Jammu, Aug 21: With Team Anna and the Government in a deadlock over the Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption crusade here continued to witness people’s upsurge, with the movement spreading to rural belts of Jammu as farmers and people from rural areas joined the movement. Large number of farmers assembled in front of Press Club Jammu here on Sunday and sat on day-long fast to support Anna Hazare.
 A number of Sarpanchs, Panchs and farmers gathered to lodge their protest against the prevailing corruption in the society. Representatives of the J&K Flower Growers Association, RS Pura Rice Growers Association, Bharatiya Kissan Sangathan, Kissan Union Samba, Sheep and Goat Association, Strawberry Growers Association of India took part in the protest.
 Addressing the protestors, Tejinder Singh, president, J&K Flower Growers Association said, “The nation was suffering from the menace of corruption, but it was Anna who created awareness about issues and became a rallying point for people and with this his team has begun a second revolution in country.”
 “People from Kashmir to Kanyakumari should come forward to support Jan Lokpal Bill as it could save the future of our younger generations.
 Choudhary Dev Raj, president Rice growers Association said that Jammu and Kashmir government should learn a lesson from Anna to weed out corruption from the state.
 Satish Bharti of Bharatiya Kissan Sangthan said, “Our community is facing corruption every day with police official to municipality officer taking bribe. It is a golden opportunity for us to support for Jan Lok Pal Bill.”
 Similarly, hundreds of villagers in model village Jandrah took out a peaceful march and shouted anti-government slogans. The villagers said that rural areas of the state were the worst-affected and it was the high time to ruralites to join the movement to ameliorate their problems.
 In yet another unique protest, deaf and dumb people also extended support to Anna Hazare though their symbolic plays and protests in Jammu on sixth consecutive day.
 The deaf and dumb children organised a peace rally as a part of the ongoing country-wide movement started by Anna Hazare. They took out a peace march from Mubarak Mandi and chanted slogans in favour of Anna Hazare.
 Vijay Kumar Gupta, president deaf and dumb association expressed solidarity with Anna Hazare and declared they would ever remain ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of good governance and people's welfare state nation.
 Holding banners and placards depicting their feeling about corruption the students marched through the city and then the rally culminated at Parade Ground Similarly, the resident and shopkeepers of Talab Tillo area of Jammu also observed day-long fast in support of Gandhian leader.
 The participant in the fast included members of Morning Walkers Association, inmates of Swami Vivekanand Kanyakumari Kendra Jammu, staff and inmates of SOS and members of NGO Pragati Manch staff of NITCO road line Jammu while prominent person included JL Kotwal chief patron Talab Tillo Welfare society and Kulbushan Mohetra. The society also demanded inclusion of Prime Minister and the conduct of members of parliament in the House under the purview of Lok Pal bill.
 Nai Basti residents, including women and children also restored to day-long fast in support of Anna Hazare.
 The Kranti Dal activists took out a motorbike rally from Hari market in support of anti-corruption crusade launched by Anna Hazare. All J&K Pensioners Association and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers also staged protests in various parts of the city.
 Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Front (JKPF) today took out ‘Mashal rally’ in support of Anna Hazare.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST