Anna locks self in room days before big fight

Anna Hazare, who is scheduled to be on a hunger strike for three consecutive days in Mumbai, kept himself in solitary confinement for 32 hours as he was suffering from a serious bout of cough and cold.u00a0So severe was the anti-graft crusader's viral fever that he could not meet a group of 500 workers who visited Ralegansiddhi on Sunday to extend their support for his hunger strike and 'Jail Bharo' agitation.u00a0

Prakash Chavan, the leader of Maharashtra Shramik Mathadi Kamgar Sanghatana who is praying for Hazare's recovery, said, "Anna is fighting for all of us. We are with him in this agitation for passage of an effective Lokpal Bill. We are joining him at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai on January 27 and will also participate in the subsequent 'Jail Bharo Andolan'."

Dr K S Sayyad, who is attending to Hazare, said, "Hazare was unable to speak for a couple of days because of his acute throat problem but he is recovering fast. Fortunately, he does have any major problems such as blood pressure or diabetics. He also needs to take proper rest before he starts his agitation."u00a0

Orthopedic Surgeon Parag Sancheti, who is treating Hazare for his lumber spondylosis, said, "I had suggested Hazare to shift the agitation venue from Delhi to Mumbai because of the severe cold in the national capital."u00a0

Sancheti has prescribed some pain killer tablets and an ointment for massage so that he gets complete relief from back pain before sitting on his three-day hunger strike. "I am aware of the fact that Hazare cannot consume medicines during the fast," he said.u00a0

Expressing deep concern over Hazare's present health condition, Jaisingh Mapari, Sarpanch of Ralegansiddhi, said: "We are planning to keep a doctor to attend to Anna in case of emergency during the agitation. Over a thousand villagers of the total 2,500 shall join Hazare at MMRDA grounds."u00a0Ganesh Jadhav, a village photographer and close aide of Hazare, said that before reaching Mumbai, Hazare is scheduled to visit Alandi, the birth place of 12 th-century sage Sant Dnyaneshwar. "Anna is a strong believer of saint and seeks his blessings before starting his agitations," he said.u00a0

Deepak Bharadia, B B Somani and Sandeep Khardekar, coordinators of India Against Corruption, (IAC), Pune, has planned a peaceful agitation with Jail Bharo. A 3,000 sq ft pandal has been constructed near Bhide Cause Way. More than 1,000 Punekars will be participating in the chain hunger strike, whereas till date 5,000 have enrolled their names for 'Jail Bharo' agitation in Pune alone, said Somani.