75,000 citizens pledge support to Anna’s fast

Nearly 75,000 people across the city have pledged to fast with social activist Anna Hazare on August 16 to demand a strong Lokpal bill, claimed members of the NGO India Against Corruption (IAC) members on Friday.

Nearly 75,000 people across the city have pledged to fast with social activist Anna Hazare on August 16 to demand a strong Lokpal bill, claimed members of the NGO India Against Corruption (IAC) members on Friday.

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Volunteers of IAC have been visiting 11 railway stations daily to ask people if they would fast and support Hazare. “Nearly 75,000 people have said that they would be fasting with Anna,” said Mayank Gandhi, member, IAC.

Hazare has declared that if the government passed the Lokpal bill that has been currently proposed in the Parliament, he would begin his fast-unto-death from August 16. “Over 100 associations from Mumbai such as the taxi union, dabbawalas and trade associations have pledged their support to Anna,” added Gandhi.

The volunteers have declared August 16 as a Black Day and have urged people to bunk work on the day. “We will ask people to observe August 16 as Black Day,” said Gandhi.

Explaining the idea behind burning the draft copies, Gandhi said, “If the government says burning a government draft is the Parliament’s insult, then proposing such a bill is an insult to the Parliament as well as democracy.”