New Delhi: On the sixth day of his hunger strike, social activist Anna Hazare Sunday vowed to continue his protest to maintain pressure on the government till parliament passes the civil society's version of an anti-graft bill.
"The government does not have good intentions. Their intentions to curb corruption are bad. The government deceived us," the 74-year-old activist said.
He asked his supporters to be ready for a bigger revolution if the government failed to pass the version of the Lokpal bill he and his aides want.
"I request all you that if the government doesn't pass the bill, there will be a movement in the country never seen before," he thundered.
He said the government had "betrayed" him and his team members over the bill they wanted the government to pass to curb rampant corruption.
"If you cannot get the bill, I ask you to leave the chair," he said, amid a huge applause.
Hazare spent the sixth day of his fast at the Ramlila Maidan, a sprawling public ground in the capital, with thousands of his supporters gathering to cheer him up.
New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called for "give and take" on the Lokpal bill, activist Anna Hazare Sunday said he was open for a dialogue but refused to give up his fast till parliament passes an anti-corruption bill framed by civil society activists.
"The path of negotiations is not closed for us. It is still open. Only through dialogue can issues be resolved," the 74-year-old told crowds that packed the spacious Ramlila ground here on the sixth days of his hunger strike in support of an effective anti-corruption legislation.
"Politicians are our own people. But after getting elected they forget that they are servants of the people, who are the real masters. We chose them to represent us, and not do what they wanted. But they have turned traitors. So this movement has become necessary," he said.
"Hold talks how much ever you want to. But we will not budge from the Jan Lokpal," he asserted, drawing huge applause from the thousands gathered at the Ramlila ground in the heart of the city.
Hazare's reference is to the civil society version of Lokpal Bill that they say is a far better version than the government-sponsored Lokpal Bill which keeps the prime minister, the judiciary and the mass of government employees out of its ambit.
Looking as energetic as ever despite six days of fasting, the Gandhian declared the time had come for people to demonstrate before the residences of MPs across the country to press them to pass the civil society-drafted Jan Lokpal bill.
Hazare drew a parallel to Dusshera festival that takes place annually at Ramlila Ground and said corruption was the present day Ravan, which had to be destroyed.
He said the anti-corruption protest had the backing of all religious groups.
"Here it is happening without bloodbath or causing inconvenience to the general public. This is non-violent and there is a lesson in this movement for the world at large."
Meanwhile, activists of India Against Corruption group told IANS Sunday that Hazare's health was stable.
The volunteer added that a meeting of Hazare and his close aides was held in the morning but the subject discussed was not known.
Hazare began his indefinite fast Aug 16 soon after his detention while he was proceeding to the J.P. Park.
The same day he was taken to Tihar Jail, where he remained until Friday when he shifted to the Ramlila Ground.
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