By IANS,
Agra : Civil society activists and youth leaders representing various voluntary organisations staged a protest here Wednesday in support of Anna Hazare, who is on a fast-unto-death in Delhi to press for a stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill.
“Whoever can contribute to this movement, should come forward and assert his or her voice,” senior journalist Bhanu Pratap Singh said.
Social activist Dr. Sanjay Chaturvedi said: “The sweep of the RTI Act must be extended and officials made accountable. We are helplessly watching how corrupt elements are trying to dilute the provisions of this Act, but time has now come when civil society must exert its collective will.”
People gathered at Shahid Smarak in Sanjay Place commercial complex here and called for the introduction in parliament of the anti-corruption bill drafted by the civil society.
Programme coordinator Padmini K. Iyer said: “On Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary, we had taken out a rally under ‘India Against Corruption’ banner. Today’s dharna in support of Gandhian Anna Hazare is aimed at sensitising the common man towards corruption, that has now become a widespread malady.”
Interestingly, the whole campaign has been conducted through social networking sites like Facebook, SMSes and e-mails.
“People who turned up here came to know about the dharna through Facebook and other means,” pointed out Abhinay Prasad of Adhar Trust.
According to IT professional Harsh Gupta, the nation was “witnessing the emergence of the alternative media” which made the widespread exchange of ideas possible.