Anna continues to draw crowds across UP

The very name of social activist Anna Hazare appears to energise both young and old who once again took to streets in different cities of Uttar Pradesh.

Donning the Gandhi cap emboldened with I am Anna, and carrying either his posters or  placards with catchy anti-corruption slogans, thousands marched down the streets of Lucknow on the third consecutive day.

While activists of India Against Corruption continued with their fast in expression of their solidarity with the Gandhian activist, self-motivated supporters of Anna Hazare emerged in big and small groups in different localities.

Holding the tricolour and raising pro-Anna and anti-corruption slogans, they swore to strengthen the war that their new icon Anna had waged against the all pervading evil of corruption.

Slogans such as Anna tum sangharsh karo; hum tumhare saath hain (Anna, you lead the movement; we are with you) and Anna ji aaye hain, nayi roshni laye hain (Anna has come with a new light) rent the air on all major thoroughfares in Lucknow, where batches of youth marched in processions.

Most of the processions converged at Mahatma Gandhi's statue that stands prominently at the city's busiest crossroad -- Hazratganj - that remained the key destination of all protestors.

By evening, the Gandhi statue turned into a candle-light protest venue. Protestors turning out in huge numbers made it a point to carry candles in their hands and shouted slogans in support of Hazare.

Reports of similar candle-light processions were received from Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur and some other cities too.

The spontaneity of the crowds was clearly visible as there were none to lead or guide anyone. They looked self-motivated.

"Why do we need anyone to motivate; Hazare has not only awakened us but shown us the path to combat corruption", remarked Nikhil, a 22-year-old university student, who has been skipping classes over the past three days to remain actively involved with the day's events in support of Anna.