Lokpal Bill: Let’s not forget the real issue

The controversies sought to be created around Anna Hazare’s fast have obfuscated the real issue — which is the enactment of the Lokpal Bill. It was this objective which had led Hazare to undertake a fast and he compelled the Government to notify a joint committee to draft an effective legislation, hanging fire for 42 years.

The ruling Congress has adopted a dual strategy of dealing with the situation. While Pranab Mukherjee, chair of the drafting committee, made the right noises about his willingness to work with Hazare and his team, Digvijay Singh and Amar Singh — out in the cold since Mulayam Singh dumped him — have tried to deflate the ‘India Against Corruption’ Campaign. Clearly, the dirty tricks department of the Congress has activated itself to try and derail the exercise, even as it pays lip service to it.

The moral authority of the legal duo, Shanti and Prashant Bhushan, chosen by Hazare to be part of his team, to lead a movement for change will undoubtedly be weakened, if it is established that Mayawati gave Shanti Bhushan and his son Jayant land for a consideration. So far what we know is that the Bhushans’ voluntarily disclosed their assets, and that Prashant Bhushan has been fighting for public causes.

But the issue at stake here is not the Bhushans’ character; it is the passage of the Lokpal Bill which would provide an institutional mechanism to deter high level corruption. Those who worked for the passage of the Right to Information Bill were not perfect human beings. They put in place a systemic corrective to empower the citizenry and give even the most vulnerablea tool to highlight official malfunctioning, thereby making the system more accountable.

The recent scams which have tumbled out can essentially be attributed to two factors — the RTI, and the judiciary. The efficacy of the judiciary as a watchdog has also hinged on whether there is a Justice KG Balakrishnan as the Chief Justice of India or a Justice Kapadia at the helm of affairs. In recent months, the government has acted only when the judiciary has cracked the whip, be it on the Commonwealth Games, the appointment of the CVC, or the 2G allocations.

Demonstrations made more difficult in Uttar Pradesh

Barely 24 hours after Lucknow University denied permission for a meeting to be addressed by social activist Anna Hazare May 1, the Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday issued an order making the staging of protest demonstrations more difficult.

The order makes the procedure stringent for seeking permission to stage a demonstration, ‘dharna’ or procession.

The move comes prior to Anna Hazare’s proposed visit to Varanasi, Sultanpur and Lucknow from April 29 to May 1,

The new procedure involves getting no-objection certificates from different authorities and also an undertaking from the organisers that they would bear the costs in case there was any loss or damage to public or private property.

Even as the state’s official spokesman denied that the move was intended to prevent Anna Hazare’s visit, the organisers here said that the local administration had been sitting over their formal request.

‘The decision was taken in the larger interest of the people, who were often put to much inconvenience on account of road blocks, rail blockades and overcrowding of streets’, Principal Home Secretary Fateh Bahadur told a press conference here.

‘All, including political parties, would be held as much responsible for the loss or damage to property as any private individual or organisation’, the home secretary said.

He went on to add that ‘in case of default by the organisers, the costs would be recovered as arrears of land revenue.’

Indians continue to support Hazare through SMSes

Despite the recent controversies surrounding civil society members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, support for Anna Hazare’s anti-graft campaign continues unabated, as evident from the thousands of SMSes pouring in from across the country, the organisers said Tuesday.

An SMS that read – ‘Do you want to volunteer for Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption (in support of strong anti-corruption law)? If yes, please SMS back on this number’ – was sent to 3,50,000 Delhiites Saturday and 55,000 of them replied, said an official from India Against Corruption (IAC), the organisation spearheading the campaign.

A similar SMS was sent in Mumbai to over 1,00,000 people, and 10,000 responded.

‘Excitement is building up in Bangalore, Mysore and other cities as Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh, among others, are all set to visit them for public consultations on the Jan Lokpal Bill,’ the IAC official said.

We are getting an indication that crowds of between 10,000 and 50,000 people would be present in Mysore and Bangalore respectively, the official added.

