Kochi, Aug 16 (IANS) Veteran Marxist leader from Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan Tuesday expressed his full support to the struggle launched by Gandhian Anna Hazare for a strong Lokpal bill.


"I am fully with Hazare in his struggle. It is quite strange that he cannot even stage a protest. It is wrong on the part of the central government to take such a strong stand against a protest, which is a peaceful one," Achuthanandan told reporters here.

"The action reminds of the black days of Emergency. Even though I have reservations on the manner of his protest, those who oppose him behave like autocrats," he added.

Activists of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) took to the streets across the state, boycotting classes to protest the detention of Hazare.

Leading lights from all sections of the society staged a sit-in at the Martyrs Column in the heart of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram and protested Hazare's detention.

Hazare was detained by Delhi Police Tuesday morning as he was about to set out for his fast in support of a strong Lokpal bill. Activist Arvind Kejriwal was also detained along with him.

Sporadic protests broke out across the national capital, leading to the detention of more than 500 supporters, including former top cop Kiran Bedi and lawyer Shanti Bhushan.