BANGALORE: Freedom Park once again became the centre of protest on Sunday against the Union government when more than a 1000 people gathered in support of a demand for the speedy appointment of a Lokayukta.Earlier this year, Freedom Park played host to a huge number of Bangaloreans who gathered in support of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal movement.Prithvi Reddy, coordinator of India Against Corruption (IAC), blamed the State government for adopting strategies to delay the appointment of the anti-corruption watchdog in the State.“There is a fixed process for the appointment of a Lokayukta - they should just hold consultations with all parties and speed the process up, how hard can it be?” Prithvi Reddy stated that the lawbreakers of the State were in charge of making the laws for the rest of the population today.The people who had gathered there fasted for an entire day from 6 am to 6 pm and held a candle light vigil in the evening. This was in support of Anna Hazare’s fast in Delhi.Prithvi Reddy also pointed out that the protest was in support of a strong Lokpal Bill.“We are not anti Congress,” he added.The protest can also be seen as a prelude to Anna Hazare’s planned visit to the city on December 17. Reddy announced that Hazare would be meeting prominent members of the IAC movement in the city and will be accompanied by his lieutenants Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Justice N Santosh Hegde along with former freedom fighter H S Doreswamy who is also expected to take part in the programme.Reddy also questioned the powers of the Standing committee for the Jan Lokpal bill because they changed their decisions everyday.“We are trying to support the Parliamentary procedure, but they have to stop treating us like fools,” he said.The organisers include many other anticorruption movements from the city like Saaku Corruption and are organising various protest marches and walks in the city in the coming days.
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