Protest for Lokpal Bill biggest after JP movement: Hazare

“It was a difficult task. The government opens its mouth only when its nose is pressed. I am going to undertake a country wide journey to further intensify the movement of people,” he said.

Hazare said the government agreed to his demands after many “hiccups” and it realised that the fast undertaken by him had evoked a country-wide spontaneous response.

“I am still wondering what made this agitation such a great success. I am a common man without power but it is god’s will that had made me instrumental in achieving what we have achieved for the people frustrated with the rampant corruption in all walks of life,” he said addressing the villagers,who earlier took him in a victory procession to the Yadavbaba temple from where he had launched many of his earlier agitations,including the one for Right to Information (RTI).

Hazare said he had left the village with a vow that he would not return if his fast for the Lokpal Bill passage did not persuade the government to act on his demands.

“It is my resolve to live and die for the cause of people,” said the anti-corruption crusader,who paid respect to a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi on the dais.

He said the menace of corruption was adversely affecting the country’s march on the path of development and the Lokpal Bill would be an instrument to deal with it effectively.

“But only the Lokpal cannot eradicate corruption. I am going to undertake a country-wide tour to mobilise the masses to make the people’s movement stronger,” he added.

The 73-year-old activist who caught the nation’s imagination with his grit and non-violent methods,said,”We have to guard against undesirable elements that could give the movement a bad name. I have taken care to ensure that this stir of people does not assume political colour.”

He said politicians are welcome to sit in the audience but cannot share dais with him.

Earlier,Hazare received a hero’s welcome on his return to his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district on Monday evening to the accompaniment of “Jai Ho” number,two days after he ended his 98-hour fast against corruption.

The social activist was taken in a victory procession in a makeshift ‘Vijay Rath’,as women and children holding tri-colour in their hands marched the streets hailing the feat of their beloved leader who returned home for the first time after ending his fast in New Delhi on Saturday.

Sweets were distributed by people mounted on an elephant,while horses and camels were also lined up in the procession.

Crackers were burst and fireworks lit up the evening sky as the anti-corruption crusader was taken through the streets of his small village,even as the famous ‘Jai Ho’ number accompanied the patriotic music played by the village band.

The whole village wore a festive look as women drew colourful ‘rangolis’ in front of their houses.

Every household in this village,with a population of about 3,000,put up the traditional Gudi — a bamboo stick draped in new cloth and decorated with garland and neem leaves – on the rooftops to welcome their Anna.

Earlier,citizens from various walks of life thronged the Pune Airport to welcome Hazare,who arrived from New Delhi.

The crowd raised slogans cheering Hazare,who accepted their greetings with folded hands and a gentle smile before proceeding for Ralegan Siddhi.

Hazare,who went on a fast-unto-death from April 5,ended his 97-hour fast on Saturday after the government issued a notification constituting a joint committee of ministers and civil society activists to draft an effective Lokpal Bill.

Bhajan and lezim mandals from all over district have reached Ralegan to accord a warm homecoming to Hazare. Sweets were also being prepared in huge quantities for distribution on the occasion.

Shyam Asawa,trustee of the activist’s Bhrastachar Virodhi Jan Andolan,told PTI that lunch and dinner were arranged for all who came to the activist’s village to welcome him.

RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday that Hazare will spend a few days in “peace” before returning to Delhi for the deliberations of the joint committee formed for the Lokpal Bill.

Hazare told reporters on Sunday,”I will spend some time with them.”

The deliberations on the Lok Pal bill will begin on April 16.