Hazare returns to hero’s welcome by hordes of citizens with flags and garlandsin his trademark white kurta pyjama smiled, acknowledged d mass applause

Hazare returns to hero’s welcome

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Social crusader Anna Hazare reached Pune on Monday where he was welcomed by hordes of citizens with flags and garlands. While some tried to seek his blessings, others tried to shake hands. The Pune airport reverberated with the sound of drums as Hazare in his trademark white kurta pyjama smiled and acknowledged the mass applause.

As the crowd almost mobbed him, policemen escorted Hazare to his Safari barricading the people from approaching him. But for his supporters, it was a time to rejoice as his fight had forced the government to act. They broke the police barricade to shake hands with Anna through the window of Safari which was rolled down. A few blocks outside the airport, Anna stopped and spoke to media. “The fight against corruption is an important one and there has to be wide public support for it,” Hazare told the media. Hazare said without public support, corruption can not be wiped out. The crusader, who has been busy articulating his views, was apparently not ready to stay longer in Pune as his cavalcade sped off towards his Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmednagar district where villagers were waiting to welcome him.

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Anna’s followers in the battle who made to the airport included trade union leaders, tailors, auto-drivers and social activists. “Corruption is a reality and there is corruption in every sphere of life now. It is more severe a disease than cancer and we need to fight it tooth and nail,” said Shanker Tadakhe, an autodriver who was in the crowd.

K D Pawar, city president of Brashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan Vyas, said, “Anna Hazare is leading a battle against corruption. This fight is more important today then any other one and everyone in the country should join it.”

Pune co-ordinator of India Against Corruption, B B Somane, said after Anna joined in the fight against corruption the movement against the malaise has taken a new strength. “In the last few days after the nationwide agitation on corruption started, we have collected some 25,000 to 30,000 signatures in favour of the agitation against corruption. We are meeting the MPs from Pune district seeking their support for the Lokpal Bill when it is brought in Parliament.” Pawar said even at mohalla levels there are committees of BVJAV which has taken out rallies in the city to make people aware of the Lokpal Bill.