Social media supports Anna

Online revolution comes to India

samirsachdeva

Samir Sachdeva | April 7, 2011



With over 1,44,919 (as on April, 8 at 13:21 hrs) people who like the, “India against corruption” community page on Facebook, the internet is abuzz with the campaign initiated by Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and others against corruption. The movement is not only finding support within India but across the world as is evident from the website, Facebook page and twitter account (@JanLokpal) of the campaign, “India against corruption “. 

The online community pledged full support to the 72-year-old Hazare who has become the face of the campaign. While Anna and over 100 people are fasting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, there are others who are doing it in other metros and towns. One tweet claims that all employees in an MNC skipped their lunch in solidarity with Anna and the cause he is fighting for.

Another tweet compares Anna with Gandhi and states, “Today Anna Hazare is doing what Gandhiji did against the British to win freedom for India, Anna is fasting to make India free of corruption.”

Yet another tweet reads, “Whats the common b/w #JulianAssange and #AnnaHazare? Both say that our PM is misleading the nation!! #JanLokPal #PM #fail”. The twitter account @JanLokpal has already garnered 6,612 (as on April, 8 at 13:21 hrs) followers and the number is still swelling.

The Facebook page is also being used to organize people across the country like one of post encourages people in Jammu to extend support to organise an event in the city. The youth online are not only spreading the message amongst their peers to join Anna at the Jantar Mantar but also pledging to not to give or take a bribe. A message is also conveyed to children of government officials to encourage their parents to visit to Jantar Mantar.

One person on facebook wrote that, “We need a strong anti-corruption law. Corruption should be on par with treason against the country and there should be death penalty for it”

Reading the views of people on the social media it appears that India is also heading towards a people’s revolution as in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and social media like twitter and Facebook will definitely have a role in it.

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