Our movement has just begun, says Kiran Bedi

Anna Hazare's close aide and former 'super cop'Kiran Bedi tells Sriram Balasubramanian that their anti-corruption movement has just begun, and gives full credit to the youth and people of India who made it 'their' movement.

It's been an intense past few weeks for the Indian people. Having being an integral part of the Anna Hazare movement, what are your first reactions?

I am truly blessed to be a part of a movement to save my country from the clutches of the dishonest high and mighty. With Anna Hazare in the lead we (Arvind Kejriwal and myself) were sure to achieve a break through. However it's just the beginning. And long way to go with Herculean challenges. But I am so grateful to the Almighty that it has become a national reform movement. 

CD row: Anna Hazare leaves onus on Bhushans

Leaving the onus of getting out of the CD controversy on the Bhushans, veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday said he would speak only n the Lokpal Bill. 
"I will speak only on the Lokpal Bill issue. I know nothing about the CD issue and will not speak on that," Hazare told reporters here.

The CD controversy involving eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan took a new turn today with a government forensic lab refuting his claims that it was doctored triggering demands for his resignation from the Joint Commission to draft the Lokpal Bill. 

The forensic analysis conducted by Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) located in New Delhi has said "there is continuity in the conversation".

"Recorded conversation is in continuity, no abrupt change in speech signal has been detected," police sources said quoting from the report.

They also said there was no change in background voice pattern.

The purported telephone conversation among Shanti Bhushan, Yadav and Singh suggested attempts being made at influencing a judge.

It, however, remains a mystery as to who circulated the CD.

Anna Hazare should start satyagraha in Uttar Pradesh: Digvijay Singh

Congress national general secretary Digvijay Singh today said that if social activist Anna Hazare starts a 'satyagraha' in Uttar Pradesh against corruption the party would welcome and support it.

"The Uttar Pradesh government has created records in corruption. We demand Gandhian Anna Hazare that like Maharashtra, he should start a 'satyagraha' against corruption," Singh told reporters in Lucknow.

"We will not only welcome and completely support his satyagrah, but will also provide relevant documents to him," he added.

He said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was the first politician to support Hazare.

He, however, raised doubts over effectiveness of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

"The Congress is fighting against corruption, but it cannot be checked only by Jan Lokpal bill," he said.

The Congress leader said that the judiciary should decide disproportionate cases, including those against Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav.

He also said that discretionary powers of the government be reduced and law should be simplified so that there is no chance of corruption.

He said that the Congress-led UPA government had taken stringent action in all cases of corruption whether it was Adarsh housing society, Commonwealth Games or the 2G spectrum.

It was due to stringent action taken by the government that former telecom minister A Raja, senior bureaucrats and his associates were in the jail, he said.

Hazare to address public meeting in Varanasi

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare will address a public meeting in the city on April 29.

Anna Hazare, along with other activists – Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, will attend the meeting on April 29 at the Cutting Memorial Inter College, former Chief Information Commissioner Om Prakash Kejriwal told a press conference here on Wednesday.

He said that the meeting is being organised under the banner of India Against Corruption and is not associated with any political party.

PIL for Hazare's removal from drafting panel of Lokpal Bill

A petition was today filed in the Delhi High Court seeking removal of Anna Hazare from the drafting committee of Lokpal Bill alleging he was found guilty of corruption relating to the administration of a trust run by him. 

The PIL filed by an NGO, National Anti-corruption Public Power, alleged a judicial inquiry led by former Supreme Court Judge Justice P B Sawant held Hazare responsible for misappropriation of Rs two lakh from the Hind Swaraj trust run by him. 

The alleged misappropriation of fund had occured during the celebration of Hazare's birthday at his village Ralegaon-Siddhi in Maharashtra, according to the PIL. 

The petition said Justice Sawant had, in his report, concluded that "there had indeed been misappropriation of Rs 2 lakh from the Hind Swaraj trust amounting to corruption - to celebrate Anna's birthday in his village Ralegaon-Siddhi". 

