Twitter
Advertisement

Team Anna walks the extra mile, takes Jan Lokpal to the UP 'janata'

Team Anna’s six-day UP tour started on Monday from Banda in Bundelkhand region.

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Not many know the provisions of Jan Lokpal Bill or even why a Jan Lokpal Bill? But as Team Anna sweeps through the dusty bylanes of small towns like Banda and Unnao, carrying the message of its battle against systemic corruption, people come out in droves, at once hopeful of the battle’s outcome but also disappointed that the small man from Ralegan Siddhi could not make it.

They come nevertheless. They gather at places where the meetings are held, usually in the Ramlila Maidan of every little town. Team Anna’s six-day UP tour started on Monday from Banda in Bundelkhand region. With assembly elections slated for 2012 and Rahul Gandhi spending time here, the UPA government sanctioned a whopping Rs7,000 crore development fund for the region in 2009 but there have been no visible signs of development. This has made people throng to Team Anna.

Anna’s message to change the system offers a fresh ray of hope. Till now most people were immune to the politics of the region. Daily wager Ramsaran sat through the rally, quietly imbibing the message delivered from the podium.

As soon as talk shifts to corruption, Ramsaran says to himself: “Sahab, hum aapke saath hain. Bas hamara haq dila do (We are with you, just get us our due).” This seems to be the recurring message as scores of people sit and nod in agreement.

Slowly, but steadily people are starting to connect with Anna Hazare. He is hope with a magic wand that might change their lives. Another hopeful is the local fruit vendor: “Bhai umeed toh hai kuch hoga… dekhenge kya hota hai… par neta chhodenge nahin inhe (There is a hope that something will happen… Let’s see what happens. But these politicians will finish him).”

For now, Team Anna is banking on this connect. Bolstered by the Hisar win, the team is confident that it can increase the negative votes and is also ready to tweak its message and broad-base the “anti-Congress” perception. Besides rallies, there are small meetings with bar councils, volunteers, farmer’s groups and the like. But the whistle-stop tour has left many angry and bitter.

Team Anna has very little time to spend with them. Team Anna wants to cover as many regions as possible in the state during the six days. Symbolism is part and parcel of the strategy. In the village of Badarqa, home of legendary freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad, a little bit of history helps. A congregation around Azad’s statue is a symbol worth crores in PR-speak.

It works. “Politicians come here only during elections. It’s good to see Anna’s people come here. I hope Chandrashekhar Azad blesses them and their mission,” says Dinesh Dwivedi, a middle-aged teacher from the village. How far Team Anna will make a difference in these dusty by-lanes when elections come in 2012 is anybody’s guess. But there is new hope. That’s for sure.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement