Mumbai, Dec 27: Addressing thousands of supporters on the first day of his 3-day fast at the sprawling MMRDA grounds here, Gandhian Anna Hazare today blamed the Centre for “deceiving” his team on the issue of Lokpal Bill and vowed to campaign against the government (read Congress) in the forthcoming assembly elections in the five states of UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.
A weak looking Hazare, energetic nonetheless, told his supporters that he would try to show the government “the might of the people”.
Anna Hazare reiterated that he was willing to “give his life” for the nation. “I have spent 26 years of my life fighting corruption. And I am ready to lay my life for the nation”.
“Had lakhs of Indians including Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar and Sukhdev, not sacrificed their lives, this country would not have won independence. Today that time has come to give sacrifice to save that independence”, said the septuagenarian social activist.
“I got the inspiration to live from country at the age of 26 from Swami Vivekananda. It was then that I decided never to marry. I have three brothers in my village, but I do not know even the names of their children, because for me the whole of India is my family now”, said Hazare.
The Gandhian repeated his favourite Bollywood theme song “Dil Diya Hai Jaan Bhi Denge, Ai Vatan Tere Liye”.
Hazare said, Swami Ramdev has promised him to join him at the fast venue in the next two days.
He also raised the issue of Right to Reject, saying that the voters much be given the right to reject all candidates, if none of them come up to his/her choice. This will deter criminals and goondas from contesting elections.
Today at least 150 persons with criminal background are in Parliament, he said.
“I am not afraid of death. I stay in a temple, I have only by dinner plate and a bed to sleep on. That's it. I haven't saved any money”, said Hazare.
“I sat on fast for 12 days at Ramlila Maidan, but the government deceived us. This deceit is not only against Anna or Team Anna, it's against the people of the nation”, he said.
The people of India will one day teach this government for deceiving them on the issue of Lokpal, said Hazare.
The Gandhian leader said, he and his supporters have a long battle to fight, not only on the issue of Lokpal, but also on the issues of Right to Reject and giving more powers to gram sabhas.
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