"After detailed inquiry, the Commission had in its report submitted in 2005 specifically given its finding that Hazare was guilty of corrupt practices (involving misadministration of one of his trusts)," the NGO alleged. 

According to the petition, the "Commission's report says that some of the workers of Hazare's Bhrastachar Virodhi Janandolan Trust were abusing the platform for anti social activities such as extortion of money and blackmailing (by threatening to expose corruption through use of RTI)" 

The past catches up

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was initially hesitant about heading the drafting committee for the Lok Pal Bill. But now that it’s fait accompli, he decided to extend a hand of friendship to the five civil society members and Anna Hazare after the first meeting of the committee on Saturday. He shook hands with everyone and told Hazare, “Do you remember, we held long meetings earlier as well?” Hazare’s recollections were hazy so Mukherjee reminded him, “It was when I was the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission I had formed a small discussion group with the NGOs. You were a part of the group and came to Yojana Bhawan quite a few times.”

CD row: BJP joins Anna chorus

Pointing the needle of suspicion towards former SP leader Amar Singh, who is being alleged to have doctored the tapes of conversation between former Law minister Shanti Bhushan and SP leader Mulayam Singh, BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Central Government had given “supari” to professionals to defame the anti-corruption campaign of Anna Hazare.

Without naming Amar Singh, Naqvi told workers of various social organisations who visited him that “supari” has been given to the same persons, who were given the responsibility of saving the Government and ensuring its victory through cash-for-votes in the Confidence Vote on the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement.

Amar Singh was accused of doctoring the cassettes on the cash-for-vote scam. His name had also figured during the probe by the Parliament-appointed Kishore Chand Deo Panel.

However, his name found no place in the panel report as there was no evidence against him.

Naqvi also said it was very unfortunate that the Government and the Congress were saying something on the face, but adopting various “low-level, shameful and immoral tactics to defame anti-corruption campaign behind the curtains”.

He said, “While the BJP could not agree with many issues raised by Hazare, the main issue of his campaign is corruption at the Centre, which affects the country. It is but natural for the Congress to think that the fight against corruption is against it, but adoption of cheap tactics is completely damaging the remaining credibility of the Congress and the Central Government.”

Activist, two others assaulted in Phaltan

The Phaltan city unit president of Anna Hazare's Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jana Andolan(BVJA), Popat Barge, and two others were assaulted by a gang of five after he filed an RTI application seeking information about an unauthorised construction in Phaltan. The incident took place around 11 pm on Sunday at Phaltan.

The Phaltan police have also booked Barge after receiving a cross-complaint against him for allegedly demanding money to keep quiet about the alleged illegal construction. No arrests have been made so far.

According to the police, Barge (37), his brother Vishal (35) and one Vishal Chandrakant Pawar (37) sustained injuries in the attack and are undergoing treatment in the government hospital in Satara.

Barge has lodged a complaint against Firoz Attar, Yogesh Barge, Preetam Bendre, Sachin Deshpande and Nilesh Khanvilkar with the Phaltan police station.

Do attacks on me have your nod: Anna to Sonia

Stung by the criticism of his statements and by the surfacing of a CD containing a purported conversation allegedly featuring Shanti Bhushan, his colleague on the joint drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill, activist Anna Hazare shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi today, complaining against “one of the general secretaries of Congress party” and “one of the ministers” in the committee.

Hazare took no names, but appeared clearly to be accusing senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and HRD and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal of “creating confusion” and “derailing” the discussions in the committee.

“One of the General Secretaries of Congress Party has been making many statements... I assume that he has the support of the party... Most of these statements are factually wrong, which makes one believe whether his only intention is to create confusion, mislead people and derail the ongoing discussions... Do you personally approve of his statements?” Hazare wrote to Sonia.

