Chandrapur, Gondia total bandh in support of Anna

The voices of dissent against the government's proposed lokpal bill grew louder on Thursday. Gandhian Anna Hazare found more support for his anti-corruption drive across Vidarbha. HT reports.

The voices of dissent against the government's proposed lokpal bill grew louder on Thursday. Gandhian Anna Hazare found more support for his anti-corruption drive across Vidarbha.

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The impact of the non-violent campaign against the corruption menace was such that Chandrapur and Gondia districts observed a complete bandh. In a show of solidarity, various groups from across the society, took out marches and held peaceful protests in different parts of Nagpur on Thursday.

According to reports reaching here on Thursday evening, shops, markets and educational institutions in Chandrapur and Gondia districts remained closed till 5 pm in support of Hazare. Holding the tricolour, placards and banners, a large number of school children, college students, men and women, raised slogans against corruption and took out rallies across these cities, reports said.

Several schools also supported the bandh and students were sent back home when they came to schools. "The protest is being staged in a peaceful manner in different parts of the Chandrapur. Everything is in order and there is no report of any untoward incident from anywhere," informed SSN Rao, a retired forest officer and one of the activists of India Against Corruption in Chandrapur.

A sizeable group, comprising people from diverse backgrounds and affiliations, took out a candle march in Civil Lines, Sadar, Sitabuldi, Dharampeth and near Law College square in support of Hazare.

“There was no report of any untoward incident in the city during the agitation,” said Ankush Dhanvijay, the commissioner of police (CP), Nagpur city.