Thaindian News

Lucknow, Aug 18 (IANS) The very name of activist Anna Hazare appears to energise both the young and the old who once again took to streets in different cities of Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive day Thursday in support of the Gandhian’s fast for a strong anti-graft law.

While activists of India Against Corruption (IAC) continued their fast in expression of their solidarity with the Gandhian activist, self-motivated supporters of Hazare emerged in big and small groups in different localities.

Holding the national flag and raising pro-Anna Hazare and anti-corruption slogans, they swore to strengthen the war that their icon had waged against corruption.

Slogans like “Anna tum sangharsh karo, hum tumhare saath hain” (Anna you lead the movement, we are behind you) and “Anna ji aaye hain, nayi roshni laye hain”(Anna has come with a new light) rent the air on all major thoroughfares in Lucknow where batches of youth marched in processions.

Most of the processions converged at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at crossroad at Hazratganj - that remained the key destination of all protestors. By the evening, the area turned into a candle-light protest venue.

Reports of similar candle-light processions were received from Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur and some other cities.

The spontaneity of the protest marches was visible as there were none to lead or guide anyone. The marchers looked completely self-motivated.

“Why do we need anyone to motivate, Anna Hazare has not only awakened us but shown us the path to combat corruption,” said Nikhil, a 22-year-old university student, who has been skipping classes over the past three days to remain actively involved with the campaign.

The Lucknow University Teachers Association (LUTA), along with their counterparts from the affiliated colleges, took out a march in support of Hazare on the campus.

“We are with Anna in this war against corruption and we fully endorse his demand for a strong Lokpal bill,” asserted LUTA general secretary R.B. Singh.