Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Feb 2: Union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma was the first target of Team Anna on the first day of their state tour on Thursday. Some volunteers of India Against Corruption (IAC) waved black flags during Verma's meeting in Barabanki.

Barabanki, the home district of Beni Prasad Verma was the first stop for Team Anna which began their UP tour on Thursday.

Leading the election campaign, social activists Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia addressed a public meeting organised at Mahadev Talab Maidan in Fatehpur Tehsil of Barabanki. They urged people to vote for only those who are clean and not involved in any type of corrupt practices.

While addressing the meeting, an activist of India Against Corruption (IAC), Gopal Rai said that Member of Parliament (Verma) of this constituency challenged them to hold rally in his stronghold but he should come now to see the large gathering which attended the meeting.

Scores of people attended, including a number of school children too.

In her address, Kiran Bedi appealed that people should cast their votes to the clean candidates irrespective of the party they belong.

"If the MLAs fails to fulfil promises made by him then people should register mass complaint against the MLA," she urged.

Commenting over the fat promises including free laptops, etc. made by some of the political parties, Manish Sisodia said that several parties have promised number of freebies in their manifestos but there are number of local problems in the state which was drinking water and proper infrastructure are yet to be resolved.

Nearby a public meeting Verma was also scheduled. "People came to our public meeting were so annoyed with MP that they showed black flags to him as soon he arrived," claimed an IAC volunteer, Suryakant Singh.

Later, the team left for Gonda, on the route, they were welcomed by Bike rallies and others at several places including Ramnagar, Ganeshpur, Ghagra ghat, etc. Another public meeting was organised at Ramlila Maidan at Gonda District.

On February 03, they will be holding meeting in Faizabad at 12 noon and following it another in Basti District.

The team Anna reached Lucknow first and took two halts including Alambagh and Chinhat, where they met some people and students urging them not to vote corrupt candidates during these assembly elections.

Though Arvind Kejriwal was taking care of Anna Hazare, he would be joining the team in the tour likely from February 10.