All parties want media in Lokpal

The all-party meet held in view of the Anna crisis on Wednesday took a hard look at the media and suggested that the media should also be brought under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. The meet also discussed the contentious issue of “paid news“, and felt that the media should also be held accountable.

The meeting also resolved to provide “due consideration to the Jan Lokpal Bill“ and urged Mr Anna Hazare to “end his fast.“

Though the main Opposition BJP agreed for a “strong Lokpal Bill,“ it, however, suggested “safeguards while including the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal Bill“. The meeting was also unanimous in keeping the judiciary out of the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.

It was also felt that an assurance should be given to Mr Hazare that the government was “seriously considering the Jan Lokpal Bill and request him to end the fast“.

The meeting also suggested that Parliament must also have the authority to “impeach Lokpal“ if so needed. As for the parliamentarians, the meet viewed that any act of corruption outside Parliament can be dealt with the anti-corruption agencies, but any such act inside Parliament must not be brought under Lokpal. By the ninth day of his fast on Wednesday, Anna Hazare has dropped eight kilos in weight. His blood and urine samples are showing up ketone particles, which are created by the body during starvation, and are meant to provide an alternative source of fuel from fatty acids.

Mr Hazare has been surviving only on water.

The team of doctors attending on him suggested on Tuesday night that he be hospitalised as his condition indicated that his kidney might be affected. But Mr Hazare has stubbornly refused.

“Our team is monitoring his vital statistics round the clock,“ said Dr Naresh Trehan of Medanta Medicity, who heads the medical team keeping an eye on Mr Hazare's health.

The doctors were surprised at the stamina of the 74-year-old social activist.

“In normal cases a human being can hardly survive three weeks only on water. Considering Mr Hazare's age, he has shown strength. Apart from the physical stamina, the mental condition of the person also needs to be strong in th event of a long long fast,“ said Dr Balram Gupta.

However, doctors said that lack of essential elements in the body can affect the vital organs like kidney, heart and eyes, and the person fasting can permanently lose his a vital organ.

Even when Mr Hazare breaks his fast, it will be a fairly long process to get him back to normal through monitored feeding.

“He can't suddenly have a feast. A substantial meal right after a long fast can cause damage to the heart, resulting in a heart attack. The best way to break a protracted fast is to provide him sugarcane juice not exceeding 350 calories.

Then it will take some days to recover from weakness,“ Dr Gupta added.