MUMBAI: A day after Anna Hazare called off his fast at the MMRDA grounds, a clearly flustered city unit of the India Against Corruption (IAC) quickly dismantled the podium on which veteran activist fasted, on Thursday, after facing a media onslaught.
Team Anna said it would go ahead and tour five states going to the polls but failed to acknowledge the absence of huge numbers on the grounds.
Core committee members are likely to meet in Anna's native village, Ralegan Siddhi, after eight days to plan a new strategy.
Refusing to call it a defeat, Ruben Mascarenhas, IAC youth coordinator, said it was in fact a credible victory to the agenda that Team Anna set out with, as they succeeded in getting Parliament to debate the ombudsman bill.
"It may be a setback but it is not actually a defeat. Many people are confused. If you ask people, there is no clarity. Let's look at the positives. Had Anna not gone on an agitation, we wouldn't really have a bill in Parliament. It's unfair to say that Mumbai let down Anna as on August 21 we had the largest rally with four lakh people on the streets, much more than Delhi," said Mascarenhas.
He admitted that they were victims of their own success. "We raised the level of people participation. Each time there is an agitation, there's a constant build-up. But the government has amply demonstrated that it has no political will in bringing a strong Lokpal," he said.
Mayank Gandhi, chief coordinator, IAC Mumbai, said, "We underestimated the government's power. On the first day 42,000 people came, not all at once. It takes time to build a movement. The main issue was transport, as I received calls from many people who were unable to reach the venue. I do not think it was a no-show business. At the Ramlila Maidan, the turnout was more as Annaji was arrested during the time."
Gandhi said if a joint select committee was formed to iron out differences, Team Anna will work towards putting pressure on the select committee. "For me, the bill isn't as important as much as the awakening it created in the minds of people," he said.
Team Anna said it would go ahead and tour five states going to the polls but failed to acknowledge the absence of huge numbers on the grounds.
Core committee members are likely to meet in Anna's native village, Ralegan Siddhi, after eight days to plan a new strategy.
Refusing to call it a defeat, Ruben Mascarenhas, IAC youth coordinator, said it was in fact a credible victory to the agenda that Team Anna set out with, as they succeeded in getting Parliament to debate the ombudsman bill.
"It may be a setback but it is not actually a defeat. Many people are confused. If you ask people, there is no clarity. Let's look at the positives. Had Anna not gone on an agitation, we wouldn't really have a bill in Parliament. It's unfair to say that Mumbai let down Anna as on August 21 we had the largest rally with four lakh people on the streets, much more than Delhi," said Mascarenhas.
He admitted that they were victims of their own success. "We raised the level of people participation. Each time there is an agitation, there's a constant build-up. But the government has amply demonstrated that it has no political will in bringing a strong Lokpal," he said.
Mayank Gandhi, chief coordinator, IAC Mumbai, said, "We underestimated the government's power. On the first day 42,000 people came, not all at once. It takes time to build a movement. The main issue was transport, as I received calls from many people who were unable to reach the venue. I do not think it was a no-show business. At the Ramlila Maidan, the turnout was more as Annaji was arrested during the time."
Gandhi said if a joint select committee was formed to iron out differences, Team Anna will work towards putting pressure on the select committee. "For me, the bill isn't as important as much as the awakening it created in the minds of people," he said.
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