Bangalore:
For more than 13,000 Bangaloreans, Team Anna was no less than an international rock band. On Saturday, Freedom Park had become a congress for all anti-corruption patrons, mostly young, who had assembled to catch a glimpse of the man who had captured the entire nation's imagination.
Slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Inquilaab Zindabad' echoed all over the place, as feelings of patriotism overpowered the milieu. Thousands of Information Technology professionals and students turned up to lend their support to the Jan Lokpal cause, and also to watch Anna Hazare share the stage with Justice N Santosh Hegde.
"Let me tell you, this is the second freedom struggle. This time, we have to fight the enemy hiding inside our own houses. The power of the youth is the power of the nation," said Anna, calling upon the young to remain firm on the demand for an effective Lokpal.
Anna informed the crowd that if the government fails to table the revised Lokpal within December 26, he would undertake another fast. "It is final this time. I will start all over again from December 27. And if nothing transpires within the New Year, a massive jail bharo will siege the nation. I will not stop at being jailed. I am ready to lay down my life for my country," said Anna.
"While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is clean, it is unfortunate that he is remote-controlled. When the preliminary draft was passed in the parliament, why was it sent to the Standing Committee? I knew there was another betrayal coming," he said. He further urged the young to support his jail bharo campaign. "We have to block the government's nose to open its mouth. After all, we will get breakfast and two square meals a day in jail. We have to be prepared for hardships," he told the crowd.
"Anna is definitely a rock star among all public figures in India," said a student, who was volunteering for India Against Corruption. The turnout was a testimony to the fact that Team Anna's anti-corruption campaign had struck a chord with the young in particular.
Joining Anna Hazare was former Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi, social activist Manish Sisodia, veteran freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, anti-graft crusader Dinesh Vaghela, Lokayukta Vigilance Director Dr R Balasubramaniam and former Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde.
'P Chidambaram behind conspiracy'With every word spoken, the crowd cheered Anna on. Reflecting on the developments in April this year, Anna narrated the scenes of his early morning arrest. He further said, "This was clearly a ploy to keep me from fasting. They even had an aeroplane made ready at the airport to fly me to Pune. P Chidambaram was behind this," declared Anna, as the crowds got noisier. "Chidambaram would be in jail if there is a Lokpal," he said.
Lokayukta cause intensifiedThe aim of the event was to intensify the campaign to appoint a Lokayukta in the State. While the theme was 'Save Lokayukta - Empower People', Anna Hazare felicitated Justice Hegde. "Anna is not here only for Jan Lokpal. Lokayukta in the state has been beheaded by the state government," said Hegde in his address.