After 12 days of protest, a day of ‘victory’

Thousands of Anna Hazare supporters gathered at India Gate Sunday evening to celebrate what they described as a miracle pulled off by a 74-year-old.

Thousands of Anna Hazare supporters gathered at India Gate Sunday evening to celebrate what they described as a miracle pulled off by a 74-year-old. The festivities, which began Saturday night, reached a crescendo when Hazare accepted a glass of coconut water from Dalit and Muslim girls — Simran (4) and Iqra (8) — at 10.20am, breaking his 288-hour fast that began on August 16.

“I am hopeful that Parliament will not go back on its promise,” Hazare told supporters at Ramlila Maidan.

The scorching sun made the day tough for some people. Many fainted and some complained of uneasiness to volunteers who took them to the medical camp at the venue.

Around 11am, Hazare drove out of Ramlila Maidan and reached Gurgaon’s Medanta, the Medicity hospital, where his health is being monitored by a team of specialists.

By night-time, more than 50,000 people gathered at India Gate to celebrate the victory call given by India Against Corruption campaigners.