Pune has been one of the epicentres where protests and rallies have been on since August 16, the day Hazare was arrested by Delhi police before he could start his indefinite fast in support of a strong Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption.
More than 30,000 Puneites staged a massive candlelight rally from Balgandharva chowk to Sarasbaug on Thursday evening to express their solidarity with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
Pune has been one of the epicentres where protests and rallies have been on since August 16, the day Hazare was arrested by Delhi police before he could start his indefinite fast in support of a strong Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption.
Thursday’s rally saw the biggest turnout so far in the city. Traffic police said there were no major traffic disruptions due to the rally.
The rally started at 6pm, travelled along Jungli Maharaj Road and Tilak Road before culminating at the Sarasbaug. Volunteers donning India Against Corruption t-shirts and Gandhi caps managed the massive crowd as it moved in perfect unison, raising nationalistic slogans and singing patriotic songs.
Maya Bansode, a homemaker, rushed through her household work to be a part of this historic rally. “My husband had returned early from work so that we could participate in the rally,” she said.
Other organisations that participated in the rally including a delegation of the National Railway Mazdoor’s Union and 25 students from the Nivanth Blind School from Tingrenagar.
Vijay Salge, a paraplegic who took part in the event on his mechanised tricycle, said: “We have to fight against the corruption that is gnawing at the heart of the nation.”
The crowd entered Sarasbaug at 7.10 pm. The protesters assembled in the open space at the park and sang patriotic songs.
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