Renowned social worker Anna Hazare’s health deteriorated as his fast pressing for the immediate appointment of Lokpal at the Centre, Lokayuktas in various States and other demands, entered the fifth day on Sunday.

On a day when he declared that he would not break his fast till the Centre appoints Lok Pal, doctors attending on Hazare said that he had lost 3.5 kg of weight ever since he began his fast on Wednesday last. He began to suffer from uneasiness because of the increase in blood pressure, while the laboratory  reports showed substantial increase of ketone levels in  his blood and urine.

“If he continues his fast for a few more days, it will affect his kidney and brain, “a senior doctor who examined Hazare a few times during the day said.

There is a lot of anxiety among the people of Ralegan-Siddhi village in Ahmedangar district of western Maharashtra, where Hazare is fasting. A Government team of doctors has landed at Ralegan-Siddhi to keep a watch on Hazare’s deteriorating health.

Talking to media persons at Ralegan-Siddhi,  Hazare said he would not call off his fast till the Centre appointed Lok Pal. “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is ready to appoint Lokayukta. But till the Centre appoints Lok Pal, I will not break my fast. If the Centre does not accept my demand, I will return my Padma Bhusan,” Hazare said. 

Eight one-year-old Hazare began his indefinite fast on January 30 to demand among other things the immediate appointment of Lok Pal at the Centre and Loksyutkas in various States. His other demands are the implementation of of the Swaminathan Commission’s report on farmers”, one-and-half times of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agriculture produce, total loan waiver for farmers and monthly pension of at least Rs 5,000 to every farmer in the country.

In a related development, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray charged that the State Government was ignoring the fast undertaken by Hazare and asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take cognisance of the ongoing agitation by the social activist. “The life of Anna is crucial. Please don’t play with his life,” Uddhav told the BJP-led Governments in the state and at the Centre.

“Anna Hazare’s fast is against corruption. Corruption is a national problem. Instead of undertaking fast, Anna should have taken to streets and woken up the conscience of people across the country,” Uddhav said.