On Thursday morning, all residents of Ralegan Siddhi did not have a bath and walked to the village square with empty buckets and mugs to participate in their unique protest - a “balti morcha” (bucket rally).
On Thursday morning, all residents of Ralegan Siddhi did not have a bath and walked to the village square with empty buckets and mugs to participate in their unique protest - a “balti morcha” (bucket rally).
They were protesting against the alleged refusal of Tihar jail authorities to provide bath facilities to their 74-year-old mentor, Anna Hazare, and preventing him access to newspapers and television.
Ralegan Siddhi village is located in Ahmednagar district, around 87km from Pune.
“The villagers were upset with the news of Anna not being provided basic amenities in Tihar jail and decided to protest in this unique manner,” said Sakharam Raut, a resident of Ralegan Siddhi.
The villagers congregated outside the Yadavbaba temple in the village square with their empty buckets and shouted anti-government slogans. They also participated in a relay hunger strike.
According to Raut, at least 2,000 youths from neighbouring villages thronged Ralegan Siddhi on motorcycles and jeeps to extend their support to their protest.
In the evening, they took out a candlelight march and decided to continue the relay hunger strike on Friday. The village has decided to carry out protest rallies every day until Hazare’s campaign ends.
By late evening when the villagers were a little relaxed.
“We were happy to see Anna on television in the evening. Finally, he will be allowed to fast at the Ramlila grounds. We sense that the government is on the back foot now,” said Raut.
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