NEW DELHIl Anna Hazare on Tuesday addressed the huge crowd that had gathered at the MMRDA ground Mumbai. Accusing the government of betraying the people, the anti-corruption crusader said, "I will live and die for India." 

"Dil diya hai, he vatan, tere liye jaan bhi de denge," said Anna to the ecstatic crowds. The 74-year-old spoke of the lengths he had gone to for the sake of the country. He said he had shunned his family, didn't even know the names of his nephews and nieces; and did not marry, for the cause of the nation. 

Battling a viral infection, Anna said he' was not afraid to die and would keep on fighting. He said his friends and Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and 'behen' Kiran Bedi had asked him to stop his fast, but he would not listen to them. Anna added, he had not eaten for three days. 

Referring to his fast some months ago in New Delhi, he said the Ramlila Ground fast that continued for 12 days was because of the people's support. 

Slamming the government, Anna Hazare said its betrayal over the Lokpal Bill is not a betrayal of Team Anna, but of the people. "And one day, the people will rise, and punish the government, he said, with furrowed brows. 

"Bigger than the Parliament at Delhi is the Parliament of the people," said the Gandhian. "But bigger than both is the Parliament of the village. Voters of poll-bound states must punish the government for betraying the Lokpal bill," he added. 

Anna said that doctors were concerned about his temperature, but he would continue his fast. 

Meanwhile, the crowds enthusiastically cheered Anna's do-or-die rhetoric. 

source:TOI