CHANDIGARH: After a bike rally that criss-crossed the city on Tuesday morning, Anna Hazare's supporters took out a mammoth car rally on Tuesday evening. Over 200 cars and 100 bikes moved around the city roads in long, serpentine queues, leading to traffic bottlenecks at several places.
Hazare was detained by Delhi police in the morning, shortly before he was to initiate an indefinite fast to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
Tens of hundreds of people of different age-groups, carrying tricolours and raising slogans in support of Hazare and his movement, were out on the city roads this evening.
The rally, which had scores of hi-end cars and two-wheelers, passed through various sectors like 18, 7, 8, 23, 22, 34 and 37 and Panjab University campus before finally culminating at Sector 7-8 roundabout. The strength of the rally kept swelling as it passed through different sectors.
"Anna Hazare has emerged as a national hero and the whole country is following his footsteps. We want Delhi police to release him immediately and there should be no policing on free expression and speech," Jaidev Singh, a young protester, told TOI.
Manisha Aggarwal, a fine arts student, said, "I have borrowed my father's car to take part in this rally. This is our way to express support for Anna Hazare. Despite all restrictions, we are with Anna and want him to continue his campaign against corruption. Today's incident has backfired and has in fact gathered more support for Anna."
There were smiles on faces of protesters after late on Tuesday, they got the news that Anna would be released in two hours' time.
"Though we have got this news, so far, it is not confirmed. We would be very happy if he is released and we would celebrate it in a big way," said Raman Moudgil, another protester.
The problem of traffic jams was experienced in the city's various parts where the rally passed. Heavy police presence kept the situation under control.
"Corruption has been troubling every Indian for a long time but people were not finding the right channel to express their discontent and anguish. Anna Hazare's movement has provided them a common platform to raise their voice and come forward to fight the menace of corruption," Wg Cdr Prem Kumar, a former Indian Air Force officer, told TOI.
He added, "Irrespective of whether one is rich or poor, educated or uneducated, everyone wants to come forward and fight against the system. Corruption pervades all levels of the society and it is the reason behind all our problems. We have got to make sure this movement moves forward. Anna does not need our money, he only needs our support."
On Anna's call, members of a local NGO Lions Welfare Society sat on an indefinite hunger strike near CBI's office in Sector-30.
"We started a hunger strike after performing a havan. We will continue our struggle till we get a final call from Anna," said TR Kapoor, media in charge of the society.
Homemaker Rachna Mehta said, "This protest is not about following any political party's ideology. It is a reflection on the pent up frustration of millions of Indian citizens wanting to put an end to the evil of corruption."
Hazare was detained by Delhi police in the morning, shortly before he was to initiate an indefinite fast to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill.
Tens of hundreds of people of different age-groups, carrying tricolours and raising slogans in support of Hazare and his movement, were out on the city roads this evening.
The rally, which had scores of hi-end cars and two-wheelers, passed through various sectors like 18, 7, 8, 23, 22, 34 and 37 and Panjab University campus before finally culminating at Sector 7-8 roundabout. The strength of the rally kept swelling as it passed through different sectors.
"Anna Hazare has emerged as a national hero and the whole country is following his footsteps. We want Delhi police to release him immediately and there should be no policing on free expression and speech," Jaidev Singh, a young protester, told TOI.
Manisha Aggarwal, a fine arts student, said, "I have borrowed my father's car to take part in this rally. This is our way to express support for Anna Hazare. Despite all restrictions, we are with Anna and want him to continue his campaign against corruption. Today's incident has backfired and has in fact gathered more support for Anna."
There were smiles on faces of protesters after late on Tuesday, they got the news that Anna would be released in two hours' time.
"Though we have got this news, so far, it is not confirmed. We would be very happy if he is released and we would celebrate it in a big way," said Raman Moudgil, another protester.
The problem of traffic jams was experienced in the city's various parts where the rally passed. Heavy police presence kept the situation under control.
"Corruption has been troubling every Indian for a long time but people were not finding the right channel to express their discontent and anguish. Anna Hazare's movement has provided them a common platform to raise their voice and come forward to fight the menace of corruption," Wg Cdr Prem Kumar, a former Indian Air Force officer, told TOI.
He added, "Irrespective of whether one is rich or poor, educated or uneducated, everyone wants to come forward and fight against the system. Corruption pervades all levels of the society and it is the reason behind all our problems. We have got to make sure this movement moves forward. Anna does not need our money, he only needs our support."
On Anna's call, members of a local NGO Lions Welfare Society sat on an indefinite hunger strike near CBI's office in Sector-30.
"We started a hunger strike after performing a havan. We will continue our struggle till we get a final call from Anna," said TR Kapoor, media in charge of the society.
Homemaker Rachna Mehta said, "This protest is not about following any political party's ideology. It is a reflection on the pent up frustration of millions of Indian citizens wanting to put an end to the evil of corruption."
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