Jammu, Aug 17: Protests swelled in the winter capital of the state on Wednesday in support of social activist Anna Hazare’s fast-unto death in Tihar Jail, with students, local residents and theatre artists taking a lead to get the attention of an “unresponsive government”.
 Over 20 local theatre artists came up with an innovative way of extending support to Anna Hazare crusade in Jammu. A group has rechristened itself as “Main Bhi Anna’ and is staging series of street plays while extending its support to the anti-corruption crusader.
 The team, while announcing a day-long “anshan” (fast) performed plays at three venues in the city before sitting on a ‘silent protest’ at its Performing Art Studio.
 “While Anna is speaking for the whole nation and the entire nation is doing its part in supporting his cause, we the stage artists of Jammu, besides performing Nukkad nataks  are also going on day-long fast and sitting on a ‘silent protest’. This is our support to Anna and people of nation who want a corruption free India,” said Aaditya Bhanu the team leader of ‘Main Bhi Anna”.
 Hundreds of students boycotted their classes and staged a demonstration in front of the Government Gandhi Memorial Science College in support of Anna, accusing the UPA government of muffling the voice of peaceful protestors. Similar protest was held at SPMR College of Commerce where students chanting slogans against the Congress led UPA government extended their full support to the anti-corruption crusade.
 University of Jammu also turned out to be hotbed of demonstrations with teachers joining the students in the crusade. Around 100 teachers and students of Jammu University late Tuesday evening took out a candle light march on the campus in support of Anna. Carrying placards, the protestors vowed to continue their agitation if Anna was released and allowed to sit on fast.
 “We want Anna out of Tihar jail now. We want him to continue his war against corruption and ensure that Jan Lokpal bill is passed... Students are with them in his struggle and we have boycotted our classes on Anna’s call”, a student Sunita Sharma said.
 The National Secular Forum (NSF) has also supported the crusade of Anna Hazare and staged a demonstration on Jammu University campus.
 The NSF activists assembled at Jammu University under the leadership of University chairman Ravi Choudhary and district chairman Surjit Choudhary
 “Anna Hazare’s arrest was totally unconstitutional and murder of the democracy in the world’s largest democratic country,” Surjit Choudhary said, adding “J&K is the second most corrupt state in the country and it would soon replace Bihar from the top spot. Under such circumstances it should be the responsibility of J&K citizens to support Hazare whole-heartedly”.
 “This is an awakening call to every Indian citizen to wake up from slumber and root out corruption from the system as it will engulf our future generations,” NSF president Vikas Sharma said.
 Supporting the cause undertaken by Anna Hazare and his team, Old hospital Road Traders Association and other social organisations organised a peaceful march led by the president of association Yudhvir Sethi and general secretary Joginder Mahajan.
 Speaking on the occasion, Sethi said, “It is the democratic right of every citizen to raise the voice against corruption. Early morning crackdown on Anna Hazare and his team was an attack on the civil rights being enjoyed by the people of this country.”
 The state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to organise district-level programmes of different modes under the ongoing nation-wide crusade against corruption.
 This was disclosed by BJP state spokesperson Nirmal Kamal while releasing the details of the high command’s directives regarding the scheduled programmes.
 Nirmal Kamal said that under the slogan “Brashtachar Mitao, Loktantra Bachao” each and every district unit of BJP throughout the country would organize ‘sit-in’ protests, silent march, Conch blowing (shank naad) and Thali naad against the alleged “dictatorial and fascist tendencies” of the Centre government perpetuating corruption and suppressing the patriotic voices of the nation.
 Residents and shopkeepers of Talab Tillo also held mass protest against the “shabby treatment” meted out by the Central Government, to Anna Hazare and his team members of civil society.
 Scores of youth, housewives and aged people came out on the streets, holding banners and placards demanding the government to allow the Gandhian Anna Hazare and his supporters to hold peaceful protest demonstration against corruption rampant in the administration, public life, political leaders.
 They demanded enacting of a strong “Janta Lok Pal Bill” as proposed by Anna Hazare and his team. Addressing the demonstrators, Kulbushan Mohetra, spokesman of the society termed the detention of Anna Hazare and his team members as “murder of democracy”.
 Jammu Province Peoples Forum (JPPF) also extended its full support to Anna Hazare. In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Inderjeet Khajuria, the participants observed, “The common man was the sufferer of inflation created by the government itself which is behaving a mute spectator.”
 The forum appealed to the people to join this movement which has turned into second war of Independence against corruption.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST