Busy Mumbai takes out time to lend support to Hazare

Mumbai, Apr 9: The people in Mumbai, a city known for its busy and fast-paced life, did their bit in the success of the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption stir that culminated in the Centre accepting most of the veteran social activist's demands over an effective Lok Pal Bill.

Supporters of Hazare, who had gathered at the Azad Maidan here since the last five days, celebrated as the noted Gandhian ended his fast.

From processions to candle light marches, people from all walks of life took to the streets in large numbers in the last four days to express their solidarity with the 73-year- old social activist and the campaign led by him from Delhi.

In a novel protest, people sent postcards filled with messages to the Prime Minister. One of them requested him to "rise above party politics" and pass Lokpal Bill immediately".

Another piece of message, written by one Lalvani, read, "enough is enough. Get the Lokpal Bill passed the way Anna Hazare wants. It will solve the country's problems."

The idea was the brainchild of Amit Chatterjee, an ex- ICICI banker, who along with his friends distributed postcards to people in cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.

"We gave postcards asking common people to write their messages that would be sent to the Prime Minister's Office.

We wanted to ensure that our message of fight against corruption is heard loud and clear," Chatterjee told PTI here.

Some other postcard messages were - "Stop preaching people and start listening to them", "Dear PM, please help us out of this mess and help us live a better life. A nine-and- half year-old student, Rohan Bansal, requested the PM "to give us a better and corruption-free India".

PTI