BALANGIR: People of the district gave a bandh call here on Tuesday to express solidarity with Team Anna's fight against corruption and their demand that a strict Jan Lokpal bill be passed by the Parliament, but it seemed there was lack of mass support for the strike and it lacked spontaneity as well.
With the business community taking active part in the bandh, most shops in the district remained closed on Tuesday. However, all government and private offices, financial and educational institutions functioned as usual. Roads, too, did not look deserted and vehicular movement was normal.
Except for members of some forums, including the citizen's committee, bar associations and Balangir Chambers of Commerce taking out a rally that covered major areas of the town before reaching the place of protest, there were no common people taking to the streets. Many participants of the rally donned Anna topis and raised anti-corruption slogans.
Pramod Mishra, president of Balangir Chambers of Commerce, said never earlier has the business community in the district raised its voice against corruption. "But this time, we are trying to inspire the people to join a noble cause. The role of the business community is important because it is they who do trade with all the stakeholders of the nation," said Mishra. Earlier, students of all premier colleges here staged a protest and lauded Anna and his team.
Interestingly, sources said different political parties (except Congress) and some public forums were trying to outdo one another in their show of support for Anna.
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