Protesting Ralegan Siddhi goes without food

About 2,500 men,women and children later sat on a dharna blocking the Parner road,many of them with bullock-carts,till they were taken away by the police. Of them,603 from Ralegan Siddhi were detained but released three hours later.

Not only me but also my bullocks are fasting, claimed Bhiva Awari. One of them had Kapil Sibal written across its belly.

When Hazare had gone on a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in April,people who sat in protest at Ralegan Siddhi were mostly from the village itself. However,this time there were many who had come from villages around and some from even as far off as 100 km. About 75 villagers from Ralegan Siddhi are in Delhi to support Hazare.

Anuradha Pathare,81,who sat with her grandson in her lap,said even the children hadnt eaten. Who will cook? Everybody is here.

Sanjay Tandale,28,who had come from Navasarvadi in Karjat taluka,90 km away,said: Has Anna harmed anybody? Why should the government arrest him?

At the home of Anna Hazares brother Maruti,six family members are fasting in protest. With Maruti,65,not conversant in Hindi,his daughter-in-law Kaushalya said: Anna is not only our Anna elder brother,now he has become Anna of the whole country, she said.

At Shri Sant Yadavbaba Hostel,built by Hazare through shram daan voluntary labour,students said they were fasting willingly. We wont eat till Anna is released, said Pratik Mane,9.

We never anticipated Anna would be arrested, said Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch Jaysinghrao Mapari. This is very cruel. If something untoward happens at the hands of the mob,the Centre will be responsible.