India against corruption: Anna Hazare's arrest is 'murder of democracy', Parkash Singh Badal

LUDHIANA: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today strongly condemned the arrest of Gandhian Anna Hazare by the Delhi Police and termed it as "murder of democracy".

"The Congress has panicked over the movement of Anna Hazare as it is the Congress leaders who had stashed money abroad," the Chief Minister alleged.

"We are with the movement," Badal told reporters here. Meanwhile, people from all walks of life, including advocates and academicians, today took to streets at several places in Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana voicing their support to civil society members in their crusade against corruption.

In Chandigarh, several intersections and round abouts were blocked by people, including advocates, officials said here.

A long queue of stranded vehicles was seen on several roads in Chandigarh in the wake of blockades laid by people.

In Punjab and Haryana, people took to streets and raised slogans in favour of civil society members and also blocked traffic.

Braving inclement weather at some places in the twin states of Punjab and Haryana, the people sat at several roads blocking the traffic.

The protesters alleged that the arrest of Gandhian Anna Hazare and others is an "undemocratic step" of the UPA government.

Activists of an NGO 'Awaaz' raised slogans against the UPA government at sector 7 and 8 traffic junction.

At the rally ground in Chandigarh, another NGO 'India Against Corruption' decided to sit on hunger strike in support of the civil society members.

NGO's founder member Davinder Sharma told reporters that five people from the NGO would sit on relay hunger strike till the government comes out with a strong Lokpal bill.

"I don't feel that I am living in world's largest democracy," Shammy Choudhary, a law student with Panjab University, said.

Meanwhile, security has been enhanced in both the states and their joint capital Chandigarh in view of protests and to prevent any eventuality.