Ailing Anna gives call for final battle

Anna Hazare today faced a low turnout as he launched his three-day fast against a "weak" Lok Pal Bill asking people to be ready for an 'aar paar ki ladai' (fight to finish) to stamp out corruption and ensure that "goondas" do not enter Parliament.

Seventy-four-year-old Hazare, who sought to sidestep the appeal of his close aides to stop fast due to his health condition, said people will one day teach the government a lesson for the "betrayal" on the Lokpal issue.

In contrast to the impressive gathering at his three protests in Delhi earlier, the numbers were not upto expectations at the MMRDA ground.

Hazare repeated his threat to undertake a tour of five-poll bound states, including Uttar Pradesh, and said he will campaign against the government and do the same when General Elections are announced.

"Humko thay karna hain, aar yaa paar? (We have to decide, this side or that side). Whatever we should do, we should do. We should be ready to go to jail," Hazare told his supporters after starting his fast at 12:30 pm.

Hazare, who is suffering from a viral infection, reached the venue after a two-and-a-half-hour long drive from the guest house where he was staying. In between, he also paid respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Juhu Beach.

"Elections have been announced in five states. You and me have to decide whether this betrayal should continue. I will campaign against the government in the five states," he said.

Emphasising that Parliament should retain its dignity, he claimed that 150 MPs in the House were criminals and if there is a Right to Reject provision, they will not get entry into the "sacred temple of democracy".

"Today, goondas and criminals are entering politics...If we have Right to Reject, goondas will not enter this sacred temple (Parliament and Assemblies). We have to ensure that our lawmaking bodies remain sacred," he said.