Senior citizens flock to Jantar Mantar to support Gandhian

A relatively less number of students were seen on the first day of Team Anna’s fast at Jantar Mantar. But senior citizens from various parts of the country thronged to the venue showing their support to the cause.

Many elderly people came from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

“I have come from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh and will camp here until the government gives in to Anna’s demand. Last time, I was unable to reach here due to health problems. But this time I had made sure I came here to support our only hope,” said 63-year-old Vijay Rana, a retired government schoolteacher.

Similarly, 60-year-old Moolchand Dhaiya, who hails from Haryana, said he wants to uproot corruption from this country. “Our fathers fought against British, now it is our turn to fight against thieves sitting in parliament,” he said. 

 Ram Pal, in his sixties, came all the way from Madhubani in Bihar, hoping to get some help in getting his family out of a legal hassle.

“Our neighbour has filed a false case against our family alleging that we have acquired their land forcefully. For the last one year, we have been running to courts and the police station,” he said.

 While many people came after facing corruption themselves, some came to specifically register their support to Anna Hazare’s cause. “I have come to become a part of this protest as I have been following this cause since 2011.

I want to support this man who has only one dream to make this country corruption free,” said Mahesh Gupta, a small-time businessman from Aligarh in UP.