Hazare to continue fast till all demands are met

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Amid hectic efforts to break the
deadlock over Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Wednesday remained
stiff on three issues on which his team has differences with
Indian government and said he will continue his fast till all
demands are met.
As his indefinite hunger strike demanding a strong Lokpal
Bill entered the ninth day, Hazare said the government has no
intention to eradicate corruption even today and it is not
honest in its effort in this regard.
Team Anna and government's chief interlocutor Pranab
Mukherjee Tuesday did not reach an agreement on three
"sticky" issues -- citizen's charter, inclusion of lower
bureaucracy and setting up of Lokayukta in state through
Lokpal.
"Yesterday, the government agreed to our demands but kept
a decision pending on three issues," a frail-looking Hazare
told the gathering at Ramlila Maidan where he is sitting on
fast.
"If the demands are not met, I have decided that I will
fight till my last breath," he said.
"From village to mantralaya, everyone should be brought
under Lokpal," the 74-year-old Gandhian said, adding "it has
become very difficult for the poor to avail any service since
the chain of corruption went from bottom to top."
He said from getting a ration card, kerosene and health
services, nothing can be done without paying a bribe. "This
chain has to be broken," he said.
Team Anna has been demanding that the whole bureaucracy
should be brought under the ambit of Lokpal while the
government is of the view that only officers above the level
of Under Secretary should come within its purview.
On the demand for citizen's charter, Hazare said
government offices should display a board which gives details
about the officers and what services will be available there.
"It should specify in how many days you will get the
service you seek. If any officer fails to provide the service
in the time specified by the charter, he can be punished by
Lokpal. It does not end here, Lokpal should also have powers
to dismiss him," he said.
Claiming that elected representatives and government
employees were hand-in-glove in corruption, he said there was
a need for a citizen's charter so that erring officials can be
punished.
Hazare said he would not go back on the demand for
ensuring the setting of Lokayukta at state-level along with
Lokpal at the centre.
Meanwhile, concerns mounted over Hazare's health after he
refused doctors' advice to be be put on an intravenous drip
once again this morning even though he has increased his
intake of fluid.
The 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader has lost another
200 grams in the past 24 hours with his weight settling at
66.2 kg. He was 72 kg before he began his fast on August 16.
His blood pressure was recorded at 104/86 while blood
sugar was 106 and pulse rate 82.
"After his intake of fluid was increased, his health has
stabilised. We have put the team of doctors on full alert. We
are keeping a strict vigil on his health," Dr Naresh Trehan
told reporters at the Ramlila Ground after examining him.
Trehan, who along with his team is monitoring Hazare's
health, said the Gandhian's water intake has been increased
after he refused to be put on IV drips.
He said the doctors had asked Hazare to cooperate with
them and take IV drip but he refused, saying his "inner
conscience" does not allow him to do so.