Hazare's campaign generates heat in Punjab, Haryana

Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding a more stringent anti-corruption law, entered its third day Thursday.

Social activists in Punjab are staging a sit-in outside the office of deputy commissioner in
Sangrur town to extend their support to Hazare. People's Party of Punjab (PPP), the newly floated political party of former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, has also announced its support to Hazare.

Besides, social activists also held protests in various parts of Punjab and Haryana like Sirsa, Ambala, Jind, Faridkot, Sangrur and Amritsar to raise their voice in support of Hazare's movement.

"We are gathering support even on social networking sites and through sending e-mails and SMSs to people. We strongly demand the Jan Lokpal bill as it would ensure the seizing of looted money from the houses and bank accounts of fraudsters and unscrupulous politicians," said Amit Saini, a social activist based in Amritsar.

At various places, teachers, lawyers, students and doctors planned to observe fasts. "We want our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is known for his clean image, to personally intervene in this issue. This is a very genuine matter and it should not be politicised. If centre fails to meet the demands, then this agitation would be intensified in the coming days," Abhimanyu Gandhi, who is working with a Chandigarh-based NGO, told IANS.

Besides, two lawyers of Punjab and Haryana High Court -- V.S. Makkar and Gaurav Goyal -- are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike in Chandigarh.

"We have been sitting on a hunger strike since the last 48 hours. We would continue it till Anna Hazare's demands are met. Many of our colleagues are supporting us and we are happy as this movement has emerged in a big way in this region," said Goyal.

Hazare's anti-corruption crusade has led to a groundswell of support with thousands of people joining the movement across India. He is demanding that the Lokpal (ombudsman) bill be given more teeth so it can effectively tackle corruption in public life.