Panaji: More support poured in on Thursday for
Gandhian Anna Hazare in Goa, where protest walks were held
across the state and most colleges witnessed sparse attendance
in the wake of a bandh call given by a student organisation.
Iconic Azad Maidan in the city witnessed around 250
students holding protests till afternoon.
The students, who gathered under the banners of Youth For
Goa, India Against Corruption (IAC) and Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), walked a distance of 3 km from the
main bus stand to Azad Maidan to express solidarity with the
73-year-old social activist who is on fast to demand a strong
Lokpal Bill.
Rallies were held in major cities like Ponda, Margao
and Vasco where thousands of students waved the tricolour
shouting pro-Hazare slogans.
ABVP Organising Secretary Abhay Bhide claimed the
nationwide call for college bandh got "tremendous" response in
Goa with "The attendance in almost all colleges was affected."
The ABVP leader said students on their own supported
the bandh and joined the anti-corruption movement and "no one
was forced out of the classroom."
Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India
(NSUI), however, did not take part in the shutdown.
Civil right groups in the state have also come out in
the support of Hazare and his movement.
Village Groups of Goa (VGG), a collective of several
civil society organisations, said Goa ministers should observe
a `corruption-free day`.
VGG Convenor John Pereira said the group has asked
ministers through a petition to remain corruption free at
least for a day.
PTI
