Anna activists enter rough seas off Karwar

When these 25 people hit the coastline here on Sunday, it was not for a stroll, but for a cause. In what is reported to be the first of its kind, these followers of Anna Hazare, including some who did not know swimming, took a plunge into the sea in solidarity with the nation-wide protests.

The roar of the rough sea might have muffled their slogans, but the message was hard-hitting nevertheless.

“India is neck-deep in the sea of corruption. Let us not allow her to drown,” shouted the like-minded protesters as some of them held placards and the Tricolour.

PB Harikanth, one of the participants and the main brain behind the unique protest, said, “We have such a beautiful coast which has been the inspiration for this town. Even Guruji Rabindranath Tagore drew inspiration from this beautiful beach. When we looked for a place for this protest, we again turned to the sea. It was an instantaneous decision. Our message is clear: We do not want the country to be consumed by the sea of corruption. We want to give our support to Anna Hazare in whichever way we can.”

The protesters formed a chain as they stood neck-deep during the stir.

“Some of us do not know to swim. But they took the courage of entering the rough seas holding hands of others. We could hold the human chain for a short while as the current was very strong to hold it for a long time,” said Vivek Mahale, a participant.

Prabhat Shenoy, a protester who did not know swimming, said “All we thought was to raise our voice against corruption. And we thought the sea would help us do that.”