Many protesters fall ill

Doctors,who are closely monitoring the condition of those who are on hunger strike,said some of them were suffering from ailments. “Many are suffering from dehydration. They have not had a morsel of food for five days. Although they are having water,their water intake is still not enough to sustain them. Their blood pressure is low and some of them have fever,” said Dr Kalpana Kamani,who is one of the many doctors monitoring those on fast.

Dr Kamani said the fasting protesters have refused to take tablets. “They do not want to break their fast by taking tablets for their ailments. If their fever is not coming down,we will give them injections.”

Jharkhand resident Vijaykumar Tiwari (74) refused to eat until their demands are met. “I have not been having a morsel of food for the past five days. I survived only on water.I will continue to fast until our demands are met,” said Tiwari.

Tiwari,who had earlier suffered heart attack,said he was a Gandhian and followed the principles of the Mahatma. Organisers said there are three 18-year-old activists who have gone on hunger strike.

While the movement may have been popularised as the middle class’ crusade against corruption,the past five days have seen some among the poor coming to the forefront and pledging their support. Thirty three-year-old Ramsaran Gupta,who works as a labourer in a tiles and marble laying unit in Matunga,spend around Rs 700 everyday since Wednesday for buying ginger candies and peppermint. She then distributes them to the masses that throng Azad Maidan. Accompanying him is his eight-year-old daughter Komal.

“On Tuesday I realised that people were losing their voice after shouting slogans. I then decided to distribute peppermint candies among them. I purchase around 12 kg every day. I have so far spent around Rs 3000. On the days when I have work,I earn around Rs 500 a day. I have sacrificed six days’ earnings to show my support,” said Gupta.

Similarly,Sharad Kumbhar who works in a shop selling spices in Crawford market,bought 2,500 postcards from the General Post Office and distributed them,urging people to write messages on them and send to the Prime Minister’s office. “I’m illiterate and I have not read the Jan Lokpal Bill. If Anna is endorsing it,it must be right.”

The number of protesters gathered at Azad Maidan remained relatively constant according to police estimates.

Meanwhile,the Jan Lokpal train ferried people from Borivali to Churchgate to help bring in more protesters to Azad Maidan. Mayank Gandhi,Mumbai co-ordinator of India Against Corruption said the number of protesters will increase. “Our numbers will not dwindle. The numbers show that India is against corruption,” said Gandhi.

A massive rally has been planned on Sunday from Bandra (West) and Santacruz (West).