Anna's village falls silent in protest against corruption

Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi, 75 km north of Pune, shut down completely for the second consecutive day.But it was abuzz with activities with villagers launching a series of agitations to protest against corruption in the country and also Hazare's arrest.They also observed a day of silence and fasting.

 Villagers carried an effigy of the Union government from the village state transport bus stand to the crematorium where it was burnt amid anti-government chants.

Hundreds of men, women and schoolchildren took part in the mock funeral procession.

Later in the day, around 600 villagers sat in silence in and outside the Yadavbaba temple, located in the centre of the village.

A motorcycle rally of around 200 youth from the neighbouring Nighoj village was organised as part of the protest. The youth later gathered in Ralegan Siddhi village to express their solidarity with the villagers.

The neighbouring villages around Ralegan Siddhi also organised their own protests on Wednesday.

Villagers, both young and old, held a three-hour ghantanaad (non-stop ringing of bells) at Jategaon near Ralegan Siddhi.

The Ralegan Siddhi villagers broke their fast at 5pm.

The day ended with a maashal rally through the streets of the village at 7.30pm followed by a gram sabha (meeting of the villagers) in Yadavbaba temple to decide the plan of action on Thursday.

Sakharam Raut, trustee of Anna Hazare's Hind Swaraj Trust, said he was happy with the swelling numbers in the village to join the agitation."Ralegan Siddhi experienced a charged atmosphere for a second day in a row. We had as many as 1,000 youth from the neighbouring villages and towns who came here to extend their support to Anna's cause," said Raut.

After the gram sabha meeting, Raut said the villagers had decided to keep their shops open only in the morning and late evenings on Thursday.

He added, "We have planned to hold a relay hunger strike on Thursday."