Anna Hazare, who led the indefinite fast for Lokpal Bill last month, will visit Bangalore on May 27-28. This is part of IAC (India Against Corruption)’s continuing campaign to have the Bill passed in the monsoon session of Parliament.
Bangalore is one of the five cities that Hazare is planning to visit in the first round of the campaign.
"After Delhi, the highest response for Jan Lokpal Bill was from Bangalore, which is why Hazare wanted to visit," says Anand Yadwad, who had participated in the indefinite fast in Bangalore. In Bangalore, Lokpal Bill campaign was preceded by the Saaku anti-corruption campaigns. Hazare’s visit is to create further awareness and to gather support for the Bill, says IAC press release.
During the second round, he plans to visit smaller cities and towns in Karnataka, says Yadwad.
Hazare will be accompanied this time by Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh, Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia, who are supporting the campaign. The Lokpal Bill Joint Drafting Committee has agreed to many principles of the Bill’s version drafted earlier by IAC, says the release.
On 27th morning, Hazare would visit T Begur village on Bangalore-Tumkur highway and interact with local residents. In the evening from 6.30 to 8.30 pm, Hazare along with Justice Santosh Hegde, Kejriwal, Bhushan and Swami Agnivesh will participate in a phone-in discussion on Lokpal Bill, which will be telecast live on Suvarna TV and Asianet TV.
On 28th at 2 pm, Hazare will flag off a rally at the National College Grounds in Basavangudi. About 50,000 people are expected to attend the rally, says Yadwad.
Those interested in volunteering can contact the toll-free number 93794 41212. To financially contribute, cheques can be sent in favour of Corruption Saaku, to Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Koramangala Branch, 68, Transpade Towers, Jyothi Niwas College Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Koramangala, Bangalore 560095.
Donations that Saaku campaign had received earlier will be displayed at www.saaku.in, says the IAC release. ⊕