Enough is enough, put an end to corruption

CHENNAI: Anna Hazare’s call for an indefinite fast and his arrest in New Delhi has evoked strong sentiments among a section of the city’s population. Supporters of the current waves of anti-corruption sentiment, that is sweeping across the length and breadth of the country, say that the large turnout of the middle class and youth in the protests is a true measure of its depth.Fasts and protest meetings held across the city in support of Anna Hazare’s clarion call against corruption, were dominated by young faces. Students and professionals waved flags and raised slogans even as older protestors addressed gatherings on the need for a strong anti-graft legislation through the Lokpal Bill.Large parts of the crowds that gathered at the protest venues were people who had taken off from work or had bunked college to show their solidarity with Anna Hazare and the other anti-corruption campaigners.“Till three months ago, I used to bunk college to watch movies or hang out. Then I joined the anti-corruption movement as a volunteer. I think it is worth every bit of my time and energy to come here and take part in the protests,” says 19-year-old Arvind, who volunteers with India Against Corruption.Arvind is quick to defend his decision of staying out of college for a few days. “This is the right moment for such protests. If this momentum and opportunity are lost, whatever I earn after finishing my studies is going to go down the drain of corruption. I can always catch up at college,” he says.“Not that I am recommending to others to bunk college, but they have to come out on to the streets and save our country,” Arvind adds.Even working professionals did their bit. While a large number of them took leave from work to sit in the solidarity fast or court arrest, some held small protests with their colleagues outside their office buildings before starting work.“Around 40 of us demonstrated outside our office for around half an hour. We would have loved to join the other protestors, but we have to go back to work. But we are following them closely on the webcast,” said S Vetrivel, a software engineer.There were a few who worked their way around such obstacles and said they intended to extend their leave from work as long as the protests lasted. “Enough is enough. We need to put a stop to corruption. We obviously cannot stop it, but we need to create the fear that could prevent people from committing corrupt acts,” said Palaniappan (name changed), a government employee, who took part in a protest near Mount Road. “The time is now, this is the opportunity. And the middle class is grabbing this opportunity,” he added.