Lokpal Bill: Delhi’s anti-graft fervour not visible in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The weather is cool, and the venue, MMRDA ground, is in Anna’s territory, Maharashtra. But the fervor that was visible in Delhi while Anna Hazare fasted in August, is missing. Although the first day of the protest in Mumbai saw around 15,000 people, their numbers started dwindling as the evening approached.

By 10pm, the estimate stood at only around 1,000 supporters. According to IAC sources, the Delhi leg was helped by a number of factors, not counting public holidays for Janmashtami and Ramadan . “It was also the build up with the Tihar jail episode that helped,” said an IAC volunteer.

However, forthose who did turn up, left an impression. Anna’s supporters made their way to Mumbai not just from neighboring areas but also Delhi. Their motto: To support Anna until the government passed an effective antigraft law.

One of them was Yumeen Mandahaur, a dentist from MP. Mandahaur brought his two children to support Anna’s campaign. “This is a good cause. This man has no personal interest and I want my children to see how a single person can make a difference ,” he said.

The gathering also comprised protesters who used wit, craft and in some cases costumes to support Anna. Ketan Manjushali, businessman, dressed himself as a British officer. He said it was time to end corruption just as the British were evicted. “I am dressed as a British because I want to say that we were chained once by foreigners. Today, we are captives of our own people and their corrupt deeds,” he said.

While Manjushali showed his support with a snappy outfit , Asim Trivedi, a cartoonist, used his art to pictorially represent the problems facing the country.

“For the next three days, I plan to come here daily displaying my work. People tell me that my cartoons are graphic. But I think if they shock people then that's good. We have gotten used to the corruption around us,” said Trivedi.

The gathering also saw some familiar faces from Delhi’s Ramlila grounds. Manohar Patil, from Latur was seen waving the tricolour, dressed in Mahatma Gandhi’s attire.