Haryana khaps extend support to Hazare

A supporter of Anna Hazare gets his head tonsured during a protest in Chandiagrh on August 17, 2011.

Chandigarh-The supporters of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday continued their protests across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. They voiced demand for a strong Lokpal Bill.

In Chandigarh, lawyers at Punjab and Haryana High Court suspended work post lunch and held a meeting on the court campus against corruption. The controversial khap panchayats in Haryana also extended support to the Gandhian against corruption.

The khap leaders held a meeting in Jind district of Haryana on Wednesday and announced to extended support to Anna and his team. Various towns in Punjab and Haryana also witnessed demonstrations by members of the civil society, traders and lawyers.

The ruling Akali Dal in Punjab also announced they will hold protests and demonstrations against the UPA government. The protests would start from Friday.

The protests will be held outside offices of district magistrates in every district on August 19.

The Shiromani Akali Dal, however, wanted the prime minister to be kept out of the preview of the Lokpal Bill.

People also held candle marches in Chandigarh and some other places in Punjab and Haryana to lodge their protest.

Youths from different educational institutions in addition to general public came in support of Anna.