Anna Hazare's arrest sparked instant protests across the state. Students and people of all ages and political affiliation came out on the roads to stage protests against Anna Hazare's arrest and support the anti-corruption movement. Emotionally charged youth, workers of political parties and members of civil society rallied behind Anna Hazare's movement for a stronger Jan Lok Pal Bill and protested against his arrest by organising rallies, forming 'human chains' and conducting deekshas in Hyderabad and across the rest of the state yesterday.

Youngsters and civil society representatives alike, coming under the banner of 'India Against Corruption', sat on a day-long dharna near Indira Park here demanding a stronger Jan Lok Pal Bill. They also demanded immediate release of Hazare and all his supporters who were arrested in Delhi prior to their fast. "Reject Government's Lok Pal Bill, Demand Jan Lok Pal Bill," read a slogan as youngsters with banners and slogans rallied near the Dharna Chowk as civil society representatives sat on a dharna.

The youth vented their anger on the government for launching a smear campaign against Anna Hazare and for the swoop-down on his team. "The government has shown that it is corrupt and it does not want to end graft by levelling allegations against Anna Hazare. If Anna Hazare is really corrupt or dishonest, let the government prove it and punish him," said a protester.

The anti-graft volunteers wanted to make the protest non-political and made it clear when BJP senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya visited the venue. He was greeted with slogans of 'Go Back, Politicians' forcing him to make a hasty retreat. Mild commotion took place when Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M Kodandaram visited the venue to extend his support. The civil society representatives picked up an argument with Kodandaram which ended up in a mild commotion as the latter's followers came to his support.