Arunachal family joins Anna at Ramlila

His pink hand-woven jacket, a trademark of the Mishmi tribe, might have stood out in the blistering heat on Sunday, but he was one with the surging crowds at the Ramlila Maidan celebrating after Anna Hazare broke his fast.

His pink hand-woven jacket, a trademark of the Mishmi tribe, might have stood out in the blistering heat on Sunday, but he was one with the surging crowds at the Ramlila Maidan celebrating after Anna Hazare broke his fast.

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Sotai Kri, an activist who came all the way from Arunachal Pradesh, more than 2,000km from Delhi, could be seen as an example of how Hazare drew supporters from across the country. “I want to show that people from Arunachal too are with Annaji,” said Kri, 48.

He uses the RTI Act to dig out graft in central funding for public projects in his state. After watching Hazare on TV during the April agitation at Jantar Mantar, Kri decided to join him in Delhi this time. “I also went to Rajghat when Annaji was there on August 15,” said Kri, a resident of Tezu in Lohit district. The Lokpal Bill will help curb corruption at least by 60%, he said.

Kri’s wife Basilu, 35, and daughter Jessica accompanied him. “People had demonstrated at Tezu when Hazare was arrested. The protesters were mostly young college students,” Basilu said.