Mumbai, Aug 28 (IANS) Indians in Tokyo extended their best wishes to anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare in his victory for a strong anti-graft Lokpal bill and said they were relieved that the Indian government had agreed to his key demands.


Ranjeet Kumar Sharma, originally from Bihar and working in Tokyo, congratulated Hazare for the victory.

"It is a great victory of the people’s movement. Following the path of non-violence, Anna has now become a world leader, while (his associate Arvind) Kejriwal has emerged as modern day Arjun,” he told IANS in an e-mail.

Hazare’s crusade for a strong Lokpal bill had evoked tremendous support among Indians living and working in Tokyo. Besides a signature campaign, a series of programmes were also organised to extend support to the veteran activist.

“We had carried out symbolic protests in prominent places of Tokyo besides a signature campaign in which over 600 people took part,” Swapnali Puradkar, one of the organisers, told IANS in an e-mail.

According to Puradkar, given the rules in Japan, people cannot take out a rally but were permitted to gather in small groups to voice their protests against corruption and their commitment to Hazare’s cause.

"It is a beginning of new era of Indian democracy. Let us start eradicating corruption at an individual level. This will be the real victory for Anna’s movement," said Sonal Khire, an accountant from Maharashtra working in Japan.

Ketan Shah, who hails from Gujarat, said the credit goes to Hazare and his strong willpower.

"I am with Anna always. I will be glad that India will turn into a clean, corruption-free country. All credit goes to Anna," he said.

Prem Keswani, an IT professional originally from Maharashtra, however, said that it is disappointing to know that parliament has not clearly communicated as to what can be expected in the near future.

"It is certainly a great victory - for Anna and the people of India. But I am disappointed that the parliament did not clearly say as to what to expect in the in coming days. There isn’t a clear nod on all important points yet," he said.

Sagar Kamble, a finance professional and also from Maharashtra, said that after 64 years of Independence, Team Anna and the people of India once again started a fight for freedom - against corruption.

"In two weeks, the government had to bow to the demands of a common man and it was a victory of non-violence. Thank you, Gandhiji, for showing us the way, thank you Annaji for reinventing it and thank you people for believing in it,” he said.