Vidarbha gram panchayats support Anna's cause

Support continues to pour in for Anna Hazare and his campaign against corruption which has taken the nation by storm.

Support continues to pour in for Anna Hazare and his campaign against corruption which has taken the nation by storm.

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The support is no more just an urban phenomenon, but the non-violent campaign is immensely popular in remote villages and among the rural populace.

Over 40 gram panchayats of Gondia district in eastern Maharashtra extended their support to the Gandhian crusader for his anti-corruption campaign.

Reports reaching here on Wednesday said that these panchayats unanimously adopted formal resolutions to this effect. The panchayats urged the respective panchayat samitis to demand tabling of the Jan Lokpal Bill by the UPA government before the Parliament.

Several gram panchayats of Sadak Arjuni, one of the naxalite-affected talukas of the region, too have passed the resolution.

Madhav Torne, a senior activist of India Against Corruption had approached the representatives of as many as 63 gram panchayats of the district. "Of them, 40 gram panchayats were convinced and adopted the resolution," he informed.

Among the gram panchayat that adopted the resolution in support of Hazare include: Khajri, Sondad, Murpar, Bopabodi, Khoba, Raka, Chindipar, Sadak Arjuni, Chikhli, Ghatbori and Bramhni (Sadak).

"We dicussed the issue in the meeting through a proper agenda in this regard and unanimously adopted it. We also got support of over 800 villagers in this connection," informs Hitendra Lawangani, sarpanch of Sondad village in Gondia district.

Meanwhile, the anti-corruption crusader Hazare has found a new supporter in former MPCC president Ranjit Deshmukh. "He is a sincere Gandhian and his cause can’t be undermined," Deshmukh said.

However, he said that Hazare should be kept away from his advisors who were taking advantage of the situation.