its effectiveness.
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