Anna rally to gauge public mood today

NEW DELHI: One has ordered 1,000 mattresses, the other 1,000 cops. Clearly, both Anna Hazare’s team and the city’s police are taking their preparations for the Gandhian’s return to Jantar Mantar very seriously.
Anna, who will observe a daylong fast at the monument on Sunday, is expected to draw up to 7,000 supporters for the test event that will indicate the public mood before his marathon fast at Ramlila Maidan from December 27. Team Anna has already sent out more than a lakh SMSs regarding the two agitations in the city. Its Facebook page, too, has reportedly received a lot of hits.
Unlike in August, when the protesters and the administration had faced off over the venue, this time both sides have engaged cordially. Team Anna has received permission to block a portion of Jantar Mantar and put up the dais in the middle of the road.
The whole show is better managed, too. There is a special media enclosure and barriers have been set up to contain the enthusiastic crowd that might try to push its way towards Anna, causing a stampede. The public address system will use 128 loudspeakers in 16 columns of eight each.
“Anna is a known figure now. More than that, the organizers have arranged for political debates all through the second half of the programme and orators like Arun Jaitley and Brinda Karat are expected to participate. Last time, we did not allow the crowd to stand in front of the main dais after a point of time. However, this time, we might have to give in,’’ said a senior police officer.
While the organizers are not predicting the turnout publicly, Anna himself told the media on Saturday that he expected the response this time would be bigger than that for the August agitation.
“Our volunteers and our men will be at the Patel Chowk and Rajiv Chowk Metro stations to guide people. At least 1,000 cops from the New Delhi district, the CP reserve and the special branch will be on duty on Sunday,’’ said a police officer. The venue is usually allowed to host 5,000 people but the police are prepared for a 7,000-plus crowd during the evening. “We can handle up to 10,000 people at the venue,’’ said the officer.
For Anna’s supporters from outside Delhi, the turnout is not a concern. “Just come back on Sunday and see the response. Annaji will silence his critics,’’ said Sachin Padgaonkar from Latur in Maharashtra.
Some outfits like Rastriya Goraksha Sena, Indian Liberation Movement for Nagaland and the Telangana Movement for Statehood, though, seemed unhappy with Anna’s supporters and accused them of dictating terms at the venue. Some local vendors also reportedly had arguments with Anna supporters on the setting up of shops near the venue.
Dr Simmy Joseph, who is on an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar, said democracy at Jantar Mantar was as important as Anna’s cause. “This area is for all those who support democracy. I too am Anna and I too have my right to stay put here and continue my fight.’’