People in B'lore continue protests in support of Hazare

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bangalore, Aug 22: People continued to voice their support to Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption in this IT hub, with the Freedom Park holding centrestage. Though there were over 2,000 people thronging the Freedom Park today compared to 30,000 last evening, the anger of the people to fight corruption does not seem to ebb.

People from young to old, from poor to rich, almost everybody from all walks of life converged at the Park pledging support to seven-day-old Anna Hazare's fast for passing Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament.

The dharna at Freedom Park was spearheaded by BJP MP D B Chandre Gowda and former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde.

Addressing the gathering, Gowda said he didn't accept the Lokpal Bill prepared by the government. "MPs should be apologetic for the delay in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill," he added.

Clad in white t-shirts and caps with Tricolour and banners in their hands, Anna Hazare supporters raised slogans against UPA government, sang patriotic songs and danced to the tunes of dhols.

Hegde demanded a written guarantee from Parliament to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill immediately. "We will not accept the Lokpal Bill framed by the government," he said.

The Jayanagar Commercial Merchants Association observed bandh today, lending support to Hazare’s demand for an effective Jan Lokpal Bill.

Shops and commercial establishments in Jayanagar remained closed from 10.30 am to 6 pm.

A huge procession was organised in Hoskote to express solidarity for Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption.

Members of Karnataka Small Scale Industries
Association (KASSIA) along with Peenya Industries Association and other affiliated associations also participated in the
dharna to support the Anna Hazare movement.

Meanwhile in Udupi, special prayers were offered for the success of Anna’s campaign against corruption on Krishna
Janmashtami.

In Hubli, huge rallies were organised by kirana merchants, hardware association, Basava Samities and Barbers Associations, in support of Anna Hazare.

Big cut-outs of Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Jan Lok Pal Bill members were taken out in a procession by the Shakti Youth Mandal.

In Dharwad, BJP organised a dharana which was led by Hubli-Dharwad Mayor Poorna Patil Datta Dorle.

Links

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/people-in-bangalore-continue-protests-in-support-of-hazare/796808.html

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/185542/people-bangalore-continue-protests-support.html

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5384305