Pune: Doctors have advised Anna Hazare one month’s rest, putting a question mark over his plans to campaign against the Congress in the forthcoming assembly polls in five states.
The activist, admitted to hospital with chest congestion, is also suffering from osteosporosis, a disease of the bones, a doctor said.
“For one week, he is advised complete bed rest. Thereafter, we will re-assess his condition. We have told him he should take rest for one month, not strain himself,” Hazare’s physician Parag Sancheti, also the owner of Sancheti Hospital, told reporters.
Hazare, 74, was rushed to the hospital here from his village Ralegan Siddhi just before midnight Saturday for treatment. Doctors will carry out further tests on his osteoporosis condition before deciding the next course of treatment, Sancheti added.
Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal is expected to call on Hazare in the afternoon to enquire about his health. Sancheti said Hazare would be allowed no visitors, barring his aides and colleagues.
The doctor said the hospital is “bearing the total treatment expenses” for Hazare as it’s a “social service”. Hazare has been suffering from a chest infection due to heavy coughing and congestion over the past couple of weeks, and a minor swelling was noticed in the chest, necessitating hospitalization.
Owing to Hazare’s ill health, a crucial Team Anna core committee slated for Monday and Tuesday was postponed. On Dec 28, Hazare called off his proposed three-day hunger strike in Mumbai for a strong Lokpal on the second day itself due to his health concerns.
The exercise to hold assembly polls in five states — Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Punjab — will begin Jan 28 and end March 3.