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UP: Trade unions, journos back the Anna-cause

August 24, 2011 01:22 IST

Trade unions and journalists came out in open support of social activist Anna Hazare in Lucknow on Tuesday.

This came in addition to people from different walks of life, including a large number of youth who marched down in batches throughout the day to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to stage demonstrations there.

Hundreds of employees from different public sector organisations marched down the Lucknow thoroughfares to the Jhule Lal Park along the Gomati river to express their solidarity with Hazare followers who continued with their indefinite fast on the eight day.

Another well known trade union leader Kaushal Kishore also chose to march down to the Jhule Lal park to pledge support to the cause raised by Anna Hazare.

Led by prominent trade union leader Uma Shankar Misra, a large band of employees of the UP State Road Transport Corporation took out a procession raising pro-Anna slogans.

Later addressing the gathering at the Jhule Lal Park, Misra assured the protestors of full support of Hind Mazdoor Sabha which he heads in Uttar Pradesh.

Expressing his solidarity with the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare, All India Railwaymen's Federation general secretary Shiv Gopal Misra has directed his local unit to extend support to the Anna protagonists in Lucknow. "Our activists will take out a procession in support of Anna's campaign in Lucknow on Wednesday", Misra told IANS over telephone from New Delhi.

UP Accredited Correspondents Committee has also resolved to take out a protest march in Lucknow on Wednesday as a mark of solidarity with Anna's anti-corruption movement.

"We have also sought inclusion of corporate and media houses under the ambit of the proposed anti-corruption law," committee general secretary Yogesh Misra said.

UP Bank Employees Federation was already behind the Anna movement. Federation general secretary R K Agrawal, who is also the convenor of India Against Corruption, said, "More trade unions representing several government institutions have expressed their solidarity with our movement."

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow