By IANS,
Ralegan-Siddhi (Maharashtra)/New Delhi : Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has cancelled his scheduled visit to Ralegan-Siddhi to meet anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare who is on an indefinite hunger strike, an aide said Thursday.
“Arvind Kejriwal sent a message that he cannot come today (Thursday) owing to ill-health, but will send some of his party officials to meet Hazare. He is expected to come as soon as he feels better,” the aide told IANS.
On the third day of his indefinite hunger agitation, 76-year old Hazare appeared cheerful as he interacted with visitors and volunteers at the fast venue.
Arvind Kejriwal said Thursday that due to ill health he will not be able to meet Anna Hazare.
“I wanted to go and meet Anna today (Thursday) but fell ill last nite. Running with very high fever. But my heart is at Ralegan,” Arvind Kejriwal wrote on his twitter handle.
Party leaders Kumar Vishwas, Gopal Rai and Sanjay Singh have left New Delhi for Ralegan Siddhi.
“Will talk to Anna on phone when they reach there,” added Kejriwal.
A party member told IANS in Delhi that Arvind Kejriwal had “102 degrees fever Wednesday night”.
“Though the fever has gone down but he has been advised to take rest, so he had to cancel his visit.”
Kejriwal, fresh from a knock-out performance of AAP candidates in the Delhi assembly elections, was earlier expected to meet Hazare Thursday and support his hunger strike to press for the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Social worker Medha Patkar Thursday called on Anna Hazare and expressed her support to his agitation.
Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi met him Wednesday and is likely to join Anna Hazare’s fast from Saturday, to press for bringing the Jan Lokpal Bill in the ongoing winter session of parliament, the aide said.
“The people of this country have conveyed a very clear message in the recent assembly elections to the UPA. They have chosen to elect corruption-free alternative like Aam Aadmi Party due to the massive awareness created by Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement since 2011,” Bedi had said, demanding immediate passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill.