Even though the police maintained that there was a low turnout, the organisers claimed to have fed at least 18,000 people on the first day. They said that 90,000 puris and 500 kg of potatoes were used to feed the supporters.

Even as thousands of Anna supporters heaved a collective sigh of relief as Anna sipped on a glass of lime juice on Wednesday evening, the 74-year-old Gandhian’s body language reflected that he was not in the best of health.

Discouraged by his deteriorating health and the lukewarm response that his protest has drawn, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday called off his three-day fast on its second day, as well as the nationwide “jail bharo” agitation planned from Friday. Team Anna will now concentrate on an “awareness campaign” by touring the five election-bound states, he said, and will intensify its agitation ahead of the 2014 general election.

The first day of Anna Hazare’s three-day fast at MMRDA grounds in Bandra on Tuesday saw a much lower turnout than expected by the outfit India Against Corruption (IAC).
Unmindful of his fever, Mr Hazare started his fast even after being urged by his team to end it, saying that he is “ready to die for the country”.

In a departure from big gains in the past two years, investors saw around Rs 20 lakh crore of their wealth eroded as Indian equities tanked in 2011 because of inflation, high interest rates and the uncertain global growth environment accentuated by the euro zone debt crisis.

Even as Anna Hazare began his fast on Tuesday, his supporters feasted on free meals made available at the venue by an organisation from Rohtak, Haryana. The eatery, named Anna Ki Rasoi, had made provisions to serve at least 50,000 supporters.

At a time when the anti-narcotics cell (ANC) should be working overnight to check drug trafficking in the city, especially in the wake of the New Year celebrations, officers of the unit have been posted on duty for anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s rally instead.

There was wide-ranging support, though low in numbers, for Anna Hazare on Tuesday, from actors like Anupam Kher, villagers from the interiors of Maharastra, a 13-year-old social worker and even a rock band from Gwalior, on the first day of his fast at the MMRDA ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s health seemed to be a cause of concern on the first day of his three-day fast, as the 74-year-old suffered from fever and his temperature shot up to 102 degrees.

Activist Anna Hazare said on Tuesday that yoga guru Baba Ramdev would be joining his agitation for a strong Lokpal Bill.