Mumbai: The Anna Hazare protest wave continued to sweep through Mumbai for the second day as Azad Maidan sports ground once again became the epicentre of the people's strength as more than 80 rallies were held all over the city.
"We have asked people to move out of the Maidan but no one is willing to do so even though Anna's supporters are holding rallies across 70-80 locations, including most railway stations," Mayank Gandhi, Mumbai coordinator of India Against Corruption (IAC), told Gulf News. Up to 2000 people are converging at these locations.
With the movement gaining momentum on the second day, he said, "it is a sign of how people have become tired and exasperated since they have to tackle corruption in day to day life. This is the first time they see a plan to deal with this menace through the Jan Lokpal Bill and a leadership in Hazare. They see hope and that is why people are coming out to fight against corruption."
Not too keen
He said political parties tried to hijack the movement but the fact remained that all parties had an interest in holding black money and continuing with corruption. Even the BJP which supports Hazare is not too keen on the Jan Lokpal which they would find ‘dangerous.'
In fact, when BJP activists tried to enter Azad Maidan on Tuesday waving their flags, protesters did not let them in until they put the flags away.
On Wednesday, businessmen joined the protesting at the Maidan, which means Freedom Ground — it was used by leaders during India's freedom struggle to address public gatherings.
One angry businessman said: "We are tired of corruption. We feel Jan Lokpal is the only solution. What has angered the nation is the government's decision to arrest Hazare who has done no wrong whilst there are several Parliamentarians who are corrupt and ministers who have looted the country."
Mill workers, dabbawalas (delivery men), railway employees, Left trade unions, students, housewives, young and old, became a part of the crowd that chanted slogans and sang patriotic songs. In suburban Powai, a group of former Army personnel gathered to express solidarity with Hazare, an ex-Army man.
Motormen gathered in front of the divisional railway manager's office Chhatrapti Shivaji Terminus to express support and said train services were not disrupted.
‘Everyone's right'
"Fighting against corruption is everyone's right and our whole staff is with Hazare," said Venu Nair, divisional secretary of National Railway Mazdoor Union.
Meanwhile, there were rallies in support of the anti-corruption crusader in almost all the districts of Maharashtra with a call for a shutdown in some places.
