Carrying placards calling for effective anti-corruption law, the Bangaloreans, some accompanied by their children, began their march from Mahatma Gandhi's statue on M.G. Road to Kanteerava stadium, about a kilometre away.
They raised slogans against increasing instances of corruption and demanded immediate passage of the Jan Lokpal (people’s ombudsman) Bill, proposed by various civil groups, to curb graft.
The march was organised by Art of Living Foundation set up by spiritual ‘guru’ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and not-for-profit organisations like Janagraha and several educational institutions.
Under the banner of India Against Corruption movement, the march was also organised in several other cities across the country to coincide with Martyr’s Day - 63rd death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The main demand sounded at the march, held in towns and cities across the country, was that the Lokpal Bill drafted by the government be modified as per the Jan Lokayukta (ombudsman) bill drafted by civil society groups.
The Jan Lokpal bill aims at making the investigating agencies independent from the government and also to make provision to recover money from guilty individuals.
The march created a big buzz in the virtual world with hundreds of people joining the movement on Facebook and Twitter and pledging either to join the Sunday’s rally at the places where they lived or worked or expressing support for it.