Support for Hazare; protest against graft continues in Mumbai

Supporters of Hazare burn copies of Lokpal Bill in Mumbai on August 17, 2011.

Young Mumbai came down in support of Anna Hazare in full force on Wednesday as those supporting Hazare on his anti-corruption movement gathered at Mumbai's Azad Maidan chanting slogans and marching against the 'undemocratic' manner in which Anna was sent to custody in Tihar Jail by the Delhi police.

Apart from college youths, mill workers also took part in the protest in huge numbers. Meanwhile, government and private offices continued their normal activities.

Apart from the NGO 'India Against Corruption' (IAC), that spread the word about the protest on social networking sites, several common citizens joined the protest at Azad Maidan. Several protesters were on Tuesday evicted from Azad Maidan by the police.

While candlelight marches were carried out at almost all public grounds even in the suburban parts of the city, in Powai a group of former Army personnel gathered to express solidarity with Anna Hazare.
The IAC announced singer Kailash Kher will perform at Azad Maidan on Thursday. Anna had been part of the reality TV show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Little Champs of which Kher is a judge.

Azad Maidan wore the tricolour as several protesters carried the Indian flag along with posters that read messages of support for Anna as they continued to chant slogans and sing patriotic songs. While some government and railway employees also joined in the protest, most office goers carried on with their routine activity as offices remained open.

The Mumbai train services and other public transport continued uninterrupted even though the railway motormen's union joined Anna's agitation by staging a momentary dharna near the divisional railway manager's office at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. The train services were not disrupted.

Venu Nair, divisional secretary of National Railway Mazdoor Union said, "Fighting against corruption is everyone's right and our whole staff is with Hazare."

Bhagyashree Patil, an employee of a private bank which is headquartered in South Mumbai said, "I had taken a few hours off work as I wanted to be part of this protest and show my support against bad governance as it reflects in every aspect of life in India, but I did not want to shun my work as it was my duty also towards the customers of the bank. I do hope that Anna will receive full support in the days to come."