Former MP from Rajasthan Ramji Singh formally opened the relay hunger strike camp set up by members of Poura Samaja Vedika on Friday, the fourth day of the relay fasts being staged to express solidarity with social activist Anna Hazare.
People from various walks of life participated in the agitation.
Addressing the protesters, the Vedika leaders urged the UPA government at the Centre to pave the way for peaceful agitation by Anna Hazare at Ramlila Maidan.
Taking strong exception to some of the remarks made by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers, they said it was unfortunate that a 73-year-old Gandhian was being subjected to hardship for taking up a fight against corruption.
They said that the government should allow a public referendum on the Lok Pal Bill and implement what people of this country desired.
A secret ballot was the only answer to the issue, they reiterated.
Candle light rally
Stressing the need for a strong and comprehensive Jan Lokpal Bill, they said people of the nation must be allowed to decide if the Prime Minister, the CBI and the CVC should be brought under the Lokpal ambit.
Echoing similar sentiments, volunteers of Youth for Better India (YBI) took out a candle light procession from Chaitanya College on Bandar Road up to Mother Teresa statue near Siddhartha Academy.
Denouncing reluctance on the part of the government to respect people's sentiments, they said the writing on the wall was clear and people across the nation were in no mood to take things lying down any more.
