City unleashes youth power for Anna

The otherwise peaceful city of Mysore witnessed a flurry of activity on Wednesday, with young denizens exhibiting their show of strength in support of social activist Anna Hazare.

Gandhi Square, that has turned into ‘J P Park of New Delhi’ saw about 2,000 students converging from different parts of the city, bringing central business district to a virtual halt.

Till the colleges started, Mysoreans were still updating the happenings of Tuesday in New Delhi, where the Gandhian was detained, reading newspapers. Akhila Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishat (ABVP) gave a call for ‘college bandh’ igniting the passion among the students irrespective of gender.

Students from JSS Women’s College, Maharani’s Junior and Degree colleges, Maharaja’s, SDM, Marimallappa’s, Sadvidya, Vidya Vikas Education Trust (VVET) and Gopalaswamy among few others took out a rally to Gandhi Square under ABVP banner.

They found a mentor in Dr R Balasubramaniam, founder of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) who has been staging symbolic dharna at the venue from Tuesday.
It was only after the students came out in full, around 12 noon, the Gandhi Square resembled a war zone. For two hours, till 2 pm, it was chock-a-bloc with agitators, raising slogans against the centre, and demanding for stronger Jan Lokpal Bill to check corruption.

A group of girls who had adorned selves with cards reading -Naavu Bhrashtachara Virodhi Bharatheeyaru...’ (we are anti-corruption Indians) inspired many others to follow suit.

Police who were caught unaware of the sudden development, initially found it tough to handle the situation, but thanks to both protesters and the police it went off smoothfully.
The protesters later dispersed, much to the relief of the police, especially shopkeepers in the vicinity who heaved a sigh of relief. They were on tenterhooks craning from the shops having a glimpse of the happening.

First of its kind

According to police sources, it was first such mammoth gathering in the recent past, where students outnumbered others.

Though the education department had not called for holiday, most of the institutions preferred to suspend business for the day fearing worst.

While schools remained open till afternoon, anxious parents opted for taking their wards home after lunch. Students of GSSS staged a sit-in near the office of deputy commissioner in the evening, while another group of youths took out a candle light rally on JLB road.