Team Anna seeks Santa's help to deliver graft bill

Anna supporters are leaving no stone unturned in drumming up support for the proposed December 27 anti-corruption rally in the city and have asked Mumbaiites to decorate the Christmas tree with patriotic symbols like the tricolour, pictures of freedoms fighters and Anna badges.

Anna supporters are leaving no stone unturned in drumming up support for the proposed December 27 anti-corruption rally in the city and have asked Mumbaiites to decorate the Christmas tree with patriotic symbols like the tricolour, pictures of freedoms fighters and Anna badges.

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"We are requesting citizens and volunteers to decorate X-mas trees with patriotic symbols, which will build a nationalistic mood before the agitation," said Mayank Gandhi, coordinator of the Mumbai chapter of India Against Corruption (IAC), which is spearheading the campaign for the Lokpal Bill.

Supporting the jail bharo call by social activist Anna Hazare on January 1, Gandhi said, "On January 1, we will all be in jail, so people will celebrate the new year by singing patriotic songs and by coming onto the streets with the national flag."

Considering the increasing number of participants in the anti-graft agitation, IAC has applied for a bigger venue, at Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground. "We have applied for the

BKC ground, and should get the permission to use it by next week," said Preeti Sharma, an IAC volunteer.

IAC has also drawn up a list of activities for initial seven days of the agitation.

"We have planned only for seven days, but the program may be extended. Some of the activities are mahaa aarti, yagna, namaz and a mass for the Government of India to get well soon. The Indian government's health is not good, which is why they are not being able to listen to the public outcry," said Praful Vora, an IAC volunteer.