Thaindian News

Bhubaneswar, Aug 16 (IANS) Activist Anna Hazare’s supporters took out processions, organised meetings and staged demonstrations across Orissa to protest his detention in New Delhi Tuesday morning.

While a group of people shouting slogans against the central government took out a march here, hundreds of activists held a protest meeting near the state assembly.

“The way the government dealt with Hazare, it reminded us of the 1975 Emergency,” human rights activist Prafulla Samantray, who staged protest with hundreds other near the state assembly, told IANS. The detention is condemnable, he said.

People from all walks of life came out on the streets and took part in sit-in demonstrations and protests organised in at least three places of the city. Some people also observed fast.

In the district headquarters town of Sambalpur, about 320 km from here, hundreds of activists of social organisations took out a motorcycle rally to extend their solidarity with Hazare.

Similar demonstrations, rallies and hunger-strikes were reported from other parts of the state. The protesters included freedom fighters, former judges, social activists, journalists and students.

Hazare was detained by Delhi Police Tuesday morning as he was about to set out for his fast in support of a strong Lokpal bill. Around 250 of his supporters, including activist Arvind Kejriwal and former top cop Kiran Bedi, were also detained.