Thaindian News

Chennai, Aug 16 (IANS) People here in this Tamil Nadu capital gathered Tuesday to support social activist Anna Hazare’s demand for a strong anti-corruption bill, said the India Against Corruption (IAC), which backs the leader.

“With Anna Hazare being detained by Delhi Police, we will soon decide on the issue of courting arrest,” media coordinator for IAC Bhavana Upadhyaya told IANS.

Hazare, activist Arvind Kejriwal and former police officer Kiran Bedi, besides 250 other supporters were detained Tuesday morning in New Delhi before starting their protest against the Lokpal bill.

“There are 25 people who have registered their names for the indefinite fast and around 70 for participating in relay fast,” Upadhyaya said.

Freedom fighter Lakshmikanthan Bharathi, 85, began his fast here. Ninety-year-old Venkata Kalyanam, former personal secretary to Mahatma Gandhi, is also expected to join.

Corporate executives, software professionals, media artistes and small businessmen are at the venue of fast in south Chennai, Upadhyaya said.

Around 25 NGOs have extended their support to the struggle, she said.

“We are holding the fast in a private plot and we have booked the plot for five days,” she said adding, the police are friendly.

Several others, including actor Arvind Swamy who starred in “Roja”, are expected to participate.

Youth icon and food service industrialist Sharath Babu has agreed to fast for two days, Upadhyaya added.