Government drunk on power and money, says Anna
10 Dec 2011
Ahead of his day-long fast for a strong lokpal bill on Sunday, veteran social crusader Anna Hazare today launched a vitriolic attack on the government, charging that it was "intoxicated by power and money''.
Speaking at his home village of Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra before leaving for Delhi, he said the "second fight for independence" has started, and will go on till corruption is eradicated.
"So many martyrs lost their lives for our independence but even today we cannot experience independence. Who got independent? What independence? Corruption, loot is still here. Only 'goras' (white people) left and 'kalas' (dark people) came in, that is the only difference.
"So the second fight for independence has started, it is a long fight, till corruption gets eradicated, it will go on. Many people will have to go to jail again, be lathi-charged, some will have to sacrifice - that time is here now. Till we sacrifice, we won't get the right independence," Hazare told reporters.
Accompanied by his core team, Hazare will sit at Jantar Mantar, the protest hotspot of the national capital, all day demanding a strong anti-corruption law.
Hitting out at the government, Hazare said, "This government is intoxicated by power and money. It cannot see anything else. They have forgotten the sacrifices by the likes of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.