Anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s 3-day fast ended abruptly on the second day today as he agreed to the request of the doctors to give up the protest in view of his deteriorating health.

Withdrawing his fast, Anna however threatened to take the struggle forward till a strong Lok Pal Act comes into force.

Anna and his team began the 3-day fast at the sprawling MMRDA grounds in Mumbai on Tuesday but the 74-year old Gandhian began losing weight resulting in an increased concern over his failing health.

Anna Team members appealed to him to give up the fast on the first day itself but the old man refused to call off his protest. Today a group of people strongly appealed to him to end the fast following which he withdrew the protest.

Earlier, Anna’s personal physician D.G. Pote ruled out the need to shift him to a hospital saying the old man lost weight due to his illness and fasting. “Anna has lost 1.5 kg in the last 5 days but his other parameters are normal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fasting venue wore a deserted look with only security personnel, journalists and a handful of Team Anna activists being seen moving there. In Delhi and Hyderabad too, Anna followers failed to attract crowds for the protest as in earlier days. (JUBS)