Young Pune stands up for Anna

From students to young professionals, thousands join Anna Hazare's anti-graft movement; social activist's arrest in Delhi results in flood of protestors giving themselves up to policeu00a0

Manyu00a0young professionals across the city chose not to resume work after an extended weekend, instead joining the anti-corruption demonstrations in response to social activist Anna Hazare's appeal. The response from students to Hazare's call was also high. After Hazare's arrest in Delhi, several people in the city got themselves arrested to protest against the Centre's move. It was learnt that the police detained about 700 people.


For anna and country:u00a0Thousands of protestors assembled at
Balgandharva Chowk to participate in a relay hunger strike

There was so much enthusiasm and support for the ongoing protest that the police had to use PMPML buses to ferry protestors to police stations, where they were detained for at least three hours. Slogans were raised vehemently, and people sporting the Gandhi cap with 'I am Anna Hazare' written on it were a common sight.


People voluntarily climb into a police van to court arrest. Pics/Krunal
Gosavi

For Nitesh Kumar, an IT professional who is working in the telecom domain, the non-violent fight against corruption was his first priority. Kumar told MiD DAY that he was working for India Against Corruption Pune since April and was the coordinator for the relay hunger strike. Tushar Parekh, a businessman, put his work on the backburner for at least a week and encouraged his employees to participate in the relay hunger strike at Balgandharva Rangamandir Chowk, where at least 2,000, including students and professionals, were present.

Rahul Randive, a software professional from the city, said he would participate in a relay hunger strike for at least a week. He said many associated with India Against Corruption had come forward to participate in the chain hunger strike. According to Dr Satish Rajmachikar and B B Somani, the duo facilitating the protest in the city, 80 per cent of the participants were students and professionals.

There were 12 core members of the Professionals Party of India to participate in the protest. Students across city colleges also joined in the protests. At MIT college in Kothrud, about 200 students from various city colleges joined a two-hour long rally in solidarity with Hazare. At the council hall too, a large number of students from various city colleges joined supporters of Hazare in a daylong strike.

Siddharth Sharma, a student and youth wing member of Hazare's NGO, said that hundreds of students had pledged their support for the campaign against corruption. "This will not stop here. On Thursday, we will start a jail bharo, or courting arrest movement, and thousands of youths will join us. The youngsters have promised to campaign in colleges, on social networking sites and through word of mouth," Sharma said.

Highlights
> The rally taken out from Nalstop to Jangali Maharaj Road witnessed 5,000 participants
> At the main venue where the relay hunger strike took place, about 500 sat in protest from 8 am to 8 pm
> Protestors deliberately acted confused and got themselves arrested, after being told that the police had imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which prohibits assembly of five or more persons
> Top police officials said it was the protestors' decision to get themselves arrested
> To facilitate Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's visit, the police appealed to people vacate the protest venue, which was directly opposite the Balgandharva Chowk
> Some 600 to 700 people were detained under Section 68 of the Bombay Police Act

Protestors help cops fill forms
The police asked protestors to fill the forms giving details about themselves. The task, generally done the police, was taken up by protestors. The number of protestors was so high that police had to arrange for more forms.