Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast entered third day Tuesday with the activist regretting the attack on media by his supporters and warned that he will call off his fast if they again indulge in violence. Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who is also fasting, apologized for the misbehavior with media but sought to blame media house owners, saying they have to decide whether they are with the country or with corrupt people.

Before Hazare and his close aides took the dais, some supporters shouted slogans against the media. A scuffle broke out between Team Anna supporters and media persons last night at Jantar Mantar, where Hazare is on an indefinite fast. Team Anna member Shanti Bhushan’s allegation that media was not projecting the protest in right light allegedly led to the brawl.

Broadcast Editors’ Association (BEA) had condemned the incident and demanded an apology from Team Anna. Regretting the attack on media, Hazare told his supporters this morning that he “felt sad” after hearing about the attack on media accusing them of not giving proper coverage to the indefinite fast on corruption issues.

“If you indulge in violence, remember that the government can crush us in two days. They have the strength and laws to do that.

In future, if these things happen again, at that moment I will call off this agitation. I don’t approve of this.
Let media do their work.

Don’t bother about what they do,” he said. He said if the media coverage is not the right way, they should not blame media but should introspect and see if there is any problem with the activists that such reports are coming.

Kejriwal, Rai advised hospitalisation
Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Gopal Rai, who have been fasting since July 25, were on Tuesday advised hospitalisation following their deteriorating health but both rejected the doctors’ suggestions.

After the routine medical check-up of the four fasting leaders, doctors from Team Anna’s medical team along with their colleagues from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said Kejriwal and Rai were not in a good condition.

“Condition of Anna Hazare and Manish Sisodia is stable but Kejriwal and Rai should get hospitalised,” a doctor announced from the podium at Jantar Mantar. Rai had been throwing up since Monday night and his pulse rate was very low while Kejriwal, who is diabetic, was also not keeping well.

However, Kejriwal and Rai said refused to be either hospitalised or to take medicines. “We are here to sacrifice our lives for our nation. Not to get admitted in hospital.

Doctors are asking us to get hospitalised but we want to tell them that we are still powerful enough to kick off the government. And if government will try to interrupt, it will have to pay,” said Kejriwal.