New Delhi, Aug. 24 : Civil society activist Anna Hazare''s health is poor, but his spirit is keeping his medical situation under control, said Dr. Naresh Trehan, the head of Gurgaon''s Medicity Hospital and the leader of medical team monitoring his health on a round-the-clock basis.

“Mr. Hazare’s sugar level has reached 102 and he again has refused to be put on a drip today morning. His condition needs medical attention, but his firm spirit has kept the situation in control till now,” said Dr Trehan.

The anti-graft crusadet has lost six kilograms in weight since he began his fast on August 16. Traces of ketone have also been found in his blood.

Doctors have warned that his condition will worsen if he continues to refuse to be put on an IV drip.

Last evening, Hazare, 74, refused to be taken to hospital or be put on IV drip. In fact, Anna told his supporters to form a human chain in case government officials tried to take him away forcefully from the Ramlila grounds.

Meanwhile, members of Team Anna are having a second meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other senior UPA ministers, though not much headway has been made at present.

“The three main sticky issues were the Citizen''s Charter, the inclusion of lower bureaucracy and the setting up of state Lokayuktas,” said Arvind Kejriwal.

The government is expected to respond to Team Anna in the next few hours over all issues.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Varun Gandhi and social activist Aruna Roy have met Hazare and interacted with his supporters at the Ramlila grounds.

“I am here to support this cause as a citizen of this country,” said Varun Gandhi.

Security continues to remain tight at the grounds, as tens of thousands of people continue to pour in to express support for Hazare.

Hazare''s campaign has found resonance with millions of Indians, particularly the middle class, which is tired of endemic bribery and a series of corruption scandals that has the top politicians and businessmen embroiled in it.

Supporters are demanding for the swift passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill (civil society’s version of Ombudsman bill) in the Parliament for which Hazare has been crusading since April this year.

The federal government had appointed the joint drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill (Ombudsman bill) in April 2011, after Hazare had gone on an anti-graft hunger strike in New Delhi, drawing support from millions of Indians.

Though the legislation was presented before the Parliament in early August, civil society activists slammed the draft version as ‘toothless’ as the Prime Minister, judges and the lawmakers were kept out of its ambit.
(ANI)