BANGALORE: Some activists went on a hunger strike to extend their support to Baba Ramdev, a few arrived to express their views on corruption, while many gathered to watch the event. Public gathered at Freedom park in Bangalore on Saturday, by their presence contributed to the strike against corruption.
The morning act: Members from BharathSwabhiman Trust and Patanjali Yoga Samithi along with public performed Homa at 6.30 am. At around 9.30 am, around 100 people sat for the hunger strike. Prior to this, doctors checked the sugar and blood sugar of the people who participated in hunger strike. However, those who had low score were sent back, stating health reasons.
Supporters: Eminent writers such as M N Vyasa Rao, BR Lakshman Rao, singers such as Shimoga Subbanna, B R Chaya, RSS members, MLC Krishna Bhat participated in the event.
Gandhian from Ramanagar: M N Chandrashekarachar (69), from Mayaganahalli from Ramanagara district, was in Bangalore to show his support. A retired employee from CPWD, since 1985 his attire is similar to Gandhiji’s. He wears short dhoti, a spectacle and uses a stick. This senior citizen travels across the state to various schools to create awareness on corruption. “I came in the morning. My health does not permit me to go on fasting. But I am here to extend my support,” he added.
FASTING MODE
■ Veena Katti, house wife from Uttarahalli was there to fast. She explains that she hails from a small village Annigere in Dharwad.
“People become engineers, doctors and achieve something.
I also wanted to achieve something. But I could not. By joining hands with Baba Ramdev, I feel the satisfaction of acheiving something in life,” she added. Interestingly, her son Nikhil Katti, who is studying BE in Bangalore has exams but he too is on a fast.
“Due to exams, my son is fasting only for one day. My husand Lakshmikant Katti is fasting in Delhi along with Baba,” she said.
■ C K Rao, a yoga teacher says that he was caught for driving without licence a few years back.
“I was told to pay `500 but I paid `250. Recently, when I jumped a signal, I promptly paid the penalty and took the receipt”, he recalls. According to Rao, he can achieve fasting as he is a yoga teacher.
■ Karthik Balaraj, a 17-year-old PU student from Seshadripuram PU college, participated in the fast. Although his college reopened on May 27, he attended the event by going to the extent of missing his classes.
“I do not mind missing classes for this cause. It is important to create awareness,” he said.