More join Anna’s ‘army’

  April 09, 2011    
  

         MUMBAI: Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption has received support from the people who run Mumbai’s lifeline — the motormen of local trains, as well as Bollywood stars. On Friday, 30-odd motormen reached Azad Maidan at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and announced their support for Hazare’s cause.


They said they would drive local trains on empty stomach from 6am to 6pm on April 10 supporting Hazare’s cause.
Film stars to came to Azad Maidan to pledge themselves to the movement. Actors Dia Mirza, Shabana Azmi, Pooja Bhatt and Urmila Matondkar demonstrated their support for the 48 people who were fasting by shouting slogans with the crowd. “People should stand up for this cause the way we cheered during the World Cup,” said Matondkar.

CHENNAI

Poll-bound Tamil Nadu is witnessing a surge of support for Hazare’s fight. Be it lawyers sitting on fast in Madurai or NGOs, activists, students and businessmen rallying in Coimbatore, there is no doubt that the movement has captured the imagination of the people.

AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa has extended support to Hazare saying that a strong Lokpal Bill was necessary to root out corruption.

PUNE

Hazare’s lawyer Milind Pawar has sent a letter to Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan to draw attention of the Union and Delhi government to ensure adequate security cover for the activist.

Pawar said Hazare had lodged a complaint with Parner police station in Ahmednagar district in January last year saying that expelled NCP leader Dr Padmasinh Patil had given a ‘supari’ (contract) to kill him. The case is on in Aurangabad court.

Pawar said the Maharashtra government had not provided any security to Hazare even after he lodged the complaint.