Annalila begins

I have made the decision of my life. It is up to the government to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed in this ongoing session,then I will continue my fast till my last breath, the 74-year-old said,addressing a press conference at Ramlila Maidan. A call would also go out to people to fill jails across the country.

Interestingly,with some people questioning the means he is employing to bend the authorities to his wishes,the activist added that dialogue with the government was the only way out,although he would not compromise on corruption.

Hazare arrived in the afternoon at the protest venue,taking just under three hours from Tihar,as he made his way through crowds gathered along the roads.

The government is in a majority in Parliament and the Standing Committee considering the Lokpal Bill. How they pass the Bill they have to see, Hazare said,waving to a crowd of more than 10,000 supporters who had converged at the ground.

Replying to questions whether he was shifting the goalpost after agreeing to restrict the fast to a fortnight,Hazares close associate Arvind Kejriwal said: Anna Hazare will be here.

The Delhi Police Commissioner has agreed that the fast can be extended by a week on four days notice,he said.

We have permission till September 2,but if by August 30,the Bill is not passed,then people will be asked to fill jails across the country, Hazare said.

Hazare appealed to the crowd not to let the opportunity his movement had created against corruption go waste. Do not allow this torch of struggle to be put out whether Anna is alive or not, he said,to roaring applause and loud cheers.

Fourth day into his fast,the activist reached the protest site on a rainy afternoon as hundreds egged him on,shouting slogans and waving placards. Supporters showered petals and walked some distance with the open-top tempo in which Hazare travelled from Tihar,where he had spent three nights.

On way to the Ramlila Maidan,Hazare stopped over at the Rajghat,where he said he weighed 3 kg lesser since he had begun his fast but that he was fully fit seeing hundreds on the streets supporting his cause.

Hazares health was monitored through the day by a team of doctors,led by heart specialist Dr Naresh Trehan of Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon. Trehan said Hazares condition was remarkably stable for a man of his age who had only had water for four days.

All his vitals,including his blood pressure and heart rate,are absolutely fine. He has not shown any sign of fatigue or ill health, he said.

Sitting on a stage,Hazare raised slogans against corruption with clenched fists and smiled to the crowd as he launched a scathing attack on the government and administration in general.

There was a revolution in 1942 because of which the British had to quit India. But the loot and rowdyism have not stopped. That is why the second freedom struggle has begun, he said.