Bhushan clean, says Anna

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: VS has done it again. Heaping praise on social activist Anna Hazare has landed Achuthanandan in a spot. With Hazare's open support to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rural development activities raising the hackles of the CPM central leadership, it may not be easy for VS to reiterate his support to Hazare. More so when the CPM has come out with a scathing criticism against Hazare for his antidemocratic utterances. The latest issue of People's Democracy (PD), the mouthpiece of the CPM in India, categorically states in its editorial that Hazare's 'utter disdain for the voter and contempt for parliamentary democracy is indeed disturbing.' Hazare had said he didn't contest the election because he was sure he would forfeit his deposit as the ordinary voters cast their vote under the influence of `100 or a bottle of liquor.

The CPM said: ''Whenever there was a challenge to India's secular democratic character, it was this very voter that upheld and safeguarded the vision of a modern India. It was this very voter that defeated Indira Gandhi's Emergency regime and reestablished democracy with such vigour that it has now become inseparable from Indian reality. It is this very democracy that provides the space for social activism and huger strikes of this nature.''

The PD editorial titled 'Contempt for Democracy Not Allowed' says: ''Without this voter, India today may not be what it is and could well have been robbed of the vibrancy that, amongst more important attributes, allows candlelight protests and hunger strikes.'' In support to Hazare's hunger strike, candle light protests were held in several places in India.

When Anna Hazare was on fast, V S Achuthanandan wrote him a letter praising his struggle. In his letter dated April 7, VS offered all support to the fight against corruption undertaken by Hazare. During his election campaign in Kochi on April 8, VS had criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not taking steps to resolve Hazare's strike. Though the CPM also favoured Hazare's strike then, it was more as a support to the Lok Pal Bill than personal praise.

CD controversy: Hazare backs Bhushan, says action if guilty

Amid a demand for removal of Shanti Bhushan, co-chairman of the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee, over the CD controversy, activist Anna Hazare today said he should continue on the panel but action should be taken against him if found guity.

Hazare claimed he had been told that the CD, carrying audio clippings of a purported telephonic conversation between Bhushan, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh about influencing a judge, was doctored.

"We had sent the CD to a high level laboratory for examination and it was found that the contents of the CD are absoutely bogus," he said, maintaining that Bhushan would take the matter to the court.

"If found guilty, he deserves to be punished but if not, he is innocent. How can I give a guarantee about any person. I got to know him only because of this committee. I can give guarantee only about myself," he said when asked whether he could give a guarantee about Bhushan's credentials.

Hazare said he has been told that Bhushan was mulling filing a defamation case in this connection.

Asked whether Bhushan should continue as member of the joint drafting committee in the wake of these allegations, Hazare replied he should. 

Praise for Anna Hazare puts VS in a spot

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: VS has done it again. Heaping praise on social activist Anna Hazare has landed Achuthanandan in a spot. With Hazare's open support to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's rural development activities raising the hackles of the CPM central leadership, it may not be easy for VS to reiterate his support to Hazare. More so when the CPM has come out with a scathing criticism against Hazare for his antidemocratic utterances. The latest issue of People's Democracy (PD), the mouthpiece of the CPM in India, categorically states in its editorial that Hazare's 'utter disdain for the voter and contempt for parliamentary democracy is indeed disturbing.' Hazare had said he didn't contest the election because he was sure he would forfeit his deposit as the ordinary voters cast their vote under the influence of `100 or a bottle of liquor.

The CPM said: ''Whenever there was a challenge to India's secular democratic character, it was this very voter that upheld and safeguarded the vision of a modern India. It was this very voter that defeated Indira Gandhi's Emergency regime and reestablished democracy with such vigour that it has now become inseparable from Indian reality. It is this very democracy that provides the space for social activism and huger strikes of this nature.''

The PD editorial titled 'Contempt for Democracy Not Allowed' says: ''Without this voter, India today may not be what it is and could well have been robbed of the vibrancy that, amongst more important attributes, allows candlelight protests and hunger strikes.'' In support to Hazare's hunger strike, candle light protests were held in several places in India.

When Anna Hazare was on fast, V S Achuthanandan wrote him a letter praising his struggle. In his letter dated April 7, VS offered all support to the fight against corruption undertaken by Hazare. During his election campaign in Kochi on April 8, VS had criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not taking steps to resolve Hazare's strike. Though the CPM also favoured Hazare's strike then, it was more as a support to the Lok Pal Bill than personal praise.

