As the anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare fasts for a stronger Lokpal Bill at the MMRDA grounds here, the streetside vendors selling Gandhi caps and national flags at the venue, have reported lukewarm business this time.
These small-time vendors feel that as compared to Hazare's fast in August in New Delhi, they have not been able to earn as much as they had expected on the first day of the fast here.
"The response is not that good this time. In Delhi, I managed to sell 500 caps in the morning of the first day of the fast itself. But I have not been able to sell even 100 caps here," Ravinder Tiwari, who has come here from Delhi to earn extra buck, told PTI.
Another vendor Dilip Singh, who also hails from Delhi, is disappointed with the response. "We thought the response will be overwhelming in Mumbai...But people are not seen in great numbers as compared to Delhi," Singh said.
Like Tiwari and Singh, many others have come here in anticipation of earning better money. The flags are sold between Rs 100 and Rs 200, while caps are sold for Rs 10.
A woman vendor Rajnirati has come all the way from Rajasthan. She had also gone to Delhi when Hazare was fasting at Ramlila maidan. "I had come here with a hope, but the response is not that great. I hope that in the coming days, the response will be good," she said.
Another seller, who was selling caps and badges with the name and photo of Hazare, has also reduced the prices to attract people. "I have reduced the price of caps from Rs 10 to Rs 5. With this, I hope more people will buy, but so far, I managed to sell 100-150 caps and 60 badges only," he said.
According to the figures provided by the India Against Corruption (IAC), around 30,000 people were present today at the fast venue, out of whom, 16,000 had already registered for the event. Out of the total, 200 people are also observing a fast in support of Hazare, IAC workers said.