AP joins Hazare's protests

Hyderabad

Rallies and fasts were organised across Andhra Pradesh in support of veteran social activist Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death in New Delhi for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.

Noted film personalities came to the forefront along with citizens from all walks of life and participated in various programmes in Hyderabad and others districts of the state supporting Hazare's demand.

Renowned lyricist Jonnavittula Ramalingeswara Rao, Telugu filmstars Rana Daggubati and Sivaji, director Sekhar Kammula were among those who participated in relay hunger strikes organised by 'Youth For Better India' and 'India Against Corruption' at the Indira Park here.

Students from schools and different colleges also took part in the relay hunger strikes while members of Students Islamic Oganisation of India (Hyderabad unit) held a dharna in support of the anti-corrpution movement.

TDP senior MLA M Narasimhalu led a rally while walkers at KBR park here conducted solidarity march in support of Hazare's protest this morning.

Supporting the crusade against corrpution, scores of youths, housewives, software professionals and advocates took out a massive rally under the banner of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) from Necklace Road to Jalvihar here.

People holding national flags, placards like 'We want Jan Lokpal Bill, 'We want Corruption-free India' also raised slogans in support of Hazare.

Expressing solidarity with Hazare, representatives of different organisations, students among others also undertook signature campaigns, held rallies and formed human chains in Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Guntur, Warangal, Tirupati, Anantapur and several other places across Andhra Pradesh.

Demanding constitution of a strong and independent mechanism to eradicate corruption, Lok Satta Party activists and supporters also undertook processions and organised mass 'satyagraha' all over the state.

Mizoram: Meeting held to voice support for Hazare campaign

Aizawl

Prominent citizen and anti-corruption activists of Mizoram today extended support to the stir against corruption spearheaded by social activist Anna Hazare by organising a meeting in Aizawl.

The meeting attended by the prominent citizens, anti-corruption activists and media persons announced their solidarity with Hazare's India Against Corruption Movement and said that they would carry forward the campaign in the country and the state in particular.

The meeting also decided to submit copies of the resolution to the President, Prime Minister, state governor, chief minister and chief vigilance officer.

The meeting was organised by the anti-corruption watchdog - People's Right to Information and Development of Mizoram (PRISM), Society for Social Action (SOSA) and the Federation of Mizoram Trade Unions.

Thousand support Hazare's protest in his home district

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)

Thousands of people from all walks of life, including the marginalised classes, thronged to the streets to extend their support to social activist Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death in his home district, police said today.

Over 3,500 people participated in a march organised by the 'Alliance of NGOs' here last night.

In another protest, citizens lit candles in Chitale road and also took out a march in the city demanding that the Jan Lokpal Bill be passed as per Hazare's version, police said.

In Parner, Hazare's home tehsil, over 5,000 people observed a fast with Shiv Sainiks also participating in it.

The effigy of Shiv Sena MLA from Jalgaon Suresh Jain, who had yesterday questioned Hazare's credentials in the Maharashtra Assembly, was burnt by Sena activists here.

Today, 300 people held a sit-in in front of the District Collector's Office and also observed a day long fast.

The activist's supporters are planning a huge 'Jail Bharo Aandolan' in the district from April 12.

Meanwhile, in the temple town of Shirdi, hundreds of people took out a rally in support of the anti-corruption crusader.

They also prayed in the famous Sai Baba temple here for the quick passage of the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament.

Kolkata celebs support anti-corruption protests

Kolkata

Prominent personalities including writers and filmmakers here today expressed their support to social activist Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death for enactment of a Lokpal Bill to weed out corruption from public life.

"It is wonderful the way the civil society is responding to the cause. This is the way democracy should function. We can hear the voice of the people in the candlelight marches and all the spontaneous peaceful demonstrations," celebrated filmmaker Aparna Sen told PTI.

Sen, who had earlier hit the streets in protest against Nandigram firing two years back, expressed her solidarity with the Gandhian social worker whose agitation for bringing transparency in political life entered the fourth day.

"I fully support Anna Hazare...A peaceful revolution seems to have started and there is hope yet for India," Sen said.

Expressing his willingness to be present at the venue of Hazare's fast, Sahitya Akademy president Sunil Gangopadhyay said, "If I go to Delhi and the impasse continues, I shall certainly turn up at the place and offer my open support."

Gangopadhyay said he was ready to pledge support to any movement in support of Hazare's cause in Kolkata.

"The system in our country is such that public money is swindled unabashedly and the common man just watches helplessley," he said.

"I can't take the initiative at this age, but I am willing to lend my support and be present physically if there is any protest here in support of the 72-year-old social worker," the eminent Bengali writer said.

Expressing outrage over mounting corruption in the present society, internationally-known film director Goutam Ghosh said, "The common man can see how certain people are sitting on the mountain of corruption and hence losing all respect in the political class.

"Let such movement by a respected figure jolt the establishment and break the stupor. I myself feel numbed to hear about so much corruption in different ways and forms and feel enraged," Ghose said.

Famed filmmaker Budhadeb Dasgupta endorsed the decision to ask political figures like Uma Bharati to leave the venue of Hazare's fast, saying, "The corrupt political class has lost all accountability and thrown the country into an abyss of corruption."

He said the movement should be supported in every forum including the social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter on the net.

Echoing Aparna Sen, cerebral film director and theatre personality Suman Mukhopadhyay said, "The country has entered into a phase of people's movement to cleanse the system and this augurs well for any real democracy. All these non-violent protests can ultimately force the establishment to sit up and take note."

Asked on the absence of public support for Hazare's cause in the streets of Kolkata, Mukhopadhyay argued that it had something to do with the civil society's preoccupation with Assembly election

Bengali film star Rituparna Sengupta said it was not just about turning up to support the fast, but also about changing the psyche of the country and the political leadership.