Hazare 'extremely weak' on 8th day of hunger strike

On the eight day of his indefinite hunger strike, veteran social activist Anna Hazare "is feeling extremely weak", and  has lost 4.70 kg weight, an aide said here Tuesday.

"His health condition is worsening with the weight loss and the creatinine level crossing the normal levels and measured at 4-plus today (Tuesday), and the blood pressure was 142/82," Suresh Pathare told IANS shortly after Hazare's daily medical check-up Tuesday.

As a precautionary measure, the state government has converted one chamber inside the nearby Yadavbaba temple into a full-fledged intensive care unit as the 76-year-old leader has refused to call off his hunger strike till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by  parliament.

However, Pathare said, as of now, there was no proposal to shift Hazare to the make-shift ICU, which is adjacent to the fast venue, though the attendant medical team was on high alert to tackle any eventuality.

The Lokpal bill was expected to come up in the Rajya Sabha Monday, but was held over after the house was adjourned for the day following the demise of union Labour Minister Sis Ram Ola.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath assured members that if required the winter session of parliament would be extended to ensure passage of the bill.

Meanwhile, thousands of people from different walks continued to pour in at Ralegan-Siddhi from Maharashtra, Karnataka and other parts of the country to express solidarity with Hazare.

Under the Jantantra Morcha banner, Hazare started his indefinite hunger strike Dec 10 and declared that he would continue till the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by parliament.