As Anna Hazare Sits at Ramlila Ground, The Nation Joins March

On the fourth day of Anna Hazare’s fast for the Jan Lokpal bill, he appeared stronger encouraged by people’s overwhelming support.

Anna left Tihar jail but the room where Anna stayed has turned into a veritable shrine with prisoners and police personnel of the prison coming there to offer respect.

Anna Hazare left Tihar jail as over two and a half lakh people accompanied his vehicle late this morning. The immense support for Jan Lokpal Bill was reflected as people joined his convoy. Many had traveled from far away to be part of it.

Anna made his way to Rajghat as he paid tribute to Bapu Gandhi. From there he proceeded to Ramlila ground where again several thousand people greeted him. By evening the crowd was over one lakh strong. The number swells by the hour.

The rain did not dampen the spirits of the people gathered and as if on cue there was a heavy downpour as Anna reached Ramlila ground. Anna was accompanied by his associates Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia even as Kiran Bedi welcomed him on stage. Kiran Bedi had been speaking to the over eager people gathered at Ramlila Maidan since the morning assuring them that Anna was on his way to speak to them.

Also greeting Anna were RTI activists Akhil Gogoi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey.

The people gathered there were ecstatic as Anna addressed them and thanked them for their concern and good wishes. Anna said he was full of energy as the energy of the hundreds of thousands of supporters the nation over was giving him more power than he needed.

Dr. Naresh Trehan examined Anna Hazare and said that Anna is in good health. His vitals are strong and he is well.
Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan took questions from reporters in the evening.

Talking about their detention at Tihar, Arvind Kejriwal revealed that they were taken to Tihar prison and not allowed use of their phones or given access to television even though the police claimed Anna Hazare and his associates were not under arrest.

Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan in response to questions about the points of negotiation in the Jan Lokpal bill said that they are not approaching the issue as negotiable points and non negotiable points. The bill must be strong and tackle corruption effectively and that is a non negotiable. On speculation about cracks within the team demanding a Jan Lokpal bill made it clear that this is all speculation and canards spread with little or no effect. Justice Hegde and the rest of the drafting committee of team Anna has been in touch and are taking each others viewpoints in order to make sure the bill is effective and acceptable to all.
Support continues to pour in from organizations and individuals from Delhi and the nation over.

• The All Assam Students Union extended their support as they joined the campaign for the Jan Lokpal Bill. Contact Gautam – 9435548496
• The students of IIT Guwahati joined the demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill extending their support to Anna. Contact Sayak Bhattacharya 9864840081
• Mumbai fasted with Anna as for the first time in history the legendary Mumbai dubbawalas did not deliver lunch. This is the first time in 120 years that these tireless tiffin carriers did not carry tiffins. 5000 of them gathered at Azad Maidaan demanding the Jan Lokpal Bill.There was also a rally in support of Anna Hazare in Thane West.
• People in Jamshedpur are on an indefinite fast demanding the introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill. There is also a signature campaign in Jamshedpur for the cause Contact Arti Bajpeyi Dubey 9993503232, Harish Khutiar (Jaishpur) – 94241 82442
• The Indian Ex servicemen Movement (IESM) joined the demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill as they joined the call given by a former soldier of the Indian army – Anna Hazare. Contact Bill Maj Gen Satbir Vice Chairman 9312404269, Cmdr. Vibhuti – 986810277
• In Babarpur, Auraiya(UP) over 350 people are sitting on dharna demanding the introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Contact 9045498201
• There was a flower rally from Rajghat to Ramlila ground in support of Anna Hazare’s demand for a Jan Lokpal Bill. Contact – Abhimanyu 9873917110 and Arunima 9560786279
• A candle march asking for a Jan Lokpal Bill and supporting Anna Hazare was held in Dimapur, Nagaland.
• A candle march asking for a Jan Lokpal Bill and supporting Anna Hazare was held in in Dharmanagar in the state of Tripura as well. Support continues to swell in the North Eastern states.
• There were rallies for a Jan Lokpal Bill and in support of Anna in Jammu. The rally was from Central Park to Gol market. Contact Amer 9796876680
• There was a gathering of over a thousand non resident Indians at the Indian Consulate at Angelo Rosse Park in San Fransisco – USA.
• There will be a march in support of Anna and his demand for a Jan Lokpal bill in Connaught Place on the 20th of August 2011. Assembly point – K Block near Nirulas outer circle at 3pm. The March will proceed to Ramlila ground at 1pm.
• There will be a rally in Kolkata in support of Anna and the Jan Lokpal Bill. The rally will proceed from The Metro Channel near Metro cinema at 5pm on 20 Aug 2011.
• There will be a candle march at the Indian High Commission in London between 6pm and 8pm London Time, 20 August 2011.
• There will be a march in Los Angeles State Bank Of India pioneer boulevard on the 20th of August 2011.