India Against Corruption’s Bengaluru campaign announced today that Anna Hazare will be visiting Bangalore in the first week of May. Prithvi Reddy, one of the co-ordinators said this at an IAC-organised solidarity gathering outside LokAyukta Justice Santosh Hegde’s home. Hegde is a member of the central government’s Lokpal bill drafting committee. Around 160 people attended, the IAC said.
Gathering of support for Justice Santosh Hegde outside his home on April 22nd morning. Pic: India Against Corruption, Bengaluru.
Justice Santosh Hegde had started considering quitting the committee, TV reports broadcast late last night had said. IAC volunteers responded quickly through SMS, phone and social networking sites and organised a show of support at Justice Hegde’s home. Several local residents also joined the support when they noticed the gathering Justice Hegde’s residence.
Justice Hegde spoke at length to the volunteers about the smear campaign and his experiences so far in being part of this historic committee. He appreciated support from the citizens and said he will do everything he can to make the Lokpal bill effective.
It was a rainy morning. Despite the weather, citizens came from around the city to show strong support to not only Justice Hegde but to all members of the drafting committee.
"We started our fight many years ago with Empower Lokayukta, Saaku! and we are here to make a sustained effort to get our systems in place to fight corruption effective. We will not rest until Jan Lokpal becomes a reality, these pressure tactics are only to derail the movement and they should know that we are not going to stop", says Dr Ashwin Mahesh, one of the co-ordinators of India Against Corruption in Bengaluru.
Prthvi Reddy also requested all citizens to come forward to volunteer for India Against Corruption movement in Bangalore. ⊕
Many kudos to this group of concerned citizens, but Hegde is probably playing a shell-game by threatening to resign every other day for silly reasons. Don’t we need a corruption fighter with spine, guts and ability to withstand criticism? Let’s find another man or woman who can do that.
Many kudos to this group of concerned citizens, but Hegde is probably playing a shell-game by threatening to resign every other day for silly reasons. Don’t we need a corruption fighter with spine, guts and ability to withstand criticism? Let’s find another man or woman who can do that.