By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington : Thousands of Indian Americans across US have come out in support of social activist Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption in India with rallies, parades, sit-in protests and fasts.
In New York, activists carrying “Remove corruption, save India” signs along its 10-block Madison Avenue route turned the annual India Day parade, the biggest Indian parade in the US, Sunday, into a protest march against corruption in their homeland.
In Washington, a group of Indian Americans, including students from universities in and around the capital, submitted a petition at the Indian Embassy urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet the demands of Hazare by himself tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill in parliament.
“We hope you will take the call and retain the faith in parliament by yourself going ahead with tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill to end the deadlock. Whatever decisions you make today will be remembered in our history for generations to come,” said the petition.
In New Jersey, India Against Corruption group organized a two-day group fast over the weekend. A stage overlooking Oak Tree Road was set up in Iselin where about 50 volunteers wearing white and Anna caps sat on a fast.
Some 4,000 people showed up at the event to express their support and signed an affidavit to support the Jan Lokpal Bill, according to the organisers of the event sponsored by India Business Association.
In Los Angeles, some 400 Indians gathered for a two-hour demonstration in Artesia, chanting slogans in support of Hazare Saturday.
Starting from Artesia Town Centre, the protesters marched through Pioneer Boulevard, nicknamed ‘Indian street’ chanting “We want Jan Lokpal”, “Anna nahi ye Aandhi hai, desh ka doosra Gandhi hai” and “Stop Corruption, Save India”, according to Sri Atluri, one of the organizers.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected])