Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Aug 16: People from all walks of life spilled on roads in support of Anna Hazare's support on Tuesday August 16. Following his arrest, protestors even in Sonia Gandhi's parliamentary constituency Raibareilly and Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary segment Amethi torched effigies of Congress led UPA government on Tuesday.
Various political parties including Bharitiya Janta Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) also decried the arresting of Anna Hazare. In all 219 people were arrested across the state during protests following Anna's arrest in Uttar Pradesh.
Be it the lawyers, professionals, academicians or students, all of them came out in support of Anna as well as Janlokpal bill at Jhulelal park as well as several other parts of Lucknow. Volunteers of the Art of Living, Veteran's Sahayata Samiti, Nursing Home Association, Bharat Swahbimaan Trust, etc also extended their full support during the demonstrations.
Co-ordinator of India Against Corruption, RK Agarwal said: "We are not demoralised after the arrest of Anna but it has given the boost to the campaign, whatever happens we will not stop our agitation until the government doesn't approves Jan Lokpal Bill." He added that it is good to that people are voluntarily coming in support of Anna and Jan Lokpal bill. Its the people's movement and the people are fighting their own battle.
National President of Akhil Bhartiye Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Sandeep Bansal also came to Jhulelal Park for extending thier support for Anna Hazare. Vice-President of Lucknow Charted Accountants Society, Shashank Mishra said: "Everyone should come in support for crusade against corruption as Anna is fighting for us only. We spread awareness about the Jan Lokpal bill so that every person should join the campaign for their own sake." He added that nearly all the Charted Accountants will remain off from their works for at least 7 on Anna's call which was a week for India.
Eunuchs too supported the move. Payal Kinnar of Kinnar Association also came to Jhulelal Park for supporting the crusade against corruption. She said: "As we are also the part of the society as well as residents of the country too. Along with everyone else, we are affected by the increasing corruption so we have also come to support the crusade." After which they carried out march till GPO park during which they sensitised people for joining the crusade.
Earlier, in the morning several rallies were taken out from different parts of the city which later reached to Jhulelal Park. Member of Lucknow Charted Accountants Society, after gathering near Lucknow University carried out rally towards Jhulelal Park. Following it, Activists of India Against Corruption carried out rally from GPO Park and residents of Daliganj area carried out rally from Goraknath road. In these rallies, peoples from all walks of life took part.
Lawyers also came out in support of the Anna and his crusade, they announced one day work boycott due to which there was no judiciary work was done at Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, Civil Court and Family Court. Reports of lawyers abstaining from courtwork in Deoria, Etah and other districts have also been recieved. On the occasion, the lawyers staged protest outside the High court demanding release of Anna Hazare as well as implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill.
Secretary of All UP Consumer Protection Bar Association, Anil Chaubey informed that for protesting against the undemocratic arrest of Anna Hazare, they observed a day long work boycott at State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.
Ban was imposed by the Executive Engineer of UPPCL for holding any program or meeting in the Hydril field hostel of the UPPCL after UP Vidhut Karamchari Sanyukt Sangh announced to hold meeting, on issue of Anna's arrest. Spokesperson of the Sangh, said, "This corrupt government is busy in wooing the corporate of the country and not looking after the problems faced by the people due to commercialisation, Globalisation and privatisation," he added.
Employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (H.A.L.) along with some locals organised protest followed by a march against the arrest of Anna Hazare and his team. The protest march joined by scores of people which began from HAL and continued up till the Polytechnic Crossing. A meeting of Lucknow Petrol Dealers Association was held during which they condemned Anna's Arrest and extended their support. Later in the evening, Members of the India Against Corruption (IAC) carried out candle march from Lucknow University towards GPO Park in support of Anna.
State chief of BJP, Surya Pratap Shahi demanded his immediate release and termed the act as unconstitutional, undemocratic and oppressive. "Congress always treats those who protest its misdeeds. Swami Ramdev was the first target followed by BJP workers on August 9. The arresting reminds us of emergency days," said Shahi. The Samajwadi Party (SP) also condemned the arresting of Anna Hazare on Tuesday. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav termed Anna's arresting as undemocratic and illegal.
"The government is curtailing the right to protest which is a reminder of emergency days. Anna should be released and be allowed to raise his voice in a democratic manner," said Yadav. He also demanded an unconditional appology to Anna from government over the arresting. Communist Party of India (Marxist) also decried the arresting of Anna Hazare. State secretary of the party Deena Nath Singh has given a call of observing black day on Wednesday in protest against the arresting of Anna Hazare.
Meanwhile, state government officials informed that 219 people were taken into custody during the protest against Anna's arrest. The list include 29 in Muzaffarnagar, 35 in Farrukhabad, 84 in Pratapgarh, 27 in Faizabad and 43 in Sultanpur.