I Have More Followers Than Anna Hazare - Baba Ramdev

Jan Lokpal Bill will not help root out all sort of corruption though I support Anna Hazare's struggle as it is against corruption. My seven-point memorandum to be submitted to the centre will be the answer to root our corruption from the country, said yoga exponent Baba Ramdev

Congress continues to target Anna Hazare on Narendra Modi remark

The Congress may have bowed to public pressure on the Lok Pal Bill, but now that the crowds have disappeared from Jantar Mantar the ruling establishment has struck back with a vengeance at Anna Hazare and his band of supporters.

A six-year-old judicial inquiry report indicting Anna Hazare's Hind Swaraj Trust for financial irregularities has suddenly surfaced in the Capital's corridors of power.

A quiet campaign was also under way to taint the father-and-son lawyer duo of Shanti and Prashant Bhushan by making a scandalous CD public. And from the Congress, a leader of the stature of AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh came out openly against Hazare on Saturday.

In a television interview with Karan Thapar, Singh said the anti-corruption campaign led by Hazare was being supported by the RSS and BJP sympathisers and attacked the Gandhian for praising Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

" He is a very simple man, very naive," Singh said. " And people have been exploiting him all over the years." He then went on to add: " I think the way the campaign was launched, Anna Saheb Hazare was drawn into this. He is a well- meaning person, an honest man, but he's extremely naive. That is his fault." These different developments took place on the eve of the first meeting on Saturday of the joint committee formed to discuss the Lokpal Bill, which has been lying in cold storage for 43 years. The day was also marked by a scathing attack on the Bill by the National Advisory Council member Aruna Roy.

In this maelstrom of negativity, Shanti Bhushan, who's also the co- chairman of the joint committee, also found a notice sent to him in February by the Uttar Pradesh Stamps and Registration Department doing the rounds. The notice seeks to recover from Bhushan stamp duty adding up to Rs 1.33 crore for a palatial bungalow the lawyer had purchased in the posh Civil Lines locality of Allahabad.

Kapil Sibal: First meeting of Lokpal panel fruitful; next on May 2

The drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill met for the first time in New Delhi today, exactly a week after social activist Anna Hazare ended his four-day hunger strike after the government gave in to most of his demands. The next meeting will take place on May 2.

"The meeting of was fruitful, everyone contributed. We all want that the Lokpal Bill be passed in the Monsoon Session," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said after the meeting got over.

Lokpal Bill drafting panel meets; co-chair in CD controversy

drafting committee of the Lokpal Bill is meeting for the first time in New Delhi today, exactly a week after social activist Anna Hazare ended his four-day hunger strike after the government gave in to most of his demands. The meeting comes amid a CD controversy allegedly involving panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan.Chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the meeting is being held at the North Block. Other government representatives on the panel include Home Minister P Chidambaram, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, Law Minister Veerappa Moily and Water Resources Minister Salman Khursheed.Five representatives of civil society who will work with the five ministers to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman bill) include former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan, Anna Hazare, eminent lawyer Prashant Bhushan, Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hege and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal.Both sides fine-tuned their strategy during separate meetings last evening. The government said it had an open mind on the proposed legislation and hoped that discussions will pave the way for a convergence of ideas. The activists on their part said they would want the Jan Lokpal Bill to be the base for the discussions and would press for videographing of the proceedings.

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Digvijaya targets Anna Hazare supporters

Congress General Secretary Digivjaya Singh has sparked off a fresh controversy over Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement by raising questions over the credentials of some members of Hazare's movement, including those who are members of the Lokpal bill drafting panel. In an exclusive interview to Karan Thapar on Devil's Advocate, Singh said that the father-son lawyer duo of Shanti and Prashant Bhushan must answer questions on alleged avoidance of property tax.

Digivjaya Singh: He has been surrounded by some section of people who are only trying to sort of push their own cause, at the same time, why is he not taking Harsh Mander and Aruna Roy? These are also as competent, as honest and as dedicated as the others, even more I feel.

