Hazare agitation in Bangalore: The footfalls only keep increasing

Anti-corruption activists claim that the government was hoping that the movement would fizzle out, as days passed. There was also an extended weekend in between. If the government’s calculations were right, the number of those at Freedom Park should have fallen on Tuesday. But the footfalls at Freedom Park tell a different story. An account of the gathering at the venue over the past three days.

Day 8 of the anti-corruption crusade at Freedom Park on Tuesday saw the biggest turnout of supporters on a weekday. India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers claimed that at least 20,000 people visited the protest venue during the day.

The turnout was star-studded. Actors of yesteryear B Saroja Devi and Jayamala and film stars Duniya Vijay and Shruthi were among the protestors who turned up at the Freedom Park during the day.

Students from schools and institutions continued to pour into the venue. As news of Anna’s failing health reached the public, there were frequent calls for silent moments in prayer. As the logjam over the government and the Anna Hazare brigade continued, the mood at the park seemed a little subdued.

Justice N Santosh Hegde, now a leading light of the crusade, said, “We are all worried about Anna’s failing health. The government does not care about it. We want a strong Jan Lokpal Bill but not at the cost of Anna’s health. We have suggested that Anna stop the fast. But we will continue to protest against the government version of the bill and not stop our fight until the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed,” he said.

He also hinted at things getting out of hand if something did happen to Anna. “If something happens to Anna, there will be a revolution here. People care for Anna. The government will find it very hard to control the situation if it gets out of hand,” he said.

On being asked about the differences in the civil society with regard to different versions of the Jan Lokpal Bill, Hegde said, “Arunaji is apart of the National Advisory Council formed by Sonia Gandhi. Why should we accept her  version of the bill? Political parties are coming up with their own version. Should we accept those?” he asked, adding that the government had 42 years to come up with a bill, which it did not, exposing the level of its commitment to the cause.

Justice Hegde also added that the Lokpal bill is only a beginning in the process of cleaning up a corrupt system. “After the Jan Lokpal Bill, we will also take up electoral reforms,” he disclosed.
Volunteers continued to distribute contact details of members of Parliament, asking citizens to call on their representatives and urge them to vote for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Social activist RK Misra said that if the protests have entered the eighth day, it was only because of the government strategy to tire out the people. “They were hoping that from today onwards, after a week-long struggle and a holiday yesterday, the numbers showing up at the protest venues would dwindle. But now that it hasn’t, the government will pay attention to us.”

Reiterating Anna’s words, he clarified that the movement was not fighting against the government or its politicians but against a system that encouraged corruption.

“Politicians do not have the conviction to face the very people who voted for them. Everybody has something against them. Over a 100 MPs have criminal records against them. We respect our Constitution, but we do not respect our politicians,” he said.

On rumours that Sri Sri Ravi Shankar could be a possible mediator between the government and Anna Hazare, because of his earlier involvement in the Naxal issue, he said, “The government is trying to fool the people by suggesting different names that will not work out. We want one person whom the government can trust. We are only asking for one responsible person in the party. Sri Sri is an honourable person and we respect him. But why is the government treating us like Naxalites. We are not involved in any illegal activities.”