People hold a rally in support of Hazare's anti-graft campaign

New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) Rallying behind Indian activist
Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption, thousands of people
Sunday marched a distance of five kilometres from India Gate
to Ramlila Maidan, the venue of the Gandhian's indefinite fast
demanding a strong Lokpal.
All roads led to India Gate, located in the centre of
the national capital, as people converged at 5 PM for a
'Maharally' to Ramlila Maidan, shouting slogans supporting the
'Campaign Against Corruption'.
Slogans supporting Anna Hazare and opposing the
Indian Government's Lokpal Bill could be heard all along the
way as people marched peacefully from India Gate via Tilak
Marg, ITO to reach Ramlila Maidan.
Team Anna members Swami Agnivesh and Kiran Bedi joined
thousands of people at the India Gate and led the rally.
Delhiites were not alone in the endeavour as people from
neighbouring states like Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh
too joined in the long march to send a strong message to the
Government.
"I want a corruption-free India. I had to pay a bribe of
10,000 rupees to get my tractor loan sanctioned. Why should I
pay this money?" asked Kanwal Preet, a farmer who travelled
all the away from Sangrur district of Punjab to attend the
rally.
"We come from one of the most backward parts of the
country. We stand with Anna to prove that we stand behind
him," said Yogesh, a student from Bundelkhand region of Uttar
Pradesh, waving a flag displaying "Bundelkhand with Anna."
"I had a plan for Sunday. But once I heard about this
rally, I decided to take part in this as I want to express my
support to Hazare's campaign against corruption. This is the
best way to tell the government that people are with Hazare,"
Anish Antony, a software professional, said.

People shouted slogans and chanted patriotic songs to
keep the spirits high. A goodwill gesture was also visible
with public volunteering for each other, offering drinking
water to the needy en-route.
People from all walks of life, including kids, teens,
youth and the elderly marched together all the way to take
part in Anna's fast at Ramlila Maidan.
Kiran Bedi, an active member of Team Anna and Swami
Agnivesh also joined the rally at India Gate.
Social networking sites like Facebook and Google Plus
were abuzz with messages that a grand rally will be organised
at India Gate this evening. The messages also asked people to
come out in large numbers.