Anna's crusade against corruption to continue

Noting that there was a need to unite people of India, he said that he would tour the entire country and campaign against corruption.

“This is the first stage of protest. I want to assure everyone that if the Bill is not passed on August 15, we will hoist the Tricolour at Lal Qila for the second freedom struggle,” the 73-year-old social activist said, while addressing thousands of people gathered near Jantar  Mantar here on Saturday.

He said that responsibility of the supporters of the anti-graft movement has increased as the government issued a gazette notification constituting a joint committee of ministers and civil society activists to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. “The path is long. Now, we have to prepare the draft; then, if the draft faces hurdle in the Cabinet, we will struggle for getting it passed. When it comes to Lok Sabha, it should be passed unanimously. If it faces hurdles there, I will take the tri-colour on my shoulder and we will go to Lok Sabha,” Hazare said.

Hazare termed the anti-graft movement  “the beginning of of another freedom struggle.”
“We have a long way to go. We will have to struggle whenever it is necessary. We have to put pressure on the government to make governance transparent,” he added.
He thanked everyone for extending support to the movement.

“The support of the youth is a symbol of hope. The fact that youth of the whole nation stood with us is a ray of hope. Youth power is the power of the nation,” he added.
Hazare also made a strong plea for reforms in education, labour rights and country’s election system.

“Decentralisation of power is very important to ensure that corruption is defeated. As long as the voters don't get power in their hand, corruption will remain,” he added.
He expressed concerns over the use of electronic voting machines and demanded inclusion of an option wherein people could register that they wanted to vote for none of the candidates.