Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Netizens join campaign

VISAKHAPATNAM: Almost a century after Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi first started the non-violent movement to end British colonial rule, social activist Anna Hazare's indefinite fast to demand the Jan Lokpal bill has reinforced the power of ‘Satyagraha' in present times. His pledge to fast until death has captured the imagination of a nation fed up with scandals and has won thousands of supporters and followers on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The fan page of Anna Hazare on Facebook had more than 71,000 members on Friday evening, many of whom posted strong comments criticising the political system and deep-rooted corruption in the society. One member in the fan page wrote: “Hume Gandhi nami leaders nahi chaiye, hume sache Gandhiwadi leaders chahiye” (We want true followers of Gandhi rather than ones sharing just the surname Gandhi). A separate page for the ‘India against Corruption' movement in Facebook has over 1,60,000 supporters already. Twitter is also abuzz with several messages from people including celebrities from the film industry, sports and other walks of life tweeting virtual support for the cause. The 72-year-old Gandhian has become a worldwide celebrity with tweets pouring in every minute. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, one of the most followed twitter personalities in the country, wrote “What's remarkable is the uprising of the youth of our country in support of Anna Hazare. I pledge my support to this cause.” Actor Gul Panag tweeted: “It's heartening to see the growing ire against corruption.” Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote: “Anna makes the Mahatma breathe again. The Gandhian creed is not the private property of the ruling party. It is the asset of entire nation.” Offering his support for the cause, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur wrote on Twitter, “Not till every Indian heart burns with rage will the Indian political system come out of its slumber. A revolution cannot lose momentum.” Big B tweeted: “So long as there is life there will be struggle! Be prepared and fight it!”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

IIJT centre to offer career courses
VBS scholarship test today
A wide range of chikankari fabrics on display
‘Healthy children build a healthy nation'
Worker trapped in tunnel
CPI team's land inspection triggers row
Fond farewell to ADRM
Summer courses from May 1
Finalise tax revision petitions: Mayor
Tunnel proposal revived
Held on charge of attacking girl
Held on extortion charge
Netizens join campaign
People come out in support of Hazare
In Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2011, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu