Hazare rejects government's conditions; protests spread

Tens of thousands of protesters poured onto streets across the country in support of the jailed anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare even as the 74-year-old Gandhian rejected a revised government offer allowing him 21 days to protest.

Hundreds of people supporting Hazare's anti-corruption crusade are keeping a vigil outside the capitals' Tihar jail where Hazare was taken yesterday.

Thousands more marched in protest at the India Gate, carrying placards that the government free the activist and instead act against corruption and the corrupt.

People joined protest marches across the country, in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Calcutta and elsewhere in smaller cities and towns as they vent anger at an inept government.

Large demonstrations were held in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar and in Guwahati.

The government has offered to relax the number of days that Anna Hazare can protest to 21 days from the earlier offer of seven days, making a mockery of the fundamental right to protest.