Anna Hazare holds silent protest in support of protesting students

Mangalore Today News Network

Maharashtra, Jul 23, 2026: Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday staged a two-hour ’maun andolan’ (silent protest) in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, expressing solidarity with students protesting in Delhi.

Hazare began his protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue at 11 a.m. and concluded it at 1 p.m., after which he returned to his native village of Ralegan Siddhi in the same district.

A day earlier, Hazare had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, voicing concern over the developments surrounding the student protests.

In his letter, he described reports of violence and police action as "extremely painful" and urged the Centre to view the students’ anger "not as a law and order problem, but as the agony and expectations of society."

Hazare also said that seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan "will not cause the government to fall; rather, it will make its functioning more accountable and effective."

He appealed to the government to engage with the protesters patiently, build trust, and resolve the issues through constructive dialogue.

Speaking to reporters after the silent protest, Hazare said he wrote to the prime minister because "he is the supreme leader and should be apprised of people’s issues."