Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 10 (IANS) For Ranjit Kumar, an ice-cream vendor here, Anna Hazare’s five-day long fast against graft was a lucky opportunity to increase sales. As for corruption, he says that earning a livelihood and providing for his family were his chief concerns.

“I came here so that I can have higher sales,” said Kumar, who came to Jantar Mantar from Paharganj when he heard of the veteran Gandhian’s fast.

He was aware that the protest was against corruption, but for him, if bribing a police officer was the only way to earn his living, he has no problem with it.

“I have to pay Rs.400-500 every month to policemen for putting my ice-cream trolley in Paharganj, near the railway station,” he said.

Asked if he would approach the Lokpal (ombudsman) once it is formed, his answer is a quick no.

“Bhaiya, if I go to complain, then the officials will come to know and I will lose whatever I earn. Even the action (by the Lokpal) will take a year or so, and till then I can’t go hungry,” he said.

For Kumar and many vendors like him who have put up their trolleys around Jantar Mantar and India Gate, the two epicentres of the protest, earning a livelihood was a bigger problem than corruption.

Rahmatulla, who sells snacks at India Gate, was surprised when he heard the word ‘Lokpal’.

When told about the details of the proposed anti-graft bill, he said: “How can I go to complain against anyone? I have to work everyday and if I go to complain, I will lose a day’s earnings.”

However, Raju Sharma, an auto driver said he was aware of the agitation.

“I hope that the corrupt officers and politcians are punished soon,” he said.

Hardly a kilometre from Jantar Mantar, at Patel Chowk, 12-year-old Raju works at a juice shop. He is unaware of what ‘bhrashtachar’ (corruption) means.

For the shop-owner Rawat too, it wasn’t such an issue.

“Our relations with people are such, we never face any problem,” he said.