Chandigarh/Jaipur/Ahmednagar: Joining the septuagenarian social activist Anna Hazare in his crusade against corruption has indeed become cool as people from all walks of life in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan besides his hometown Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and IT professionals in Kochi have extended their solidarity for the third day today in their own different ways.
Activists of various political parties, including BJP, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have also been joining the protesters, party sources said in Chandigarh.
The attendance in teaching institutes, including Panjab University, Maharishi Dayanand University at Rohtak and several colleges and schools was also thin across the two states.
At most of the roundabouts in Chandigarh, students and supporters were seen waving tricolours and chanting patriotic songs.
So far the protests at different places in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh had been peaceful, police said.
Supporters of social activist Anna Hazare outside the Tihar jail DG office in New Delhi on Thursday. Shahbaz Khan/PTI
“There is a need for a strong Jan Lok Pal bill to tame corruption in the country,” Shammy Chaudhary, a student of Panjab University, said.
Meanwhile, the chain hunger strike by NGO ‘India Against Corruption’ at different places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana continued, NGO’s founder member Davinder Sharma said.
Students of a private S D college in Chandigarh staged a demonstration at a roundabout in the city.
“The UPA government is corrupt and acted undemocratically against those who raised concern against corruption,” a student of 12th class, Karanveer Singh, said. The Khaps panchayat (caste council) have also started relay fast at Jind in Haryana.
The pink city of Jaipur also stood behind Anna Hazare as traders closed their shops till noon today in support of Anna Hazare.
The half-day shutdown call given by the local traders’ body and different social groups evoked good response, an official said.
The entire market area inside the walled city remained closed till noon and traders and their family members came out on streets in Hazare’s support.
Holding flags, children, women and men shouted slogans and walked through every market in form of a rally which started from Badi Chaupad and covered every area, including famous Johri Bazar, Nehru Bazar, Bapu Bazar, Kishanpol Bazar and other markers inside the walled city.
“The rally of traders covered 17 markets. It was a half day shut down till noon,” said Anand Meherwal, a representative of the traders body.
Several schools also supported the shutdown and students were sent back home in recess.
Responding to a clarion call in Anna’s home state Maharashtra, the educational institutions and commercial establishments across Ahmednagar remained closed for the second consecutive day in the wake of the spontaneous shutdown.
Thousands of youths held a protest rally in support of the 73-year-old Gandhian, who hails from Ralegan Siddhi village in the district.
According to the police, nearly 50,000 youths took to the streets at 59 locations across the district.
The protesters, comprising lawyers, doctors, students, housewives and even commercial sex workers, came out in support of Hazare at various villages and raised anti-government slogans.
PTI
