NEW DELHI: An angry tide converged at Ramlila Ground on Sunday. As 74-year-old Anna Hazare entered the sixth day of his fast, the ranks of his supporters swelled to over 1 lakh, making it the biggest show of people's power at the ground in decades.

Supporters from across the country streamed in relentlessly through the day, singing and chanting, waving the Tricolor and wearing the 'Anna topi' to back the anti-corruption movement. Sunday's numbers were easily five times that seen at the ground on any of the previous days.

The police initially estimated the attendance at 30,000. After thousands more came marching in from India Gate in the evening, they said the figure had swelled to over 50,000. By late night, joint commissioner of police (north) Sudhir Yadav confirmed to TOI that the turnout had exceeded one lakh.

Several NRIs had come from as far as New Jersey, Texas and Singapore. Many flew in from places like Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai and Patna to "be part of the historic struggle". Said Jatin Sherawat, an MA student from Gandhinagar, "We are a team of seven students who decided to come after watching the protest on TV. We just bought tickets to Delhi and have decided to stay here. We couldn't imagine not being here."

Groups of lawyers, students, executives, neighbours and doctors formed teams and camped at the Maidan all day. "We will remain here all through Sunday night. We are inspired by how people have been coming every day and didn't want to sit home and watch all this on television. This is not the time for drawing room discussions," said Kritank Choudhry, a multinational executive.

Harveen Singh from Ludhiana had come along with 16 people and a "truckload of bananas, biscuits, water and food packets" that he distributed at the grounds. "I took advantage of the long weekend and decided to do what I can," he said with a smile.

The strength of the common man could also be felt at India Gate as supporters gather there late afternoon for the march to Ramlila Ground. From tiny tots dressed in white kurta pajama, sporting "I am with Anna' caps, to teenagers with faces painted in the Tricolor and senior citizens waving flags and chanting patriotic songs, the atmosphere was electric.

People stood on top of cars shouting slogans like "Inquilab zindabad", "Anna wale disco, sarkar wale khisko" and danced to nationalistic songs blaring from loudspeakers. They dressed the part in Tricolor wristbands, India T-shirts, and badges, some from campaigns like the anti-quota stir.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com