Protest site turns 'selling point'

Business, after all, is business. And Delhiites sure know how to seize an opportunity. So, more than 24 hours before Anna Hazare starts on his indefinite fast, the scene at Ramlila Grounds in central Delhi was reminiscent of Aamir Khan's Peepli Live. Hundreds of women were sitting on the roadside selling flowers, flags. There were tattoo makers, channawalas and others in the hope of cashing in on the event.u00a0
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Cashing in: Footpath vendors sell national flags and Anna topis in front
of Ramlila Maidan, in New Delhi on Thursday. PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

Protesters and many families will be assembling at the Ramlila Grounds from today. Media has already reached the spot. The vendors perhaps hope that these people at least won't actively partake in the fast and bring them some business in the process.

This time before the protesters, a long numbers of street vendors have assembled around Ramlila Ground after the news of Anna's strike at Ramlila Ground was announced on Thursday morning.u00a0 The Ramlila Ground is being decorated by Anna's supporters to give him a warm welcome. Anna has announced that he will come out of Tihar Jail after all preparations in Ramlila Maidan is made.

Rohit Jha, a native of Sitamani district in Bihar, said that earlier he was selling snacks at Jantar Mantar when Anna was there. On Wednesday he went to Tihar Jail and made a huge profit. "Today I came to know that Anna is coming out of Tihar Jail and will sit on strike at Ramlila Maidan. I then came over here. Now I have learnt that he will be coming on Friday. I passed on this information to my other friends. We hope to make good profit here," he said.u00a0

Leela Bai, who sells flags, said that she will support Anna Hazare. "Earlier I used to sell the flags and tattoos outside Kotla Stadium at the time of cricket matches. But these days, protests have become a money-spinner," he said.u00a0u00a0

Paramjeet Singh Pamma, President of Sadar Bazaar market association said that every year after Independence Day the sale of flags was usually very low. "This year we have done good business and our sales have gone up more than 30 to 40 per cent. People have been coming to us for flags and tattoos and this happened because of the protest," he said.