NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare is on an indefinite hunger strike and not a fast-unto-death, his associate Kiran Bedi said on Thursday.
“As long as he can fast, he’ll continue the fast. But the moment Dr Naresh Trehan’s team is of the view that he needs medical attention, he will get medical attention because the object is that it is an indefinite fast and not a fast-unto- death,” she said.
While indicating that there will be no confrontation with government over the issue of providing medical attention to the Gandhian, Bedi said they do not view the agreement over Hazare’s agitation as a victory for one side and defeat for the other.
“He will fast as long as he can sustain it, he will fast as long as there is no threat to his life,” she said, adding the protest by Hazare was not just a fast but also a dharna.
She said the issue was linked with Hazare’s health and that was why government doctors and physicians of their choice – a team of doctors monitored by Trehan – will monitor his health.
“His health cannot be allowed to deteriorate,” she said. Asked whether they saw the government climbdown as a victory of the civil society, she said, “It is all about finding a middle path. We heard them, they heard us and finally that was the way to begin.”
Judiciary under Lokpal: Team Anna Hazare on Thursday indicated that it may not insist on the judiciary being brought under the ambit of the Lokpal if the govt brings out a “good” Judicial Accountability Bill.
RTI activist and team Hazare member Arvind Kejriwal also said if Anna Hazare is forcibly taken away from the Ramlila Maidan on the grounds of ill-health then the Gandhian would even stop drinking water.
“PM has to be within the ambit of the Lokpal. As far as the judiciary is concerned, if a good Judicial Accountability bill can be brought along with the Jan Lokpal Bill then we are open to it,” he told reporters outside Tihar jail.
He said it is not necessary that the fast will continue for 15 days. It depends on how the government responds to the demands put before it, he said. (PTI)