Govindas sport Gandhi caps in Hazare’s support

The Anna Hazare fever seemed to have gripped even the Govindas plying across the city breaking Handis on Monday.

The Anna Hazare fever seemed to have gripped even the Govindas plying across the city breaking Handis on Monday.

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Scores of Govindas were seen wearing T-shirts extolling the importance of the Jan Lokpal bill, along with a Gandhi cap, while celebrating the festival.

In the case of Bal Mitra Mandal, a reputed mandal in Sewri, which broke 30 handis, the cap was a new addition to the attire. “We are tired of corruption and wanted to express our support to Anna,” said Sandeep Mhatre, president of the mandal. He said the Gandhi caps, with ‘I am Anna Hazare’ written on them, was worn by 150 of their members.

The Saurabh Govinda Pathak Mandal went to the extent of printing six different slogans on the T-shirts at their own cost and distributing to their members.

Some buildings and cooperative societies that put up handis also saw members raise slogans such as Anna Hazare Zindabad while breaking handis. “Annaji has won our hearts and these slogans come naturally since he talks for us,” said Subhash Solanki, a businessman.

According to India Against Corruption (IAC), Mumbai, there was a great response from the Govindas towards the movement. “Even when we were protesting at MP Anand Paranjpe’s house, all the Govindas teams coming there were shouting slogans in our support. They are with us,” said Nitin Jaswanis, Volunteer, IAC, who was stationed outside Paranjpe’s house the whole day.