New Delhi: It was supposed to an Anna Hazare’s show, but it’s Arvind Kejriwal who proved to be the show-stealer. The rather low in spirit farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s land ordinance at Jantar Mantar had an energy boost when the Delhi chief minister Kejriwal reached the venue with party legislators and a large band of volunteers. Like a true leader, he came, he saw and he made the event his own.
As Kejriwal joined the anti-corruption crusader on dais, he was received with a standing ovation from the gathering of farmers, volunteers and activists. The grand welcome made one thing clear: Anna Hazare’s decision to take a U-turn overnight, and allow political parties including the AAP to share the platform with him was to give the much-needed heft to the movement that is lacking the spark that his India Against Corruption campaign enjoyed.
Arvind Kejriwal and Anna Hazare at the rally in Delhi's Jantar Mantar. PTI
A few days before the farmers’ movement, Hazare pledged it to be a non-political one and ensured that he would not share dais with politicians.
Even, the organisers of the umbrella body of various farmers’ unions — Bhoomi Adhigrahan Adhyadesh Pratirodh Aandolan, who had sought Hazare’s active involvement in the movement — had told the media, "Annaji has made it clear that the movement should not be a political one and he won’t share dais with politicians". It was decided that on the first day (23 February), it will be ‘only Anna Hazare’ and the farmers, whereas on 24 February, the political parties would join the movement.
On Tuesday it was different. Unlike, on Monday, where Hazare was found sitting alone on a separate dais and addressing the gathering, Tuesday he shared the platform with prominent social activists and leaders from various political parties including the Left, MDMK founder Vaiko and later Kejriwal.
"Kejriwalji’s entry into this movement led by Annaji will ensure that the Centre would take note of our demands. After all he’s a big leader and he proved it by finishing-off both the Congress and the BJP in Delhi election," remarked Gurgaon-based farmer Harpal, who came along with a farmers' rally.
Rajeev Sharma, an enthusiastic citizen, who came from RK Puram to be a part of the movement, said, "Today, after joining of the political parties and Kejriwal, this agitation has become stronger and vibrant than yesterday. It is also because the cadres of these parties are backing the farmers, making this agitation look like a mass movement. A stronger voice is essential to make the government hear our voice."
Infusing confidence among the farmers of Delhi, Kejriwal said, "Though Delhi’s land issue in under the jurisdiction of the Centre, I as Delhi CM declare that no land would forcefully be acquired from any farmer from the villages in Delhi."
While, Anna Hazare’s call for 'Jail Bharo Aandolan' on Monday marked his day, on Tuesday it was Kejriwal who virtually stole the show.
He received a wide applause and the crowd started sloganeering loudly when he said, "We’re supporting Annaji’s movement. If the government tries to bulldoze the public, the latter will dethrone it. It happened with the Congress in the country and with the BJP in Delhi. So, any government should deter from formulating anti-poor, anti-farmer policies, which otherwise may prove detrimental."
The marriage of the farmers and the political parties on Tuesday made the movement look more assertive, more gregarious. Amidst the sea of farmers, volunteers wearing white topis inscribed 'Main Anna Samarthak' and 'Main Aam Aadmi', and white, green and red flags and banners of farmers' organisations and political parties gave a revolutionary look to the movement.
"Both Kejriwalji and Annaji came together and gave birth to anti-corruption movement. This time again this union would lead to a big farmers’ movement and force the government to take a note of it,” a group of AAP volunteers wearing topis remarked.
Meanwhile, the government has constituted an eight-member committee to contact the farmers' groups and discuss the issue.
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