If Mumbai joined the groundswell of support for Anna Hazare this April, his renewed call for an indefinite hunger strike from August 16 is drawing even larger numbers to the Jan Lokpal movement.
According to the Mumbai chapter of India Against Corruption, around 30,000 people from the city and neighbouring areas are believed to have already pledged their support to Mr. Hazare.
Mayank Gandhi, the campaign's coordinator in Mumbai, told The Hindu over telephone: “We started physical registrations last Thursday. We had set a target of 50,000, but we already have about 30,000 registrations and believe they will go up.”
Campaign volunteers posed three questions to the people: Would you like to participate in the movement? Would you like to join a relay fast? Would you like to participate in the indefinite fast?
Mr. Gandhi said registrations had been pouring in through phone messages and online, data for which had not yet been counted.
In addition, the Art of Living Foundation has committed around 1,00,000 supporters and more are expected from Baba Ramdev's Bharat Swabhiman.
Campaign volunteer Rajesh Unnikrishnan, who had opted for the relay fast in the last round, has now decided to join the indefinite fast.
“The success of the Jan Lokpal movement depends on the people. Corruption has reached such a level that the people have to leave their jobs behind and take to the streets. Else, there would be a time when civil rights are suppressed. It's already happening with the government repression of people's movements,” he told The Hindu.
Anupam Pandya, a former Air India employee who took on the airline's management over the issue of non-licensed staff and faced harassment, said he would be going on an indefinite hunger strike along with his wife.
Fighting his legal case, he realised there was “no law that could touch” the powerful. “If I fight corruption now at least my children will be able to lead a better life,” he said.
Comments:
I am fed up of tuning in to the news everyday & hear about one more scam, yes I want a clean social structure for the next generations of Indians.
Every living human being in India should support Anna Hazare's struggle for removing the greates human rights voilation from Indian soil. Governments proposal of the draft should not be accepted by the public at large for one simple reason, its drafted to bail themselves out of trouble. This is a serious issue with huge consequence for India's future. No one, no Govt. no legislation and no parliament can highjack an issue as crucial as fighting corruption at every walk of life in India.
The apathy of the Government and tacit approval of corrupt practices by its ministers and bureaucrats has woken up the sleeping giant in the form of a dimunitive but fearless man,who has now donned the mantle of a David armed with his puny slingshot to take on the might of Goliath who is sure to be humbled and felled soon.By dilly dallying the authorities expected the public memory being short,Anna Hazare's movement will fizzle out.What the establishment didn't bargain for is that the people are now determined to take on the might of the establishment and are prepared for the worst and to do an 'EGYPT' or 'LIBYA' here in India even if it means sacrificing their lives." Will the Government still act High and Mighty or will it capitulate" is the Sixty Four Million Dollar Question.
Anna is the last hope for the Indian. If he is unsuccessful this time, we will have to wait indefinitely for a cleaner system. All parties contribute to corruption.Thus , they criticize Anna, and his movement. They pitch for strong lokpal bill, but deliberately make it weak.
We have encouraged the bribing and supported the corruption of Indian system. Now, if we are aware of this, then instead of fighting hard for a law to correct it, we can also stop bribing.
whole of india has to rise up and make a lot of noise in whichever way possible and give support to Shri. Anna Hazare.How long can we be called a 'corrupt'. The poor 'aam admi' is not corrupt.he just has to pay the price a for some very heartless people.
Corruption has taken a deep root in our system and the probable reason seems to be captalism and race to acquire lushy life within short span and without any pain, also the social system prevailing where birth of girl child is linked with marriage investment. All these force the people to generate money what ever is the means. we have to look into it for a cure. Politicians are the eagle who targets the prevailing such compulsions with a great caution that system should be made worse so that they can live and grow. If we take a simple note of the declaration made by politician in two consequetive parliamentary election to the election commissioner we will find the growth of assetts of these. It is beyond my understanding how this growth rate is restricted to this class where as common people is striving hard to earn bread not butter. If we wish to eradicate the causal of corruption we have to incorporate all citizen under the perview of LOKPAL whether he/she is first citizen or last.
This is going to be a test of the will of the people of India..to defeat the monster that is corruption..every one of us has to join in this movement for the sake of our nation's future..It is a replay of our Satyagraha movement
I am not able to understand that why government is not serious about the tougher Lokpal. In democracy whether the will of masses or the will of some politician should prevail? UPA II will pay a heavy price of this type of delaying the matter.
I do not agree with the views of Team Anna and their supporters. Gandhiji adopted the technique of fasting when there was no democracy and when people did not have the right to vote to change the government, if they dislike it. Today India has a vibrant and largest democracy in the world with independent pillars for legislation, judiciary, bureaucracy and free and independent press and media. We should be proud of it and try to change the system through democratic means.
If Annaji has the support of the majority of the citizens, then why he is not fighting an election to form his own govt and enact a law of his liking? Gathering a few hundreds or even a few lakhs around Jantar Mantar to witness the Big Tamasha does not mean that Annaji has the mass support for a Bill which is not even understood by the great pundits of law. Annaji should fight an election and find out whether he is worth a half an Anna, what to talk about one thousand (Hazaro) Annas.
Besides, in my evaluation, majority of the politicians, judges and bureaucrats are honest and work with a sense of responsibility and purpose to serve the citizens. If a few of them, who can be counted by fingers, are corrupt, we cannot conclude that everyone in the government is corrupt.
Annaji and his supports should understand that a democracy gets a government which it deserves. So if the govt is corrupt, then majority of the Indian citizens are corrupt. Then Lok Pal will add another corrupt wing to the existing system, because staffs of Lok Pal cannot come from heavens.
I support fight against corrupt practices.All political parties practice and abet corruption right from they contest election.Honesty and transparency in govt dealing will promote fair practices.The spirit of JAN LOKPAL BILL drafted by civil society members demand support from all Indians who love their motherland.
Every patriotic Indian should support Anna Hazare-- suggest highly innovative forms of protest to Anna Hazare through facebook, twitter, etc.... India should change-- Our generation had to put up with enough nonsense , let us save the next generation from all the ills-- Hats off to Anna
It time to fight against corruption.If Anna Hazare is inside the jail,we people should take a leave from our daily routine and be on road to support Anna Hazare.I am wih Anna Hazare and you?If yes, don't stay in houses or offices.