State unwavering in its support to Anna Hazare

Old Mysore region

Protests were held in Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Mandya and Kodagu districts. Hassan also saw a protest held to counter Hazare’s campaign. In Chamarajanagar, a protest by members of the Jilla Savitha Samaja seemed to be muted in the bundh called by Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, demanding that the chief minister visit the ‘jinxed’ city.

Coastal districts

In Mangalore, members of the Akhila Bharata Karmika Sangha led by Sudath Jain, who had started an indefinite hunger strike from Monday, were denied permission by the police to carry out the protest in Gandhi Park in front of Town Hall, as the Sangha had failed to take permission from Mangalore City Corporation. The members said they will continue the protest outside the park till the permission was given.

North Karnataka

A relay hunger strike was launched by members of Gandhi Peace Foundation in Dharwad. Various organisations had called for a bundh in Gokak, Raibhag, Sankeshwar and Bailhongal in Belgaum district in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill. There was overwhelming response to the bundh call.

In Gadag, 80 artists under the banner of District Artists’ Association made paintings on Hazare at Gandhi Circle. Students of various fine arts schools, drawing teachers and professional artists took part.

H’bad-Karnataka region

In Gulbarga, members of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Janapara Sangharsha Samithi led by its president Lakshman Dasti resorted to a novel protest by cleaning a public toilet. The activists descended on the toilet adjacent to the Vikasa Soudha on the main road of the city, with buckets and brooms. They started cleaning the urinals much to the amusement of passersby.

In Bidar, Gumpa Auto Sangha members led by Virupaksha Gadgi took out an autorickshaw rally and staged a dharna in front of the residence of MP N Dharam Singh.

Re-examine Jan Lokpal Bill: Seer

Udupi’s Pejawar Mutt seer Sri Vishvesha Tirtha seer has appealed to team Anna Hazare to relook its proposed Jan Lokpal Bill,  especially the condition to bring  the prime minister under the ambit of the Lokpal.