KANPUR: The demand for strong Lokpal bill got stronger on Wednesday with people from all walks of life coming forward and extending full support to Gandhian Anna Hazare's movement to weed out corruption.
Several political and social organisations, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) besides trader groups endorsed the steps taken by Anna Hazare. Students from IIT-Kanpur and Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI), Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi Memorial (GSVM) Medical College, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj University (CSMU) and other private medical and engineering colleges under the banner 'India Against Corruption' carried out protest marches, demanding immediate implementation of the strong Lokpal bill.
Ramadevi Vyapar Mandal has also come forward to back prominent social activist and crusader Anna Hazare. Rakesh Verma, president, Ramadevi Vyapar Mandal said there was an urgent need for a foolproof system for ensuring conviction of corrupt politicians and government officials in a stipulated time to restore faith of the masses in democracy.
Amidst anti-government slogans, protesters were also seen mobilising support for the cause by distributing banners and posters carrying slogans like 'Anna Nahi Yeh Aandhi Hai, Doosra Mahatma Gandhi Hai' and 'Anna Tum Sangharsh Karo Hum Tumhare Sath Hain'. "This will definitely have more impact than the previous march," said Bansh Bahadur Singh, vice-president, Rama Devi Vyapar Mandal.
Stating that they would submit memorandums to the district magistrate in support of Hazare, Verma said an independent Lokpal at the Centre was the need of the hour to eradicate or at least minimise corruption in the country. Responding to a call given by the students of various public schools, hundreds of supporters held a candle light march at Motijheel to extend support to the agitation launched by Anna Hazare.
Led by Anil Gupta, president, Parivartan group (an NGO), the march comprised professional doctors, businessmen, senior citizens, stage artistes, sportspersons and retired employees. After gathering at the Kargil Jai Jawan Gate, the protesters proceeded to various parts of the city. The protesters, holding candles with Tricolours, placards and banners, demanded that a strong Lokpal bill should be drafted and Anna be set free at the earliest.
The participants said they wanted to see Anna's strong Lokpal bill and not the one drafted by the Central government. Talking to mediapersons, Anil Gupta said with the hope that Hazare's movement would weed out corruption, the Kanpurites had decided to extend full ideological and mass support to the movement.
The Kanpur Senior Citizen dais also staged a dharna in Ghantaghar area in support of Anna Hazare. Demanding strong Jan Lokpal bill, being proposed by Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption, the members of Rashtriya Swarnkar Mahasabha, led by their national vice president Mithilesh Verma, staged a demonstration at Bada Chauraha. Stage artiste Sanjeeba also took out a cycle-rickshaw rally in support of Anna.
0 comments:
Post a Comment