Hailing Khanduri for bringing the 'best' Lokayukta Act, Team Anna targeted his predecessor and party colleague Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, calling him a “pocket edition of Suresh Kalmadi” and making references to the alleged misuse of Kumbh Mela funds and land scams during his tenure.

“People were agitated during Nishank’s rule,” said Arvind Kejriwal. Both he and Kiran Bedi praised the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act, leaving no one in doubt about their real mission.

Bedi cautioned the people against the possibility of the Centre undoing the Uttarakhand Bill, which is awaiting the President’s approval. “Protect this Bill in the polls and vote for those who give a guarantee to uphold it,” Bedi said.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal asked why was he not freeing the CBI from government control. He also wanted to know if CBI cases against Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav would be withdrawn if the Congress were to form an alliance government with the SP in Uttar Pradesh.

There were some questions for the BJP too. Would the party endorse the Bill passed in Uttarakhand and would it replicate it in other states? Would the party ask Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to emulate Khanduri?

The crowd, comprising mostly teachers, government employees and students, shouted slogans which were a blend of “Vande Mataram”, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Ïnquilab Zindabad”.

Meanwhile, shoe comes their way