Though doctors on Saturday claimed that the fasting Anna Hazare had lost seven kilos in weight, the crusader looked fairly fit and also claimed that he could still “walk for three kilometres”. Despite his 12-day fast, he kept swinging
and clapping to the songs and the beat of a drum. RJD chieftain Lalu Yadav, while addressing the Lok Sabha, seemed to have noticed this and ventured to say, “We need to learn from Annaji, how at the age of 74 he could continue to fast for 12 days and speak relentlessly.” He added: “We must find out from the doctors.”
There was talk in some sections that Mr Hazare may have been receiving prtoeins and other essentials in the water he was drinking but this was dismissed by Mr Hazare’s supporters.
A carnival atmosphere prevailed at the Ramlila Maidan over the last 12 days. Actors, WWF wrestlers, item girls and management gurus thronged the ground in support of Mr Hazare. On Saturday, the crowd saw Aamir Khan, director Raju Hirani, singer Sonu Nigam and WWF wrestler Khali sharing the dais with the crusader. To counter charges that this fast was sponsored by Hindutva forces, Mr Hazare also wore a Ramzan cap with Aamir Khan smiling and clapping.
Aamir Khan also belted out the Lagaan song Mitwa as Sonu Nigam sang Vaishnav jan to while blowing kisses to a clapping and swinging Mr Hazare. There were times that the younger supporters, wearing Gandhi caps and with the tricolour painted all over them, broke into bhangras. A “Ramlila masti video” uploaded on YouTube shows the young supporters gyrating. Food was in abundance. Of course, they were supposed to have been “contributions from sympathisers”.