Hundreds of supporters today gathered outside Tihar prison eagerly waiting for the moment when anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare will come out of the jail after spending almost three days there.

People are arriving in large numbers since early morning to participate in Hazare’s proposed yatra to Ramlila Ground, which will be the site of his ongoing indefinite fast for a strong Lokpal.

Supporters expressed happiness over the 73-year-old Gandhian’s decision to come out from the prison complex following rounds of negotiations with the police and authorities to decide on the agitation venue to undertake hunger strike.

“I have come here late last night to participate in this mass movement. It is our victory and we will remove corruption from the country with Annaji’s help,” said Mr Ashok Marwah, a Dwarka resident who was among thousands others anxiously waiting for Mr Hazare’s release.

Mr S.P. Singh, a businessman who was offering refreshments to people protesting outside the prison, said: “I am happy that Anna will come out from Tihar today. Government must pass Jan Lokpal Bill and accept all demands of Anna unconditionally.”

“We will go with Anna and sit at Ramlila Maidan for as many days we can. We want Jan Lokpal Bill to kill this corruption,” Ms Manjula, a teacher by profession, said.

It was a festive atmosphere as people organised yagna and sang songs for Mr Hazare’s well-being and to extend support to the movement led by the anti-graft crusader.

Meanwhile, police have made elaborate security arrangements to keep any untoward incidents at bay. Around 300 police personnel have been pressed into service outside Tihar.

Apart from this, a team of bomb disposal squad has also come here along with sniffer dogs.

Notably, Delhi Police had detained Mr Anna Hazare on August 16 hours ahead of his proposed fast at JP Park but had later decided to release him apparently succumbing to widespread pressure from the Gandhian’s supporters.

Mr Hazare, however, refused to leave the jail, saying he would only come out when he will allowed to carry out fast unconditionally.

Later, his team had reached an agreement with the Government last morning under which the Delhi Police had removed all the restrictions and allowed him to carry out his hunger strike for a fortnight in the spacious Ramlila Maidan.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft campaign of Mr Hazare was received mass support from several parts of the country with people turning out in massive numbers in all major cities.

On Wednesday, Mr Hazare’s supporters thronged the streets of Delhi, carrying out a massive protest march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate.

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Published on August 19, 2011