Day 6 draws 30,000-strong crowd

“I have never participated in a movement like this. I have been watching people unite against corruption on television and this time I thought,it’s high time I join them,” said Jyoti Patil,who came from Sewri with her brother. Sonal Kabra,an Art of Living teacher from Goregaon,came with her sister flashing a big banner she had designed with her group of friends in support of Anna Hazare. “Corruption is government’s oppression on us. If we don’t stand up for ourselves now,who will?” said Kabra.

Although a section of the Bandra Linking Road was closed for the protesters,traffic by and large remain unaffected on Sunday. Of the 60 people who were on an indefinite fast,only a handful joined the rally.

“People who have been fasting are tired physically,but mentally,they are very determined to fight,” said Naresh Thakur,who quit his job at 3 Global Services in October to join the stir. Thakur is now the youth coordinator for India Against Corruption.

Despite low blood pressure and vomiting,all 60 continued their indefinite fast on the sixth day of the stir. Eighteen-year-old Diptendra Gupta,who fainted on Saturday,was up on his feet on Sunday singing patriotic songs.

As many as 150 bikers from Mumbai and Pune rode to Azad Maidan to join the protest.