CHENNAI: Anna Hazare’s protest against a ‘weak’ Lokpal Bill failed to strike a chord on the first day of his fast in the city on Tuesday, despite superstar Rajnikanth backing the movement symbolically by lending his Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam for the protest. India Against Corruption (IAC) activists blamed the poor attendance on the Christmas vacation, availability of the venue only on Monday, a working day, and language barrier.Another blow came in the form of the India-Australia test match, wherein Chennaiites were glued to their TV sets, anticipating cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th ton in first class cricket, said IAC volunteers.Although one could see the familiar faces, who took part during the previous demonstration held in LB Road in August, the protest failed to garner the support of women as well as the information technology sector, with empty chairs lying everywhere.“It is not that the IT sector did not back us. It is because the protest is being held on a working day and we got the venue only at the last moment,” said Srinivas, an IAC volunteer.Radhika Ganesh, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) from London, who is among the three women on a three-day continuous fast, said that the language barrier had resulted in the poor turnout in Chennai. “Anna speaks only in Marathi and Hindi and the people of the State can’t understand it,” she said.Currently, there are 28 people on a continuous fast, said IAC volunteer Banu Gomes, adding that another 100 volunteers were observing a relay fast.She said that people from various non-governmental entities like Nallore Vattam, Shiksha, Tanjore RTI Activists Team, Anti Bribe Coalition, Voice of Indian and Tamilnadu Anti-Corruption Movement were participating in the protest.Earlier, activists were found standing on the roadside holding up placards urging people to sign up for the protest. “All the youngsters have gone out to campaign. Tomorrow you will see more crowd,” an IAC activist said.
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