“The protest against corruption, which has resumed after a break last year, will not stop again. It started as a big movement last year, but stopped for a while,” said former Karnataka Lokayukta and Team Anna member Santosh Hegde at a protest organised by the Patanjali Yog Samiti, Bengaluru and Bharat Swabhiman (Trust) and India against corruption ( IAC) at Freedom Park on Sunday.
“The government should bring in a strong Lokpal bill, but I don't think any government would. The government does not have the intent,” he said. He was happy that Anna Hazare and yoga guru Ramdev have come together over the issue of corruption. Anna and Ramdev held a day-long fast in New Delhi, which was their first joint appearance on a public platform in the past one year. Mr Hegde said that many scams have come to light after Anna started his fight against corruption.
Speaking on the sidelines, Mr Hegde said it was shameful that a CBI special court judge granted bail to former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhana Reddy after accepting bribes. “The whole Bofors deal was Rs 60 crore. It is sad and shameful that a judge received Rs 60 crore as bribe to grant bail. Such shameful acts should not repeat. People would lose faith in law if such incidents occur. It should be a lesson to others,” he added. Divya Gnanananda Swamiji of Patanjali Yoga Samiti said, “Our non-violent protest against black money and corruption will continue.” Chakravarthi Sulibele of Bharat Swabhiman (Trust)