As the city lit up to celebrate Independence Day on Sunday, some parts plunged into darkness.
As the city lit up to celebrate Independence Day on Sunday, some parts plunged into darkness as people switched off lights for an hour to protest against the Centre’s dilution of the anti-corruption law.
Several areas like Koramangala, Rajajinagar and Vijaynagar went dark between 8 pm and 9 pm as residents joined the blackout protest led by activists of India against Corruption (IAC).
“We received several calls from residents of Vijayanagar, Kormanagala and Rajajinagar. No wonder, the blackout protest went very well in these localities,” said Yogesh Devaraj, an IAC volunteer. Earlier in the day, IAC volunteers went around localities in vehicles appealing to people to join the protest.
Dr Meenakshi Bharath, an IAC volunteer, was invited by Kelly School in Rajajinagar to join the protest. After turning off the lights at 8 pm, those assembled there lit candles in a symbolic act of ushering in a new beginning of governance.
Early morning, IAC volunteers assembled at Freedom Park to formulate a plan from Tuesday, when Anna Hazare begins his fast in Delhi. Similar protests will be staged in state capitals across the country. “It’s a message from Delhi and we all are following it. Some of the volunteers are in charge of setting up pandals and a stage for the protest. A few others are in charge of registering new volunteers from Tuesday morning,” said Sreenivas A, an IAC volunteer. Devaraj said they had got permission from Bangalore police commissioner to conduct a peaceful protest at Freedom Park from Tuesday to Thursday. “There have been rumours going around that we did not get police permission and that our plans were changed at the last minute. We are sticking to our plans. We’ll begin the hunger strike at 10 am tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.
“But till late evening, the fight between the Centre and Anna was continuing in Delhi, with Anna denying the government had given him permission to go on fast. This may intensify the protests in Bangalore,” he said. “We will have to wait and watch. If Anna is denied permission to protest in Delhi, volunteers here will start fuming. But we won’t resort to violence,” he said.
In the meantime, IAC members are mobilising people to voice their protest in their neighbourhoods.
People will join the ‘Awake, Arise and Stand Up for India’ campaign by coming out of their homes and workplaces at 10 am. At the stroke of 11, wherever they happen to be, they will sing together the National Anthem. The volunteers at Freedom Park will also sing the anthem at 11 am. The campaign has been so planned that participants need not upset their work schedules by coming to Freedom Park.
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