A nationwide campaign ‘Bhrastachar Mitao, Loktantra Bachao’ will be launched and BJP units in all the districts will organise sit-in protests, silent marches and conch blowing events at public places or near Mahatma Gandhi statues “to expose the Central government’s fascist tendencies”.
In Karnataka, dharnas will be staged in all 224 Assembly constituencies on August 22, said BJP State general secretary C T Ravi, adding that the IT cell, farmers’ wing and other allied organisations would participate in the agitation.
Addressing the media in Bangalore on Wednesday, Ravi said the State unit of the BJP Yuva Morcha would take out a torchlight procession in Bangalore on August 19 and its women’s wing would hold a rally on August 20.
"BJP will never support corruption or protect anyone who has indulged in corruption,” he added.
Seer advises Anna
Condemning the Centre’s high-handedness in the Lokpal Bill issue, Pejawar seer Vishveshatirtha Swami has advised Gandhian Anna Hazare to embark on a fast for a week in order to bring about a change in the thinking of the Members of Parliament.
In a press release on Wednesday, the seer urged Hazare to do this, so that the MPs “may vote according to their conscience and throw out the draft Bill that the government is bent on introducing, and express support for the draft Bill proposed by team Anna.”
The seer said this would in all likelihood lead to the “rejection of the government Bill by Parliament”.
The seer added that the government Bill lacked teeth and would be “ineffective and purposeless”.
“If, however, the government Bill is accepted by Parliament, then will be the occasion to start a public agitation for a national referendum. For this, it may become necessary for all concerned to hold an indefinite fast. I sincerely hope Anna Hazare and his team will accept my suggestion in the overall interest of the country,” added the seer.
Fast against ostracisation
Meanwhile, the seer observed fast on Wednesday, condemning the ostracisation of
dalits by landowners at Nayakanur village of Navalgund taluk.
In a press release, the seer said he was unable to visit the village as he was in Hyderabad for the ‘chaturmasya’ season. The seer said exploitation of dalits should be stopped and urged the landowners to give equal job opportunities to the dalits.
“Having vowed to go on fast every time there is discrimination against dalits, I have decided to observe a one-day fast condemning this incident,” he added.