Author: Shaswati Das
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: August 25, 2011
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Protesters-bought-for-anti-Anna-agitation/Article1-737720.aspx
As Anna Hazare's supporters continue to gather
at the Ramlila Maidan, others who labelled the movement as 'unconstitutional'
assembled at India Gate to protest against the anti-graft crusader on Wednesday.
The protesters, led by Udit Raj, ran down Anna's movement and termed the Jan
Lokpal Bill as against the basic tenets of democracy.
Some of the protesters, however, claimed they
were participating because local touts had promised them money and free transport
for marching from India Gate to Jantar Mantar.
"Some of the touts in our localities
paid us in batches. We were paid Rs100 to Rs200 to be a part of this. We are
in desperate need of the money, so it didn't matter whether the protest was
pro or anti Anna," said Harish Sharma, who had been brought in from Haryana.
The agitators claimed that the entire march
had been organised by detractors of Anna, and touts had been paid in lump
sum to 'buy' protesters.
"Some of our local leaders got packets
of money by people having political affiliations. A part was this was used
to pay some of us. We were told to shout slogans against Anna," said
Rakesh Gupta, a protester.
However, organisers denied forcing people
to join the movement."Everyone gathered here has come of their own free
will and no one has been forced in any way. These are rumours and not to be
taken seriously," said Om Hari, one of the organisers.
Some people who had gathered at the venue
claimed that the organisers of the anti-Anna movement had misled them. "We
were told this was a movement to support Anna Hazare, which is why we came,"
said Om Shankar, from Ghaziabad.
