Crowd at Team Anna fast, men misbehave with women journos

[1]

Team Anna's indefinite fast against the UPA government entered the third day on Friday with crowds still keeping away from the protest site where some people misbehaved with women media persons.

The crowd count was around 300 at 11 am when Anna Hazare took the dais along with his close aides at Jantar Mantar. The protest site wore a deserted look with people seen only near the stage.

Fasting Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, a diabetic whose health condition worsened a bit, made a brief appearance at the dais while others like Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai sat with Hazare.

Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi was not present. She tweeted, "today in Pune for two prior committed speaking engagements. Perhaps a bit of a break of a different kind."

As Hazare took to the stage, some people misbehaved with media persons and even pushed them.

After journalists complained to police, organisers announced that those indulging in such acts were not with the movement and police should take action against them.

Organisers blamed the incident on miscreants who are out to disrupt the fast.

Later, journalists identified a person who misbehaved with a woman media person and handed him over to volunteers.

Two women journalists said that they were pushed by some men who misbehaved with them.

Crowds have been keeping away from the indefinite fast raising questions as to whether the movement has lost its steam.

In signs of differences, Hazare has refused to endorse his aides' attack against President Pranab Mukherjee.

Hazare appeared not in sync with his close aides levelling allegations against Mukherjee, who was sworn in as the new President, when he congratulated him on assuming the highest constitutional office.