Anna Hazare demonstrated his crowd-pulling abilities outside Indian shores on Sunday as he, along with Bollywood actor Vidya Balan, drew large numbers of Indian-Americans in New York for what turned out to be the Big Apple’s biggest-ever India Day parade. Some estimated the turnout at close to 200,000 – a huge number by American standards.
Sporting “I Am Anna” caps, supporters of Hazare were in strength, as were others to simply wave to a bewitching Balan and enjoy the colourful procession of some 40-odd floats and marching bands down the Madison Avenue.
In brief remarks on the occasion, Hazare lauded the Indian-Americans for “holding the Tiranga high” in their adopted home and urged them to join in the effort to create an India free from corruption and on the road to all-round development.
Hazare voiced his hope that the much-delayed lokoal Bill would be taken up and passed in the current session of Parliament. “If the Jan lokpal comes into being, India can be rid of at least 50 per cent of the corruption,” he remarked.
Manhattan’s prominent avenue was turned into an Indian enclave as thousands of people, holding the Indian tricolour, cheered as the floats and marching columns proceeded to the beat of dhols and an assortment of Indian instruments. A replica of the Red Fort dominated the arena where cultural programmes were held, with celebrations drawing people from other ethnic groups.
“New York City’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths,” said Joe lhota, a Republican candidate who used the occasion to mingle with would-be voters as he tries to become Mayor of a city that remains an out-and-out Democratic fortress.
Another putting the parade to good use was Indian-American Reshma Saujani, a Democrat running to become Public Advocate of New York City “to create opportunities for all New Yorkers, move the middle class forward and find innovative solutions to our city’s greatest challenges”.
With his New York engagements over on Monday with ringing the bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange and visiting the UN headquarters, Hazare was all set to criss-cross America over the next 10 days, with events lined up in half-a-dozen major cities, including Washington.
Sanjay Amin, president of the Federation of Indian Associations, which has been organizing the India Day parade for 33 years, said the police had estimated the crowd to be around two lakh. This was clearly double of the turnout last year, and Amin attributed it to the presence of Hazare, Balan and other special invitees.