Passers-by and commuters on Fergusson College Road saw a rare sight on Sunday morning: nearly 100 Puneites, including youth and students, were sweeping the road with brooms, to express solidarity with the veteran Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare.
They were participating in the shramdaan “to sweep corruption away”, an anti-corruption drive organised by the ‘I am Anna Club.’ They gathered outside Fergusson College and swept the footpaths to symbolise sweeping out of corruption.
“This is a symbol of how the people want to brush away corruption from the nation which has spread like an epidemic in recent years,” said Sajag Nagrik Manch founder and Right to Information (RTI) activist, Vivek Velankar, who was one of the participants of the unique exercise.
The enthusiasm and gusto of the people was evident as they shouted slogans like ‘Bharat mata ki jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’.
Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Pravasi Manch president, Jugal Rathi, was also seen energetically participating in the drive.
“In order to eradicate the ongoing corruption and tyranny of the government, we need an effective, independent and transparent broom like the Jan Lokpal Bill,” Rathi said.
“The agitation is just to make the thick-skinned governmental authorities realise this very need,” he added.
The organisers said that in order to keep the ongoing campaign against corruption alive, such innovative drives need to be carried out.
People of different age groups actively took part in the event. Most felt it was the best way to start a Sunday morning.
“Though my college is closed, I feel that by participating in an event like this I am utilising my holiday in the best possible manner,” said Tapas Acharya, a student of MIT College, who cleaned the streets along with his friends.
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