New Delhi:
Tabrez Alam (35), a painter from Gaya, Bihar was busy with his brushes. He wanted to gift a painting of Gandhiji to Anna Hazare on the third day of the latter's fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar.
Alam, who has also fasted along with Anna, said, "The moment I came to know that he is sitting on a hunger strike, I decided to join him in support. But due to heavy rush, I only managed to reach today morning. Everyone has his own style of protesting. My paintings are vocal enough. The world must come forward and join this mass movement to bring the change."'
The protest has gained momentum with people across the country pledging support to it. Women working in red light area of Delhi's GB road could not come to Jantar Mantar, but their representative Khairati Lal Bhola, who runs Patita Udhar Samiti NGO, was present. "All the sex workers have shown their support for Anna because of which I am here. All the sex workers are observing fast to make their presence felt and to be a part of the people's movement," said Bhola.
When 63-year-old Gurmeet Singh arrived to meet Hazare, everyone made way for the Manmohan look-alike. Gurmeet imitated the PM's mannerisms with great aplomb, waving at the crowd in his signature style, drawing cheers. Gurmeet Singh who is normally seen at congress events came in support of Anna. "Manmohan Singh could not come here, so I am here to support Anna Hazare. I have come to support Anna Hazare but keeping fast and I think that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should also listen to him and support him. Every citizen of the country today is supporting this fight against corruption as it is about our future," said Singh.
People soon realised that the south Delhi resident was a look-alike and jostled to be photographed with him. "For a moment I mistook him for the Prime Minister and even called my friends about it, but soon we found he was just a look-alike. But it was good to see him supporting the cause," said Shikha Sinha, a Delhi University student.
Akhilesh Shukla, Shivaji Singh and Ravinder Yadav travelled all the way from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, wearing caps which read 1st idiot, 2nd idiot and 3rd idiot respectively. They had posters dangling from their necks, elaborating the reasons for their unique protest.
"After the recent Commonwealth Games corruption came to light, we decided to raise our voice. We have been in the Capital since March 3. We are glad that Anna came and we have joined him," said Akhilesh Shukla, the leader of the three.
"We call ourselves the idiots, but those who laugh at us must also not forget that they are bigger idiots. At least we have realised this fact. Whosoever is in power does the same things. Keeping aside the development of the nation, they start developing their own assets. Anna's movement has brought forth a wave leaving a great impact on the minds of the younger generation," said Yadav, standing next to Shukla.
Not only men, even the fairer sex has geared up for the protest. Kanpur Resident Kaveri Dutta who has been on a fast for three days with Anna, is determined that if the bill is not passed she will shave her head. "I am fasting for three days and will continue till the government takes a concrete decision. I will even shave my head if the government delays or tries to suppress our demand. This is our only chance and we have to fight for our rights," said Kaveri, who came on stage to express her views.
"I belong to the land of
Jhansi ki Rani and we will participate equally in the fight against corruption," she added.
Kaveri is not alone. Delhi-based advocate Poonam Singh, who is yet to recover from a recent accident, came to lend her voice for the fight against corruption. Poonam was injured in a road mishap and the bruises on her face were prominent. "As my doctor said I can go back home and rest I decided to come to Jantar Mantar to support the cause."
Students from various colleges and schools also came forward to support Anna. Six students of Bluebells International School travelled all the way from Kailash Colony to Jantar Mantar after their classes, and recorded all the movements in their mobile cameras. Now these students, all from class 10-12th, plan to give a presentation showing this video in different classes and urge everyone to join the protest.
"We may be too young to understand everything but we are the future generation. We gathered all the information from the media as well as social networking websites. But there are many in our school, still clueless about the entire thing. We want Anna's voice to reach all the corners. This is one way how we can extend our support," said Taufique, a class 10 student.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi urged Hazare on Thursday evening to end his fast with this statement: "There can be no two views on the urgent necessity of combating graft and corruption in public life. I believe that the laws in these matters must be effective and must deliver the desired results. I am sure that Anna Hazare Ji's views will receive the government's full attention as we move forward to fight this menace."
Anna Hazare has lost a kilogram of weight since he launched his fast-unto-death against corruption three days ago, said a close associate Thursday. "Doctors check him twice a day, in the morning and evening. He had high blood pressure in the morning and was given medicine. He has also lost one kilogram weight," the associate, who did not want to be named, said. "The doctors came to check him in the evening and he was doing all right," she added. Anna Hazare, 72, had his last meal on the night of April 4 and has been surviving on water since then, added the activist.
Government and anti-corruption activists were deadlocked on the demand over the chairmanship of a joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill and its notification, though government agreed to bring the legislation during Monsoon session of Parliament. "We had two rounds of discussions. We have agreed on almost all issues but there is no agreement on two issues, that is issuing an official notification to form the committee and making Hazare the chairman of the committee," Kapil Sibal told reporters after the second round of talks at his residence.The government has also refused to accept Hazare's supporters' demand that he be made the chief of this committee. The social activist has rejected the government's offer of this informal committee of civil society activists and government representatives to draft an effective Lokpal Bill. The the 72-year-old Gandhian said: "We will continue the fast till our demands are met." Arvind Kejriwal told protesters at the fast site at Jantar Mantar that Sibal agreed with their demand for a 50:50 representation for civil society activists and government representatives on a joint committee for drafting the Bill. But, he said, Sibal had told them that it would not be constituted through a notification but would be an informal committee. Kejriwal also said that Hazare was of the view that a retired judge should be the chairman of the committee. However, Hazare's supporters have suggested that the Gandhian head the committee.