Highway blocked in Pimpri,150 held

Independent corporator Maruti Bhapkar said the response was spontaneous and overwhelming. “Without calling anybody,people just trooped in and kept coming till the evening. Citizens were from all strata of the society,including college and school students,too participated in the demonstration,” he said. Bhapkar said the detained activists insisted that they be taken to the jail,but police refused. “Despite our repeated requests,the police did not take us to jail as we wanted to launch jail bharo agitation,” he said. Bhapkar said police did not beat the agitators. “At the police station,they offered us tea,but we refused. They let us off after two hours. But we walked back to the demonstration venue and peacefully resumed the demonstration,” he said. Even as the agitators were being taken into custody,slogans were raised in support of Anna.

Among others,activists and representatives of workers including Manav Kamble,Dilip Pawar and Kisore Dhokle were present. Bhapkar said their protest will continue on Wednesday too. “We will wear black bands,resort to ghanta nad and court arrest. The agitation will continue whether Hazare is in or out of the jail,” Manav Kamble said.