Click to play videoMumbai: Anna Hazare wished to escape the Delhi chill but the steep rent of the venue in Mumbai has left India Against Corruption (IAC) out in the cold. With over Rs 19 lakh to be paid for five days at MMRDA grounds, and no government concessions in sight, Team Anna seems inclined to use Azad Maidan.
The IAC, in a statement said, "It appears that the CM is not giving Annaji the exemption for MMRDA. Andolan will be at Azad Maidan. IAC is going ahead with providing intimation to concerned authorities."
However, a writ petition has been filed by IAC against MMRDA and Maharashtra government for not giving MMRDA protest site for agitation beginning December 27.
But activists feel Azad Maidan will be inadequate.
So far, the part of Azad Maidan that Team Anna can use can only accommodate 3000 to 4000 people, while the 30000 sq metre MMRDA grounds could accommodate a crowd of up to 1 lakh.
Team Anna has now begun talking to the sports associations controlling other parts of Azad Maidan to accommodate the crowds. The proposed Mumbai fast has already attracted opposition from some Mumbai organisations; some have threatened a parallel agitation saying Hazare is not against corruption but against the government.
Though MMRDA grounds seem to have been almost ruled out, Azad Maidan may not be an ideal venue for the large scale protest. Special permission will also have to be taken for overnight use of the ground and the police have expressed concern over crowd control.
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