The downpour in Delhi failed to dampen the spirit of thousands of Anna Hazare's supporters as he reached the Ramlila Ground from Tihar Jail on Friday afternoon.
“We will not leave this ground till the Jan Lokpal Bill is brought in,” declared the veteran social activist, addressing the waiting crowd.
Throwing another deadline at the Government, Mr Hazare said if the Jan Lokpal Bill is not brought in during the Monsoon Session (till September 8), the ‘jail bharo' agitation would be intensified. Later, at a press conference, Team Anna toughened its stance.
“They (Government) are in a majority in the Parliament and the Standing Committee. It is for them to see how they pass the Bill,” said social activist, Mr Arvind Kejriwal.
He accused the Government of betraying people in the name of bringing in the Judicial Accountability Bill to keep the higher judiciary out. Senior lawyer, Mr Prashant Bhushan, said the team was open to discussion with the Government but there would be no compromise on corruption.
Earlier, terming his anti-graft movement as the “second freedom struggle”, the 74-year-old Mr Hazare, who is on the fourth day of his fast, said, “There was a revolution in 1942 because of which the British had to quit India. But the loot and rowdyism has not stopped.”
As support continued to pour in from all parts of the country, he appealed to the people, especially the youth, to carry forward the struggle “whether Anna is alive or not.”
In a related development, nine Opposition parties, including the Left, termed the Government's Lokpal Bill as “unacceptable” and criticised it for curbing democratic rights.
They declared joint protests next week for an effective anti-corruption law and against growing attacks on people's rights.