Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is criticizing a hunger strike by a leading anti-corruption activist as misconceived, while fresh protests sweep across India for a second day.

Thousands marched through the center of New Delhi on Wednesday, shouting slogans in support of Anna Hazare. Similar demonstrations were held in the country's financial hub, Mumbai, and in cities throughout the south and east.

Hazare and more than 1,000 of his followers were detained on Tuesday as he prepared to begin a hunger strike to demand stronger anti-corruption legislation. Police later allowed Hazare to leave, but the activist has chosen to remain in prison until authorities agree to not place restrictions on his protest.

Supporters shouting “down with corruption” gathered outside New Delhi's Tihar jail on Wednesday, where Hazare is being held. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Singh told parliament that Hazare's protest, while inspired by high ideals, was “fraught with grave consequences for our parliamentary democracy”

Amid jeers from lawmakers, the Indian leader said Hazare cannot be allowed to force lawmakers to sign his own version of anti-corruption legislation.

Earlier this month, Mr. Singh's ruling Congress party introduced an anti-corruption bill in parliament that would create a civil organization, or lokpal, with the powers to investigate ministers and bureaucrats. But Hazare rejected the bill and called for parliament to pass his own version, saying it would do more to hold the prime minister and judicial branch accountable.

In a statement released after his detention, Hazare vowed to continue the protest movement, telling supporters that the “second freedom struggle” had begun. He also urged them to keep the movement non-violent.

Popular outrage over corruption in India has grown steadily over the past year as one high-profile corruption scandal after another have made headlines in national media. They include the sale of telecommunications licenses at below market value and numerous financial irregularities in India's hosting of last year's Commonwealth Games.

In the latest scandal, India's upper house of parliament began impeachment proceedings Wednesday against a judge on charges that he misappropriated large sums of public money.

If impeached, Soumitra Sen, a judge in the Kolkata High Court, would be the India's first sitting judge to be removed from his post.