Hazare may not attend Delhi meeting

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare might not attend a meeting of the core committee of the India Against Corruption (IAC) in New Delhi on Saturday, sources close to him told The Hindu.

In his latest blogpost, Mr. Hazare said that he had decided to go on with his ‘maun vrat' (vow of silence) owing to his poor health.

Crucial meet

The committee is meeting for the first time after Team Anna faced several setbacks. The recent developments in Team Anna — the physical attack on lawyer Prashant Bhushan over his remarks on a plebiscite in Kashmir; allegations of misconduct by overcharging travel bills on the former IPS officer, Kiran Bedi; the resignation of team members Rajendra Singh and P.V. Rajagopal over the increasing political nature of the movement; and Swami Agnivesh's remarks on the “non- transparency” of the IAC's funds — make this meeting crucial for the movement.

The sources said Mr. Hazare would send a letter to all the committee members, giving them directions for the meeting.

In the latest blogpost, Mr. Hazare said: “My health still doesn't permit me to give up my ‘maun vrat'….It helps me heal my body from within and outside. Verbal communication with people is an exertion for me leaving me very weak. Hence keeping my physical condition in mind, I have taken the decision to go on with ‘maun vrat'.”

He said there was still some swelling on his feet and he had troubles with his knee.

Mr. Hazare has been on ‘maun vrat' since October 16.