Jharkhand legislator - an ex-Maoist - supports Anna
Ranchi, Aug 25 (IANS) Polush Surin, a former Maoist leader and now a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator, Thursday staged a one-day sit-in to support Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal bill demand, saying corruption forces people to join the ultras.
"We support Anna Hazare's demand. Corruption is prevailing from top to bottom which is promoting discontent among people. It forces people to join the Naxals (Maoists) and take other extreme steps," Surin told reporters.
The sit-in was staged along with another legislator, Sita Soren, who is the daughter-in-law of JMM supremo Shibu Soren at the Morabadi ground here.
Tana Bhagats, the followers of the social reformer of the same name, staged a separate sit-in at the Morabadi ground.
"We are pained by the way the Anna movement is being dealt by the government. We appeal the central government to pass the Jan Lokpal bill in the interest of the people," said a Tana Bhagat.
Support for Hazare is swelling in Jharkhand, where scores of scams have taken place. The movement has now spread to the rural areas as well.