Jantar Mantar ripples

The movement started by Anna Hazare is really an eye opener for all,especially the manner in which it has started getting all round support

Himachal

This could well be the first effect of Hazare’s movement against corruption: Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal Friday announced a law that would enable the government to confiscate properties of the corrupt. “The movement started by Anna Hazare is really an eye opener for all,especially the manner in which it has started getting all round support. Corruption is the biggest problem the country is facing. Time has come for serious and honest actions,both at the Central and the state level,” he said. Dhumal said the present laws were insufficient to deal with corruption as only a few get convicted and even when they do,their families continue to enjoy the wealth amassed through illegal means.

HYDERABAD

People from all walks of life gathered at Indira Park to show support for Anna Hazare,and more than a thousand people started a hunger strike at Dharna Chowk. “Anna Hazare is fasting unto death. Can’t we do it for a day,” they reasoned. In the gathering were software engineers Pranit Reddy and Aletion Reddy; Telugu film director Shekhar Kammula,actors Daggubati Rana Naidu and Kamal Kamaraju; and freedom fighters Babu Rao Varma,E Krishnamurthy and K Rajalingam. “Those who could not attend have expressed support online,” said Suman Kopparapu,coordinator of the Youth for Better India,which has launched the Facebook campaign.

JAMMU

Social activists,lawyers and students held sit-ins and took out candle light marches in support of Hazare. Jammu University students also organised a signature campaign. Nirbhow Nirvair Organisation,a conglomerate of Sikh organisations,took out a march and held a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

MAHARASHTRA

In Hazare’s home district,Ahmednagar,thousands of people from all walks of life came out on the streets. On Thursday night,an estimated 3,500 people had joined a march organised by the Alliance of NGOs here. In Parner,home tehsil of Hazare,over 5,000 people,including Shiv Sainiks,observed a fast and burnt the effigy of Shiv Sena MLA Suresh Jain,who had questioned Hazare’s credentials in the Assembly on Thursday. Some Hazare supporters are planning a ‘Jail Bharo Aandolan’ from April 12.

Bangalore

More than 2000 people,including students,a 90-year-old freedom fighter,artists,film stars,and low-profile politicians,gathered at Freedom Park. At the centre were four members of the India Against Corruption Movement,who are on a hunger strike. The freedom fighter,H S Doreswamy,addressed the crowd: “People were looking for a just leader to rally around. They have found it in Anna Hazare.” Politically-affiliated groups like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and some dalit organisations tried to share the stage,but were turned away.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

There is no way the Centre can shy away from Anna Hazare’s demands now. NAC is headed by a non-minister and has members from the civil society… all its powers are notified. Not conceding Anna’s demand is dual-speak by the Centre.”

Congress spokesman

Abhishek Manu Singhvi

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“Let us work together. All substantial and real issues have been resolved… However,no government can abdicate its Constitutional responsibility by accepting the impossible condition (of a joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill).”

Chief Election Commissioner

S Y Quraishi

“It is unfortunate that things have come to such a pass… While Lokpal issue deals with prosecuting the corrupt,our election reform proposals go deeper and deal with preventing them from coming to power in the first place.

Karnataka CM

B S Yeddyurappa

“Time has come for enactment of such a legislation to eradicate corruption… People should be in a position to display a signboard that their village is corruption-free and it should go up to taluk,district,state and country level.”

CPI (ML-Liberation) chief

Dipankar Bhattacharya

“About 100 of our partymen (including Bhattacharya himself) are sitting on a fast to show support to Anna Hazare’s demand for the Lokpal Bill,which the government should immediately accept.”

Filmmaker

Aparna Sen

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“It is wonderful the way civil society is responding to this cause. This is the way democracy should function. I fully support Hazare… A peaceful revolution seems to have started and there is hope yet for India.”

Sahitya Akademi president

Sunil Gangopadhyay

“If I go to Delhi and the impasse continues,I shall certainly turn up at the place and offer my open support… I can’t take the initiative at this age,but I am willing to be present physically if there is any protest in support of Hazare (in Kolkata).”