By IANS,
Jaipur : Fasts, candlelight marches, rallies – support and solidarity poured across Rajasthan for social activist Anna Hazare, whose indefinite fast at New Delhi for a stringent anti-corruption law continued for the fourth day Friday.
Protest marches, condemning the rampant corruption in government departments, were taken out across the state Thursday and Friday while several groups are planning to lend a supporting hand to Hazare in days to come.
In Bhilwara, about 250 km from Jaipur, Prasoon Sharma began a fast-unto-death Friday and claimed it will continue till the introduction of an effective Lokpal Bill by the government.
“I will break the fast only when corruption is rooted out of this country by introduction of stringent laws against corrupt officials and politicians. I am with Anna till death,” asserted Sharma.
In Kota town, about 240 km from Jaipur, residents joined activists of NGO Environment Development Committee in a candlelight march to show solidarity with Hazare.
“At least 2,000 people took part in the candlelight march organised by us Thursday night. We are planning to take out another rally in a couple of days,” a representative of the NGO told IANS.
Another rally organized by Udan Society in Alwar, about 150 km from Jaipur, witnessed participation of about 3,000 people Thursday night.
Theatre artists in Bikaner, over 320 km from Jaipur, observed a fast, while students of various colleges took out a rally in the town in support of Hazare’s campaign.
In Chittorgarh, a rally was taken out and ended in a sit-in near the district collector’s office Friday. The agitators handed over to the official a memorandum addressed to the prime minister demanding strict action and laws against corruption in the country.
Similar rallies were taken out and a score of people observed fast in Jodhpur, Sriganganagar, Udaipur and Ajmer towns also.
In Jaipur also, non-government organisations staged a sit-in and handed over a memorandum to District Collector Naveen Mahajan.
A candlelit march and then a sit-in have been planned at Statue Circle in Jaipur Saturday evening. SMSs requesting people to participate in the sit-in are doing the rounds in the city since Thursday.