Lokpal Bill war: Time for sacrifice once again, says Anna Hazare

Mumbai: Gandhian activist Anna Hazare began his three-day fast against the government's version of the Lokpal Bill at Mumbai's MMRDA Ground today. Here are the highlights of what he said:

• People have to make sacrifices for their country
• Lakhs made sacrifices for our independence
• To protect that freedom, it is time for sacrifice once again
• I am not lecturing you
• But to serve society and country, that is why we are given life
• At 26, I decided this would be my cause.  So I decided not to marry.  My goal is still the same.  I don't even know the names of my three brothers' children.  I decided I will live only for society and my country.  I will die for the same cause 
• Dil diya hai, jaan bhi denge, aye vatan, tere liye (my heart I have given to you, I will give my life to you as well, my nation)
• Doctors have just checked me. I stood in a car from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm today. I have not eaten. I have been sick recently.  But I feel no discomfort.  They say I have a bit of a temperature.  People die of heart attacks.  Instead of dying like that, let me die for my country.  That will be my good fortune.  I am not scared of death 
• I have a plate and a bed in my house.  That is all
• In August, I fasted for 12 days.  I was fine.  The crowd's energy fed me. So I urge you -government is betraying us -not Team Anna, but the country.  At some point then, the public will teach you (the government) a lesson.  Just now, the government feels it is untouchable.  There are elections in a few states, but what will they do to us at the national level (is what the government thinks). But in these five states that are voting, we will campaign against the government.  You have not seen what people power is.  It is more powerful than Parliament 
• The sort of people who are joining politics now are criminals, goondas.  What will become of our country then?  This is why we need to fight for the Right to Reject (electoral candidates). There are 10 candidates standing for elections.  Yet, voters have nobody to choose from.  So we should have the right to say "none of the above."  And if there are many who choose this option, then the election for that constituency should be cancelled.    We will have to fight for these laws.
• As a country, we form our own laws 
• I request all young people here -be ready to participate in our jail bharo agitation (civil disobedience movement).   Youth is our country's strength.  If you are awakened, we can be rescued.  Follow the example of martyrs like Bhagat Singh.  Till the last, they shouted "Inquilab Zindabad" and "Bharat Mata ki jai."
• They will not pass this law today.  I know this
• There are state elections, then we will campaign all over for the national elections. We will tell the people that the country is being looted not by thieves but by its caretakers
• There are people who will donate to us.  But we will not accept black money for our movement.  I was offered an award for a crore. But I rejected it because the organizers were dubious.  But there are some good, clean people who say they will help us.  We are getting letters from people saying they will fight with us. Young people should sign up, we will train them for six months, make them good strong leaders.