As Hazare’s fast entered its fourth day, Mumbai’s celebrities and the common people, came out in full support of the activist.
As Anna Hazare’s fast entered its fourth day, Mumbai’s celebrities and the common people, came out in full support of the activist.
The most prominent supporters were middle-class Mumbaikars and the youth. They gathered at Azad Maidan, wearing the Gandhi cap with ‘I am Anna Hazare’ written on it in Marathi. Some held placards, while others distributed pamphlets giving information about the Jan Lokpal Bill and about Hazare.
In other parts of the city, spontaneous marches were held with supporters holding national flags and banners with creative slogans like ‘Yeh dil Maange something more, Bhage is Desh ke sare chor'.
Aditi Padbidri, a 23-year-old BMM student, said, “We are fed up with the number of scams that come up each day. We want an end to corruption."
Several celebrities like Shabana Azmi, Dia Mirza, Pooja Bhatt and Urmila Matondkar also took part in the protests at Azad Maidan.
Azmi urged the crowd with a refrain ‘Kamane wala khayega lutnewala jayega naya zamana ayega', while Urmila urged the youth to be at the forefront of the movement. Mirza cautioned the crowd against letting cricket fever override concerns about corruption.
“Even during the IPL, let us hold the ‘India against corruption’ placards,” she said. Azmi, Mirza and Matondkar also attended a candlelight vigil near the Gateway of India.
Organisers held candlelight march at Vile Parle, Santa Cruz, Khar and Bandra stations and at Juhu. “We face a lot of harassment from the police and BMC for hafta. My daughter’s school fee is increasing by the day, it becomes difficult to make ends meet," said Sharlton Fernandes, who was with her two daughters at Vile Parle.
“We have to do this or else our children will be facing corruption. It has become a way of life and someone needs to put an end to it. That is why we are supporting him," said Vindu Dara Singh, a Juhu resident who participated in a march along with 500 people.
“Now people ask for bribes as if it is their right. It is impossible to get things done in government offices without bribing people," said music composer Lalit Pandit. Actor Amol Gupte said, “I was not born during the independence movement so this is my chance for a second one. I hope cynics do not see it as tokenism."
The western railway motormen’s union also expressed solidarity with the movement. Devendra Yadav of the movement said, “If Mumbai’s citizens say yes, we are ready to derail the city’s rail network. But we will take a final decision after a meeting on Saturday. If train services are non -functional even for 5 hours, Manmohan Singh will be forced to act.”
Small factories and traders of stainless steel utensils have decided to shut down for a day. Their workers and owners will head to Azad Maidan on April 9 instead to show their solidarity. Vasant Kotadia, president of the all India stainless steel association said, “We agree with the cause and the demand of the movement and we have decided to join the protest.”
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