Mumbai youth ‘drum up’ support for Hazare agitation

Azad Maidan looked like a cricket stadium. Youngsters -— armed with drums and Tricolours — were singing, cheering and dancing.

If the last two days were an indication of Anna's support, citizens reaffirmed their resolution on Thursday by braving heavy showers and gathering in huge numbers.

The never-ending belting of patriotic numbers by professional bands boosted the crowd's enthusiasm.

Child artistes of the TV show Little Champs who Hazare had met in their show sang the activist's favourite songs such as 'Ab tumhare hawale watan sahtiyon', 'Zara aankh main bhar lo paani'.

"I like the fact that there is so much positive energy here. There will be cynics around who will run all this down but I feel that it is the coming together of positive energy that always brings the change," said Sona Mohapatra of the Sona band that sang 'Jhulelal', 'Awaaz' and 'Sapne' at Azad Maidan.

There were those who had read and compared the two drafts and those who had not read the Lokpal Bill draft. But their mission was the same — to support the anti-corruption movement.

"I am here to support the movement. I have not read the bill but I have faith in Hazare," said Keval Salva, an 18-year-old student of SYBcom who skipped classes to be at Azad Maidan. Some reasoned the support the movement got.

"I have read the two drafts and Jan Lokpal is a better one. What you see today is actually the pent-up frustration of the people because of corruption. The money we pay in taxes is not being channelled for building infrastructure," said Vishal Ghodke, 35, an entrepreneur from Thane.

The organisers tore down every argument of the Centre's justification not have the Jan Lokpal Bill. "When they say Parliament is bigger, we accept that but not the Parliamentarians," said Ruben Mascarenhas.