Kannada celebs support Anna, join rally at Freedom Park

Bangalore, Aug 23(IANS) Kannada superstars Vijay Raghavendra, Srinagara Kitty, Shivaraj Kumar, Ganesh and Vijay Tuesday participated in anti-corruption rally to support Anna Hazare, whose fasting in New Delhi entered its eighth day.

'We need to pass the Jan Lokpal bill and pave the way for reducing corruption levels substantially. I am prepared to extend all form of support for the passage of this revolutionary bill,' said 49-year-old Shivraj Kumar, who has worked in movies like 'Om' and 'Jogi'.

The rally was organised by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) to express solidarity with Hazare, who began his fast Aug 16 to press for a stronger Lokpal bill.

The rally wound its way from the KFCC office to the Freedom Park. Apart from film and television personalities, members of the Karnataka Film Directors' Association, the Kannada Film Producers Association and the Karnataka Cine Workers Federation joined it and hailed Hazare's efforts to weed out corruption from the system.

Veteran actor Master Hirannaiah has full faith in Hazare and wants the Jan Lokpal bill to be passed for the betterment of the society.

'There seems to be a vacuum of intelligent leadership in the country who have not really understood the benefits of Jan Lokpal bill,' said the actor, known for movies like 'Yaksha'.

'The corrupt politicians will not allow the passage of the bill as it would expose their dubious deals. It is for the people to take the movement forward. I have full faith in Anna Hazare and this movement should continue till the bill is passed,' he added.

Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, a well-known theatre, film and television personality, said that more and more youngsters should join the movement to pressurise the government to pass the Jan Lokpal bill that is more powerful than the government-sponsored bill.