Supporters of Anna Hazare took out a march here on Sunday extending their support to civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee.
Armed with banners, placards, posters and flags, the supporters, after assembling at Jantar Mantar, started their march towards India Gate where a programme of songs and street play was held to pledge their support to the anti-corruption movement being spearheaded by Mr. Hazare. Supporters lit candles at India Gate to express solidarity with the cause.
Volunteer-cum-co-coordinator of the march Ashim said: We want to tell these leaders — civil society members on the committee — that we are with you and wholeheartedly support you and we will not let the movement die or allow it to be relegated to the back burner.”
Though Mr. Hazare, committee member Arvind Kejriwal and the former IPS officer, Kabir Bedi, were conspicuous by their absence, it was the supporters, volunteers and common people who held the show together through their enthusiastic participation, unmindful of the summer heat.
Several volunteer registration desks set up by the supporters were an instant hit with people turning up in hordes to fill up forms and contribute their bit to the movement.
Fifty-two-year-old Narender Rawat said: “These forms would help make the movement stronger and also give the organisers an idea of the number of people who have pledged their support to the cause of anti-corruption. It would definitely boost their morale and take the movement forward. I had come to support Annaji when he was fasting at Jantar Mantar last month and now I have come again this time. I shall keep coming until the Lokpal Bill is passed and there is an end to corruption in our country.”
According to Indu Verma, a housewife, who came along with her husband from Gurgaon to participate in the march, her support to Anna Hazare would continue, the “unnecessary mudslinging” campaign notwithstanding.
“I feel strongly about the cause behind the movement. I don't think it is fair to simply sit in our drawing rooms and show support, which is why I am here. Though I am satisfied with the setting up of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, I want this movement to gather such momentum that shakes the very core of the corrupt polity which is at the heart of this issue,” she added.
Youth express solidarity
PTI reports from Mumbai:
On the eve of the second meeting of the Joint Drafting Committee of the Lokpal Bill in New Delhi, thousands of Mumbaikars gathered at the Gateway of India to express their solidarity with social activist Anna Hazare's fight against corruption.
The rally ‘Youth Against Corruption' led by the former IPS officer and prominent anti-corruption activist Kiran Bedi shouted slogans demanding implementation of the anti-corruption bill at the earliest.
“Youth should lead the nation now. We are all behind Anna Hazare...It's time we unite against corruption,” Ms. Bedi told reporters.
Protesters also included over 140 pilots of Air India.
“We all are here in our individual capacity to support Hazare against corruption,” captain Ritesh Mathankar said.
Ms. Bedi as part of the protest put a garland of slippers on a symbolic effigy of corruption.
The joint drafting committee met in the national capital on April 16 for the first time, amid a controversy over a CD allegedly involving lawyer and panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan.
Correction: A reference to the former IPS officer Kabir Bedi is made in the fourth paragraph. It should be Kiran Bedi.
Keywords: Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare, anti-graft law, candle light vigil
@Yeshwant Kota - Is corruption non violent? I don't think there is anything violent about a garland of slippers. I'd have no problem with any corrupt official or minister being beaten with slippers and then garlanded with the same. In fact, if we draft a bill to make that compulsory, I'd be the first one to support it. We don't have to kill people to make our point, but we certainly can land a few solid blows. No issues with that.
I'm in Pune and we did a street play about the way corruption affects the common man, with India Against Corruption Group.
Anna Hazare's has really done a winning thing by his fight against corruption, which has impelled the common people to raise their voice against those who are planning for the derailment of the bill. Of course the full credit goes to Hazare for this groundswell of public support.
As long as Manmohan Singh is the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi holding the reins of the govrnment, I am afraid, it is difficult to eradicate corruption. So the people should make it a point to get him out of that chair first and rid the country of Sonia's leadership. BJP too is in no way better. The only hope for India to be a corruption free country is to elect a non-Congress non-BJP government headed by the Left parties. The parliament should have a strong contingent of Left party members, for not a single Left leader has so far been accuesed of corruption. The Left was in power continuously for 37 years in Bengal but not one minister was involved in corruption. In Kerala and Tripura also no Left party leader has been accused of corruption so far.
The former IPS officer is not Kabir bedi, it is Kiran Bedi..:-)
Anyway, India is truly awakening. I wish this becomes a big movement and cleanses the system..
Everything is well and good but I strongly condemn the act of Ms.Kiran Bedi of decorating the effigy of corruption with a garland of slippers.Even though the act was meant for a good cause, It may provoke the youth to do the same for any political figure which indeed deviates from reason for the fight.
Lets fight against corruption in a NON-VIOLENT way.
All political parties should rally behind Annagi to frame this anticorruption Lok pal bill.Let burn this light of anti corruption flame till the completion of drafting this bill.Similarly the anti corrutpion bill become a hanging sword above the neck of corrupt people irrespective of their rank.If any peoson has done any corruption leave no sanction from any insitutional head.
My support to ANNA's movement of 'INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION' will continue till my death.
The renewed marches in support of the Anna Hazare anti corruption crusade, is a timely reminder the Congress leadership under Sonia Gandhi that the party is playing with fire trying all in their powers to some how sabotage the Lokpal bill. Apparently the Congress is inextricably mired old mindset of fooling all the people all the time. With the world net worked more than ever before and publication of Wikileak papers along with rapid expansion of middle class population, the old Congress habit of hoodwinking the public will never work. The Indian National Congress seems to inexorably speeding towards self destruction.
Passing the Lokpal Bill at this stage will placate the anger of the people against corruption and dampen the resolve that people have built up to have a clean government. The mess is so deep that only a massive movement can have a significant effect. Otherwise, people like Sharad Pawar and Mayawati will quickly learn to bypass the bill and carry on with their activities. Therefore, I am of the opinion that this bill should not get passed, so that this movement leads to a definitive action that is a lasting solution and not a patchwork.
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