Even as Anna Hazare is set to embark upon his indefinite fast in New Delhi, alumni of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B), settled in the US will also sit on a silent hunger strike in his support on August 14 and 15 at the Gandhi Memorial, Union Square in New York.
The initiators said that they had carried out a similar strike on July 4, on the occasion of Independence Day of America and would have a series of such “sit-outs” in the future to raise awareness against the growing corruption in the world and to support Mr Hazare’s cause.
Throwing light on the initiative Makarand Bhoot, who is the director of the Professional Alliance for Technology and Habitat said that the Courage Versus Corruption, Greed and Violence campaign would start from August 15 and continue till September 11. “I am just an individual, apolitical, busy professional. The symbolic sit-out reflects our indifference to the killings in Norway, shootings in Newark, public rioting in Greece and UK, crackdown in Syria, nation building in Iraq and other high-handed actions of the authorities world over. I am not hopeless, I will not join any riots nor will I pick up guns, I shall fast to protest all this,” said Mr Bhoot.
The campaign has received a heartening response and at least 41 people including IITians settled in New York have confirmed their participation. “IITians from other parts of the United States of America who are not able to attend, have conveyed their participation in spirit, which is a sign that people want an end to corruption, greed and violence,” Mr Bhoot said.
The director further said that if people get together and support agitations like that of Mr Hazare, no power could misguide nations or conspire to sabotage the future of the nation.
While the campaign will not be a continuous one, Mr Bhoot said that such sit-outs have been organised on August 14, August 21, September 1 and
September 11 at different locations all over New York so that those who wish to show their solidarity with the cause, can participate as per their convenience.