New Delhi: The Manmohan Singh government heaved a sigh of relief on Wednesday, when Anna Hazare ended his fast on day 2 on the advice of his doctors amid growing concerns over his health. Anna also called off the 3-day 'jail bharo' movement that was to begin on Friday. But his plans to tour all 5 poll-bound states remain unchanged.
After riding the crest of popularity in August, the man who reveled in the media glare struggled to take some tough questions on low turnout and political leaning that came his way on Thursday.
When asked why the anti-corruption campaign was completely focused on the UPA, leaving BJP out of its glare, Anna refused to answer and walked out, leaving Arvind Kejriwal to face the brunt alone. The Team Anna member struggled to answer the question.
Kejriwal even put up some vague defence on why the protest could not attract crowds as much as it did in August. He said the buses were being stopped at Bandra and Kurla stations and were not being allowed to ply to venue.
"We have come to know that people are being stopped at Bandra station."
"Despite the government's efforts people are coming," he said.
Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan, meanwhile, stuck to his guns and said that the fast was not a mistake.
"No, no it was not a mistake at all. The fact that we had to call off the fast and the Jail Bharo is unfortunate. But Anna fell ill," he said.
"But it was not a mistake at all. The mere fact that Parliament was discussing this Bill does not mean people should not put pressure. If this fast hadn't happened, this issue wouldn't have come onto the centrestage," he added.
Low turnout clearly seems to have flustered Anna and his team. It seems the Jail Bharo agitation has been called off fearing another embarrassment.
Anna had once said, "This agitation will go on for 10-15 years more… till your dying breath… it will not end." However, the absence of crowds at MMRDA has clearly baffled the anti-corruption crusaders.
Team Anna is now left with only one option - that of reassessing its strategy, not to mention having to face a very uncomfortable question: has the movement run its course?
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