'Civil disobedience from Saturday'

The city witnessed yet another rally in support of Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the tenth day on Thursday. And encouraged by the response, the members of Team Anna in Mumbai have called for civil disobedience from Saturday, if the government fails to take a firm decision on the Jan Lokpal bill.

The city witnessed yet another rally in support of Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the tenth day on Thursday. And encouraged by the response, the members of Team Anna in Mumbai have called for civil disobedience from Saturday, if the government fails to take a firm decision on the Jan Lokpal bill.

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"Anna has given time till Friday to the government. If the government doesn't act, then we will organise rallies across the city on Saturday," said Mayank Gandhi, core-committee member of Team Anna, addressing the rally at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

Rallies from Kurla and Bandra stations merged outside the Reserve Bank of India building at BKC where the protests continued and the future action plan was declared. According to police officials, about 4,000 people from Bandra station and 2,000 from Kurla assembled at BKC.

"We have asked associations to call for a holiday on Saturday. We will request buses, autorickshaws and other vehicle drivers to join us too," added Gandhi.

This plan, however, will not be valid if the government accepts Hazare's demands. "If the government passes the bill, there will be no protest. But if they betray us, a huge civil disobedience movement will be launched," said Gandhi.

However, suburban services remained unaffected as only those who were not on duty participated in this march. Even members of the transport industry extended their support to the cause. "We support Anna and his movement," Shyam Gholap, president, Truck trailer tempo transport union.