Thousands of people from diverse walks of life sang and danced on the streets across the country as anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike after forcing the govt.
Thousands of people from diverse walks of life today sang and danced on the streets across the country as anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare ended his hunger strike after forcing the government to accept his demands for a tougher legislation against corruption.
It was celebration time on main thoroughfares and at prominent landmarks across major cities as people, waving the national flag, sang patriotic songs and danced to the beat of drums all through the day before wrapping up by taking out candle-light marches.
The site of Hazare's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar turned into a carnival venue soon after the government gave into civil society activists' demands on Lokpal Bill.
School children, middle class professionals, youth and old, poor and rich -- all stood shoulder to shoulder at the nerve-centre of the anti-corruption protest shouting 'Vande Mataram', 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Inquilab Zindabad' as Hazare sipped juice offered by a girl to end his fast which lasted 98 hours.
Mumbai's historic Azad Maidan and Delhi's India Gate turned into scenes of celebrations as a large number of people took out candle-light processions.
At Hazare's native village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, residents erupted in joy as he called off his hunger strike after being anxious for the last four days over his health due to the fast.
A group of tribals from Maharashtra erupted into a folk dance at the venue as soon as Hazare ended his fast, while some priests performed a havan at the site. Strangers hugged each other and exchanged sweets.
As Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn 'Raghupati Raghava Rajaram' played in the background, Hazare appeared on the dais at 10:25 am to lusty cheers from the people who were jostling for space to have a glimpse of the 72-year-old Gandhian who ignited a nationwide protest for a strong anti-graft law.
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