Anna Hazare to break bread with rural folk

He will also discuss the Lokpal Bill with legal luminaries

Impressed by the works done by Raj Prakash Trust run by philanthropist medico Dr Ramana Rao at T Begur and the surrounding villages, India Against Corruption, Bangalore chapter has has chosen this village as his first destination to kick start his movement against corruption, while in Bangalore.

Dr Rao who serves free lunch at his village clinic every Sunday to over 700 people, has made arrangements for Hazare to partake his meal with the farmers on Friday afternoon, after he finishes addressing them. Hazare will discuss the Lokpal Bill threadbare with legal luminaries at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore on Saturday.

According to Prof Ashwin Mahesh, a faculty at IIMB, around 12 to 14 advocates and senior judges including justice M N Venkatachala and justice Santosh Hegde will participate in the discussion, where the nuances of the Bill will be deliberated upon.

Here, inclusion of the Prime Minister, High Court and Supreme Court judges in the Bill; the matter of integrating CBI and CVC; setting up of special courts for the Lokpal; and the investigative power to be entrusted, will be debated upon, added Mahesh  
According to Prithvi Reddy, co-coordinator of IAC in Karnataka, a huge crowd is expected at the National College grounds on Saturday.

Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde said he is looking forward to participating in two programmes along with Anna Hazare.

 “A lot of public excitement has been generated. However people's cooperation should continue until the system changes,” he added.

Anna’s diary

- 11 am - Hazare arrives at B’lore Airport

- 12 noon - Hazare & his team members to visit Dr B Ramana Rao's clinic at T Begur near Nelamangala; he will address farmers from surrounding villages; he will also meet blind band members of IDL Foundation

- 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm - A live televised public consultation with civil society, where Hazare, Justice Santosh Hegde, Kiran Bedi, Prashant Bhushan, Swami Agnivesh & Arvind Kejriwal will participate

On May 28

- 9.30 am: Breakfast meeting with legal luminaries at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore

- 2 pm onwards -  Public meeting at National College Grounds, Basavangudi