Ralegan Siddhi, Maharashtra, Sep 2: A combative Anna Hazare on Friday addressing villagers of his hometown and neighbouring areas asked people to get ready for a long-drawn struggle to achieve a corruption-free India.
In his first public appearance after he was hospitalized following a 12-day-long fast, Hazare said at least thrice: "We have a long way to go".
Most of his 40-minute speech mostly in Marathi and concluded in Hindi, for the benefit of a large number of national electronic media, carried the same salient points that the Gandhian activist had made in his speeches at Ramlila Maidan, the epicentre of his agitation.
Attacking central ministers as 'labaad(cheats), jhoothey(liars)', Hazare told the villagers how he and his team were led through the labyrinth of dialogue by the government and were given short-shrift.
Later addressing mediapersons, Hazare cautioned the government from 'playing around' with Arvind Kejriwal by sending him notice.
"I know he is an honest man. He doesn't seek money nor has he bank balance, just like me. Playing around with Kejriwal is not good. I have seen him from close quarters. If the government does not stop harassing him, our civil society will have to think about other steps. I am being forced to say such things", said Hazare.
"We should support such people (Kejriwal) instead of harassing them."
On his 12-day-long fast, Hazare said, "I never knew much about the people of this country, nor did people know about me. I never imagined the entire people would rise to stand by me. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, rich and poor, all of them stood by me. It is a mystery".
Hazare said; "Sometimes I feel this is God's leela (doing). Like the Bhagwadgita lines 'yada yada hi dharmasya..I believe it is God which made me stand up for the people, it's God which ran the agitation. It was heartening for me to see the youths of the country holding tricolours and chanting Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Inquilab Zindabad and Vande Mataram, just as Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru used to do. They are the hopes for our future".
Hazare said: "The poor in this country are groaning under corruption and pricerise. We have to fight a long battle."
The 74-year-old Gandhian said, he never felt tired while sitting on the 12-day-long fast because he was getting "energy" from the youth standing in front of me. "Rather, after the fast, I began feeling weak when I was no more in front of the youth", he quipped evoking laughter from the mediapersons.
"I don't fear death. I carry life on my palm. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev are my idols, who never felt tired even after seeing the gallows in front of them. To be mentally tired is a big ailment. One should never be mentally tired", said Hazare.
The Gandhian activist stressed on decentralisation of power saying that centralising power at the Centre was giving rise to corruption. He called for giving more powers to Gram Sabhas.
He again urged the youth to keep the flame for the battle for 'second independence' glowing. "Youth power is national power", he said.
Speaking from a raised dais at the Shanti Niketan Krirangan in Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare described the ordeals he had to face from August 16, when he was first arrested, then released and had to stay at the DIG office, and then continue his fast at Ramlila Maidan.
He had a piece of advice for youths. "While wearing 'I am Anna' caps, be careful, you have to build your character likewise and have to practise austerities in life. Without sacrifice, nothing can be achieved. even our independence was achieved after a lot of sacrifices".
