Corporates pledge support to Hazare

The protest against corruption, led by Gandhian Anna Hazare, is not only garnering support on social networking sites but has even shaken up the corporate sector. Faizan Haider reports.

The protest against corruption, led by Gandhian Anna Hazare, is not only garnering support on social networking sites but has even shaken up the corporate sector.

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Executives from various multi-national companies (MNCs) located in Gurgaon went to Jantar Mantar, where Hazare is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike, on Wednesday to support the cause. Some even volunteered to keep a fast along with him over the weekend.

“All of us should do our bit. When a 72-year-old man is fasting unto death, we can at least support him. We had gone to Jantar Mantar during the lunch break today but will spend the entire day there on Saturday and Sunday. We all face corruption in our daily life but never raise our voice against it. This is the time to join hands and turn this movement into a revolution,” said Anand Jain, a general manager in IBM.

Jain, along with his colleague Sanjeev, hopes to mobilise more people to join the protest.

“I live in east Delhi and came to my office in Cyber City in the morning. Jain and I decided to join the movement and we went to Jantar Mantar by the Metro. We returned in an hour but will surely go again on our next holiday,” Sanjeev said.

Meanwhile, Jain, a resident of Malibu Towne in Gurgaon, is sure the movement will pick up pace. People from all walks of life, including students, teachers, artistes, retired government officers and activists are pouring in at Jantar Mantar to extend support to the demand for a powerful lokpal (ombudsman).

The lokpal is envisaged to have powers to dismiss corrupt officials, including judges and politicians.