Bangalore, April 5 (IANS) Scores of people in the city and across Karnataka Tuesday joined the nation-wide fast against corruption and for stronger anti-graft measures.
In Bangalore, Mahendra Kumar Gandhi, a 51-year-old yoga trainer, started indefinite fast following social activist Anna Hazare, who is leading the campaign with his "fast unto death" at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Over 50 others joined Gandhi at the Freedom Park in the heart of the city and would fast for a day. While Gandhi would continue the hunger-strike, others would join him daily till April 10.
Protest fast was also observed in Mysore, Mangalore, Udupi, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Bellary, Tumkur and several other places in the state, Anand Yadwad, a coordinator of the protests, told IANS in Bangalore.
Gandhi, whose parents are from Rajasthan, was born and brought up in Bangalore.
"My family consists of my wife and our four children, two of whom are students. They are fully supporting my decision," he said when asked about his family's reaction to his plan for an indefinite fast.
The nation-wide fast to press for a stronger anti-graft Lokpal Bill through greater involvement of civil society in its drafting has been organised by "India Against Corruption", a people's movement launched by activists like Hazare, Swami Agnivesh, former top police officer Kiran Bedi, various religious leaders, former civil servants, judges and lawyers.