Chandigarh : Under the banner of Voices of Civil Society, an overwhelming number of teachers, students, employees and social activists assembled today at Gandhi Bhawan, Panjab University, Chandigarh and carried out a candle-march in support of Anna Hazare’s demand for Jan Lokpal Bill. Joining the surge of nation-wide protests against corruption, the people of Chandigarh conveyed in no uncertain terms their whole-hearted support to the initiative taken by the renowned Gandhian Shri Anna Hazare. Holding posters that hailed his campaign against widespread corruption in public life, the marchers expressed their sense of outrage at the apathy that various governments have shown towards the need of having a Jan Lokpal. Various speakers pointed towards the serious moral deficit that our rulers suffer from. They expressed serious concern at the sheer magnitude of corruption. One scam outdoes another in terms of the amount swindled is involved. Prof. Manjit Singh pointed towards an urgent need of full-scale nationwide protest movement against corruption, which he added, would be no less challenging than launching another freedom struggle. Prof. Akshaya Kumar, observed that the whole enterprise of education stands subverted if less deserving people reach to the position of power through illegal means. He insisted on taking away discretionary powers from the ruling elite. Shri Gurdip Singh, President, Panjab University Staff Association, feared that our experiment with democracy would fall flat if corruption is not checked now. He hoped that the institution of Jan Lokpal would restore faith of the disillusioned masses in democratic processes of justice and equity. Prof. Anil Sarwal from DAV College while extending support to the nationwide move against corruption exhorted that it is the duty of each and every citizen to save country from the cancer of corruption. Dr Lallan Baghel, Department of Philosophy, said that it is the poor of India whose votes are bought for cash by the ruling elites and later on the same poor people are made to suffer as they are rendered voiceless. Sardara Singh Cheema, Convenor, Sahit Chintan warned that the people of India would no longer bear the stigma of corruption, and that today’s march should serve as an eye-opener to corrupt elite. Ms Indu Dhawan, an activist, gave a clarion call to put an end to the rampant corruption institutionalised by the ruling parties. She added that if government fails to include peoples’ representatives in drafting the Jan Lokpal Bill, we would not hesitate to come forward and sit on the fast in support of Sh. Anna Hazare. The other speakers which included mostly young students vowed not to relent in the fight against corruption. They observed that both the political leaders and bureaucracy lack the necessary will to check it. The modus of protest was Gandhian and the march culminated near the University Gate adjacent to University Market.