Anna Hazare tops rakhi charts in Bihar
August 12th, 2011 - 3:42 pm ICT by IANS
Patna, Aug 12 (IANS) If the sale of rakhis is anything to go by, social activist Anna Hazare should be topping the popularity charts in Bihar - ahead of even cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni!
A day ahead of Raksha Bandhan, rakhis sporting the face of the 74-year-old Gandhian or named after him are doing brisk business across the state.
And those dedicated to political heroes like Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or his rival Lalu Prasad are lagging behind.
Clearly, the activist, whose fast unto death for an anti-corruption Lokpal bill in April had fired the imagination of many thousands and who embarks on another hunger strike Aug 16, has touched a chord.
“Rakhis named after Anna are selling briskly,” said Guddu Singh, a shopkeeper at the wholesale market in Old Patna city.
He said it was the first preference for people. “Anna has a clear edge over Nitish and Lalu in the rakhi market,” he said.
Agreed Surender Kumar, another shopkeeper: “The demand for rakhis with a picture of Anna is high among all, including girls, youth and children.”
Till last year, said Mohammed Hashib, Nitish Kumar and Lalu reigned.
“The rakhis are in huge demand. Even those who do not purchase these rakhis want to have a look at them.”
Interestingly, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh don’t really figure in the rakhi markets.
According to theatre activist Aneesh Ankur, Anna Hazare had become a hero figure amongst the people.
This should be good news for the Gandhian, who has rejected the government version of the Lokpal bill as inadequate and reiterated his decision to sit on an indefinite fast from Aug 16 in New Delhi.
- Nitish, Lalu, Paswan rakhis a hit in Bihar - Aug 23, 2010
- Nitish to use Lokpal bill for Lokayukta in Bihar (Second Lead) - Jun 30, 2011
- Congress trying to delay Lokpal Bill: Sushil Modi - Aug 30, 2011
- Government should clarify stance on lokpal: Nitish Kumar - Jun 30, 2011
- `Anna detained for wanting to defy prohibitory order' - Aug 16, 2011
- Am with Anna Hazare, says Nitish - Apr 08, 2011
- PUDR condemns Hazare arrest - Aug 16, 2011
- All party meeting urges Hazare to end fast (Lead) - Aug 24, 2011
- Hazare to fast again -- from Aug 16 - Jun 16, 2011
- Thousands gather outside Tihar Jail to hail Hazare - Aug 17, 2011
- End strike, PM appeals to Anna (Lead) - Aug 23, 2011
- Support goes up for Anna in scam-hit Jharkhand - Aug 21, 2011
- Hazare's attack on PM not Gandhian, says Sibal (Lead) - Aug 14, 2011
- Subversion of parliament shouldn't be allowed: Lalu - Aug 17, 2011
- Young and old in Bihar back Anna Hazare - Apr 07, 2011
Tags: brisk business, congress chief, gandhian, government version, guddu, hero figure, hunger strike, lalu prasad, mahendra singh, manmohan singh, patna city, political heroes, popularity charts, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, rakhis, raksha bandhan, social activist, sonia gandhi, wholesale market