For infotech professional Sachin Dombe, the Independence Day weekend starting on August 13 indeed became an extended one. He decided to extend his leave by a day on Tuesday, citing support for anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare’s Lokpal Bill movement, as the reason.
Hazare, in his appeal televised across the country on Monday and Tuesday, urged people to participate in a mass movement to coincide with his fast-unto-death stir from Tuesday in support of a strong Lokpal Bill.
More than 40 voluntary groups in Pune organised a rally from Nal Stop to Balgandharva Chowk on Tuesday morning to support Hazare. Nearly 3,000 youth participated in the agitation.
At Balgandharva Chowk, the volunteers sat on a relay fast and a makeshift pandal was set up opposite Balgandharva Rangmandir. They raised slogans and sang patriotic songs.
Dombe was one of the many young professionals who took the day off to participate in this movement.
“I have taken a day off on Tuesday to be present for the rally and the relay fast,” said Dombe, who carried an “arrest me” placard and wore an “I am Anna” Gandhi cap.
Like him, many other youngsters were in the forefront of the protest. Telecom professional Deboshri Mitra travelled from Kharadi to participate in the rally and the relay fast.
She had taken the day off on Tuesday and was planning to decide whether to take leave on Wednesday too.
Her colleague, Harshal Marathe’s leave was not sanctioned, yet he made it a point to be present for the rally on Tuesday morning. “We have been conducting the campaign on behalf of the India Against Corruption (IAC) in our company and our friends since April this year,” he said.
The Internet is being extensively used by young information technology (IT) and other professionals from Pune to spread the word.
“The Facebook page of IAC is flooded with hits and we are updating the latest news on it,” he said.
Vikas Sutar and Shrikant Sapkal, who were among the protesters, said they felt this was a ‘now or never’ situation as far as the Lokpal Bill was concerned. They felt compelled to participate in the public movement.
