Pune:
Veteran anti-graft activist Anna Hazare was admitted to a private hospital in Pune today for medical treatment on the advice of his doctors.
The 74-year-old Gandhian, who had been down with a bout of viral infection over the last few days, is also suffering from severe chest congestion. His doctors said that there were signs of bronchitis. He has been administered antibiotics and undergone tests and his condition is improving, they said.
"There was a lot of congestion in his lungs, he had bronchial issues. His health was better this morning. The chest infection needs to be cleared and he also needs a lot of rest," Dr K H Sancheti, who examined Mr Hazare said.
"The members of his team are responsible for ill-health of Anna Hazarre. I had said that health is wealth. Our good wishes are with Anna
ji, we wish him fast recovery. The country needs him," said RJD chief Lalu Yadav.
The social activist has been suffering from a chest infection due to heavy coughing and congestion for the past few days. A minor swelling was noticed in his chest, necessitating hospitalisation.
His condition, in fact, started aggravating towards the end of the first day of his three-day fast that began on December 27 at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai. The hunger strike was called off the very next day with Mr Hazare's aides citing his poor health as the reason for the end to the fast. Doctors who had attended on the septuagenarian had also "strongly" advised him to call off his fast, citing a potential threat to his kidneys.
He later headed to his hometown Ralegan Siddhi from where he was shifted to the hospital today after medical examination showed that he was suffering from a chest infection.
"Sancheti examined Hazare today (Sunday) morning and has advised him to remain in hospital at least for another two-three days. He has been advised complete rest for another week or 10 days," Mr Hazare's associate said.
Dr Sancheti had earlier said that Mr Hazare needed to get an X-ray done on his chest and undergo other medical investigations in the hospital.
According to him, necessary precautions will have to be taken to ensure that the activist's condition did not develop into pneumonia.
Mr Hazare's personal physician Dr Daulat Pote had said on Thursday that the Gandhian was still suffering from weakness owing to a viral infection and had been advised complete rest for at least four days.
Meanwhile, the core committee meeting of Team Anna scheduled for January 2-3 has also been postponed following the ill-health of Mr Hazare, his aide said on Saturday.
"Anna's fever has come down, but his blood pressure is not normal and he is feeling weak. We were advised that he should not talk much and hence we have postponed the meeting," Mr Hazare's close associate Allaudin Sheikh said.
The fresh dates of the meeting will be announced later.
Team Anna was to meet at Mr Hazare's native village Ralegan Siddhi to discuss the future strategy on the Jan Lokpal Bill and campaigning in the five poll-bound states.
"The meeting has been postponed only as a precautionary measure," De Pote had said.
Mr Hazare had on Wednesday suddenly called off his three-day fast for a strong Lokpal due to his poor health.
"He is not well and needs rest. When he will be fine, the meeting will take place," Team Member Kiran Bedi told reporters in New Delhi
(With agency inputs)