Hazare's village folks join anti-corruption stir

As Team Anna on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast raising the pitch against the United Progressive Alliance government on the issue of corruption, villagers from his native place, Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district, 75 km north of Pune, joined in support, holding a protest.

"All villagers of Ralegan are holding a demonstration in support of Anna," Hazare's aide Datta Awari told PTI over phone from the village.

The villagers gathered in the village square opposite the Sant Yadavbaba temple, their patron saint. Hazare's supporters are also holding a protest at the district headquarters, he said. In Mumbai, India Against Corruption volunteers on Wednesday flagged off the protest at Azad Maidan 'against corrupt ministers and corrupt system of governance in state and Centre'.

Led by Mayank Gandhi, IAC volunteers congregated to voice their concern over the state of affairs prevailing in the country, an IAC spokesperson said. Of them, 25 volunteers are on an indefinite fast in Mumbai and over 50 volunteers are on a token 1 day fast.

IAC volunteers have been spreading awareness at railway stations and other public places displaying banners distributing pamphlets, organising car/bike rallies, meeting various associations and spreading awareness among citizens.

Mayank Gandhi said IAC would not relent until the demand for setting up a special investigation team was met.

He also spoke about the latest spat raging between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, saying the Sharad Pawar-led party's real motive is to pressurise the 'honest chief minister' Prithviraj Chavan, who has asked for a white paper on Irrigation project spanning last 10 years.

IAC volunteers have organised a candle light tribute to commemorate the 'Kargil Vijay Divas' in memory of the martyrs who died protecting the nation, at Azad Maidan on July 26 and on July 27, they will hold a morcha to Vilasrao Deshmukh's residence.