Anna Hazare Holds Silent Protest in Support of Delhi Student Protesters What Happened Social activist Anna Hazare held a two-hour silent protest on Thursday in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra, to show support for students protesting in Delhi. He began the protest at 11 am near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Ahilya Nagar and ended it at 1 pm. After the protest, he left for his village, Ralegan Siddhi, in the same district. Before the protest, Hazare had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In it, he said that news of violence against students and police action had deeply disturbed him. He said the anger of the protesters should not be seen as a law and order problem, but as a reflection of pain and hope that people in society are going through. Why It Matters Hazare's letter carried a specific point about accountability. He said that asking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign would not bring the government down. Instead, he said, it would make the government more accountable and more effective in its functioning. This comes at a time when student anger over the issue has already spread to several states, with protests reported in cities including Patna. The involvement of a veteran activist like Hazare adds pressure on the central government to respond directly, rather than treat the protests as a routine law and order matter. What Happens Next In his letter, Hazare appealed to the government to listen patiently to what the protesters are saying, build an atmosphere of trust, and find a solution through positive talks rather than confrontation. Speaking to reporters after his silent protest, Hazare said he wrote the letter because the Prime Minister needs to know about the problems people are facing. He said that was the only reason behind the letter. Meanwhile, heavy security was put in place around Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Thursday, the site where student protests have been ongoing. Authorities also ordered shops, offices, and restaurants in the Connaught Place area to shut by 6:30 pm that evening, citing the tense situation. The developments show the protests are no longer limited to students alone. With a known public figure like Hazare stepping in, and with authorities tightening security in the capital, the issue is drawing attention well beyond the original demand over the exam paper leak. What the government does next, and whether it responds to calls for accountability, remains to be seen.