Protesters return, take position at MPs’ doorsteps

Hundreds of people picketed the houses of lawmakers across the country for the second consecutive day in response to a call by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday. HT reports.

Hundreds of people picketed the houses of lawmakers across the country for the second consecutive day in response to a call by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday.

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Around 50 people staged a protest outside union telecom minister Kapil Sibal's official residence in New Delhi's high-security Teen Murti Marg. They were later detained by the Delhi Police. “The protesters have been kept at Chanakya Puri police station and the security in the area has been beefed up,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

On Sunday, Team Anna had urged supporters to protest in front of the residences of members of Parliament and legislative assemblies.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit rushed to the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday to “discuss” the situation.

Dikshit reportedly discussed the possible ways to initiate a dialogue with Team Anna and find a solution to the "worrisome" problem of demonstrations outside residences of political leaders. “We should find a solution. A dialogue of mutual respect (is required to find solution),” Dikshit told reporters in the Capital.

In Chandigarh, around 30 pro-Hazare protesters held a protest outside the private residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the city's upscale Sector 11. Another set of protesters laid siege near the residence of union parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal, who is also the Chandigarh MP.

The protesters were carrying the tricolour, posters and banners during the demonstration. In Ghaziabad, Hazare supporters demonstrated outside the residence of local MP and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh demanding his support for the anti-corruption stir.

In Jammu, around 50 protesters held a demonstration outside the house of Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma at Muthi, on the outskirts of the city. The people, carrying the national flag and placards, raised slogans against the central government. They also voiced their support for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Sharma, who is Lok Sabha member from Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency, was not home at the time of the protest. Demonstrators staged a peaceful protest.

In Ranchi, members of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) and BJP gheraoed the residence of Union minister Subodh Kant Sahai.