Supporters hold protest in Lucknow against Anna Hazare's detention

Social activist Anna Hazare's supporters organised meetings and staged demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh, protesting his detention in New Delhi this morning.

Shouting slogans against the UPA government, a number of social activists and common man held protest at Gandhi Statue in Hazratganj in Lucknow.

Activists of India Against Corruption (IAC), joined by several teachers, lawyers and students staged a sit-in demonstration at Jhulelal park in the city.

"Why in a democratic country like us, an old aged person like Anna has been denied to hold agitation and that too against the burning issue of corruption... We stand by Anna and will do whatever is needed to root out corruption," said Pawan Upadhyay, a lawyer.

Similar demonstrations and hunger-strikes were reported from Gorakhpur, Gonda, Varanasi, Allahabad and others cities of the state.

Hazare was detained from an apartment in New Delhi this morning after police failed to persuade him to call off his plans to defy prohibitory orders and stage a protest at Jai Prakash Narain Park in the capital.

Besides Hazare, his close associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained.

The Gandhian had announced that he would launch his indefinite fast from today demanding withdrawal of the "weak" Lokpal Bill and introduce a strong legislation to fight corruption.