A lakh voices against corruption

On Friday alone, the number of people who registered with IAC to buy a sticker or other merchandise crossed 25,000 by 6 pm. Familiar faces were seen and heard on the stage on day four including former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde and freedom fighter H S Doreswamy.

Television sets at the venue beamed the images of Anna Hazare walking out of Tihar jail, and supporters erupted in joy.

Friday also happened to be the birthday of one of the volunteers on fast. Rajesh Aggarwal probably had the loudest birthday wishes he’d ever hear, as the audience and volunteers sang the birthday song. The wishes no doubt made up for the missed birthday cake. “I have been fasting for 80 hours so I may sound weak, but with such massive support my spirit is only stronger,” he said.

Meenakshi Bharath, who has joined the fight against corruption after protesting against the Sankey road widening, has also been a daily visitor. She pointed out that an autorickshaw driver quoting excess fare is not corruption, but is cheating. “Corruption is public money mismanaged. It is so large in the country which is why individually no one can take up this fight. So it becomes important that citizens fight in masses,” she said.

As colleges remained open, students continued to bunk classes to take part in the protest.
A student from Jain College said, “Our principal refused to give us permission. But when students from other colleges started shouting slogans outside our campus, the principal was forced to let us go.”

Protesting is his job

Ramu, an IAC volunteer, has been unemployed since 2010.

He was spotted at the protest against road widening on Sankey Road in July.

When Deccan Herald spotted him at the Freedom Park and asked him about his ‘activism’, he said: “I have been a part of IAC since April, when the first protest against corruption was organised. I take part in every protest that is against corruption and live through them.”

Ramu said before becoming an activist he was a rowdy, albeit onscreen. He has acted in two Tamil films, including ‘Naadodigal’ released in 2009.

“I had to leave the job since I did not speak Tamil. But did punch the hero in the ear in one film and it was my only scene in the movie,” he said.