Bhubaneswar, April 8 (Odisha.in) People organized rallies, staged demonstrations; observed fast ‘unto death’ in Orissa on Friday in the support of septuagenarian Gandhian leader Anna Hazare in the fight against corruption.
In state capital Bhubaneswar, the fast by Bhabani Parija, an activist of the Orissa Jana Sammilani (OJS), a civil society organization entered second day.
Hundreds of people from various walks of life including retired judges, bureaucrats, social activists, journalists, editors and film stars visited him and staged a sit-in demonstration to extend him their moral support.
Swami Arupananda-a Hindu sheer also launched an indefinite hunger strike in a separate place of the city. “We want a corruption free India. We have to extend our moral support to Hazare in this struggle” he said.
Both Parija and Arupananda said they will end their fast only after Hazare calls off his strike. Some people also launched relay hunger strike on Mahatma Gandhi Marg of the city.
The state capital also witnessed separate demonstrations and rallies. While activists of the Kalinga Sena, a political party carried out a procession carrying posters and banners, large number of activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) separately organized a sit-in demonstration.
Similar demonstrations, rallies, relay hunger strikes supporting Hazar also were reported from other parts of the state.
In Cuttack city, hundreds of students both boys and girls launched a signature campaign near the Ravenshaw university to garner public support for Hazare.
Hazare was conferred with prestigious national civilian honours like Padma shree and Padma Bhushan in the past for his contribution to the society. He has been on fast unto death in Delhi since April 5 demanding the introduction of a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
Odisha.in