The anger and frustration of the Borkar couple, Sandeep and Poonam, could hardly be missed as they walked briskly with their toddler son in a pram along with hundreds of Puneites on Tuesday morning.
The NRI couple was supposed to leave for St Paul’s city in the United States last week. However, Sandeep, a software programmer, wrote to his employer a few days ago to have his leave extended.
Reason? The couple wanted to stay back and demonstrate their support to Anna Hazare’s historic crusade against corruption.
The Borkars, with their son Vir in the pram, made a conspicuous sight during a people’s rally held by about 40 organisations on Tuesday morning. The march started from Nal Stop in Karve Road toward Balgandharva Chowk. Ten other family members of the couple were with them in that march.
Speaking to DNA, Sandeep said, “We have responded spontaneously. I am doing my bit to ensure that my son does not bear the brunt of corruption that we face in India at present. I want that Vir should be part of a corruption-free India.”
Hailing from Pimple Saudagar, Sandeep, his wife Poonam and their son Vir, were up and early to participate in the rally. Sandeep had earlier participated in the August 9 motorcycle rally from Pune to Anna’s village in Ralegan Siddhi to express their solidarity with him. “We have been following Anna’s movement on the Lokpal issue closely since he started it,” he said.
Sandeep blamed the inherently corrupt system in India for the country’s decline. “Now we have to shell out 25% of our income as taxes. If the monster of corruption continues unabated, when Vir grows up, he would have to pay almost his entire earning as tax. If we do not support Anna now, we ourselves will be responsible for the state of things in the future,” he said.
Expressing concern about the poor infrastructure in India, Sandeep claimed that the roads and other infrastructure in some of the African countries were better than India.
As for now, he has put his return to the US on hold. “We shall take a call later, after seeing how things unfold following Anna’s arrest,” he added.