Karan Thapar: What do you think of the people he's actually appointed? The Bhushans, Arvind Kejriwal, Justice Hedge. What do you think of the quality and the caliber of the people of the people he has appointed?

Digvijaya Singh: Well, Arvind Kejriwal is a chela of Aruna Roy. So if Aruna Roy had been taken it would have been much better. As far as Justice Hedge is concerned, I'm really not aware of his worth, obviously he must be a good judge. But at the same time, keeping Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan both there and I was really surprised, yesterday only they have been noticed for under valuing their property and also avoiding paying the right amount of stamp duty. I think they should be careful in choosing their friends.

Karan Thapar: Just to understand you properly, you are saying notices just yesterday were given to the two Bhushans, I presume you are saying court notices, for undervaluing their property and not paying the proper amount of stamp duty?

Digvijaya Singh: Yes.

Anna Hazare under fire over Lokpal Bill (Daily Times)

The Congress is upset over anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare’s demand to video-graph proceedings in the draft Lokpal panel. Sources in the party point out that recording the proceedings in the Lokpal draft panel meet will inhibit free and frank discussion. Party sources also said that the recommendation of the panel should not be binding. A key ally of the Congress, the NCP has also hit out at Hazare for asking Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal to step down from the draft Lokpal panel. Hazare had said that if Sibal did not believe that Lokpal bill would make any difference, he should step down from the panel. This has made several UPA constituents see red. NCP spokesperson Tariq Anwar hit out at Hazare and said that the social activist must think before speaking his mind.Anwar said that no one should dictate the term to the government and especially someone like Sibal, who is a known lawyer. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had to resign from the GoM on corruption after Hazare’s campaign. amajwadi Party also slammed Hazare, with party spokesperson Mohan Singh saying that his faith in Hazare had diminsihed further. If a sitting minister couln’t be on the draft panel, who else can, asked the SP spokesperson. agencies

Anna Hazare and associates spent Rs 30 lakh on campaign

Anna Hazare and his associates brought the government to its knees on the Lokpal Bill issue through a campaign on which a little over Rs 30 lakh was spent in the past one year.

According to details provided by 'India Against Corruption' (IAC), which spearheaded the campaign, it received a total donation of Rs 82,87,668 while it spent Rs 32,69,900 for the campaign.

"We have issued receipts to all the donors and have maintained a record of their details. We issued receipts on account of Public Cause Research Foundation which is acting as secretariat for the campaign," an IAC spokesperson said.

According to IAC, they spent Rs 9,47,344 for tent, bed, sound system and hall booking for the Jantar Mantar protest and other programmes. An amount of Rs 8,93,938 was spent on telephone calls while another Rs 4,61,382 was spent on travelling. 

Political forces against anti-corruption movement: Hazare

Social activist Anna Hazare today clarified that he lauded Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar only for their developmental efforts and has always condemned every communal riot including the one in 1984

Win back trust, send the best to parliament: Ashwani Kumar

People have a growing distrust of politics and to regain faith, political parties should choose their best candidates for parliament, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ashwani Kumar has said. 

There is a need to strengthen the foundations of democracy in the country in the wake of growing scepticism about political processes, Kumar told IANS in an interview. 

"It is true and also unfortunate that there is a growing distrust among people with politics and its processes. We need to regain their faith in the institution of parliamentary democracy and its processes," said Kumar, who is also minister of state for science and technology and planning. 

The minister agreed that there was growing scepticism among the people when asked if the outpouring of public support for social activist Anna Hazare's fast in the capital for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal Bill reflected a disdain for politicians. 

He said a vibrant, liberal democracy is a glowing achievement of free India and there is need to strengthen its foundations. 

"The effort should be to ensure that political parties choose their best people to enter parliament," he said. 

Anna Hazare's indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar in the national capital April 5 had sparked off a nationwide wave of public anger against corruption when people from all walks of life came out in support of the 73-year-old crusader. 

IITians in Canada observe day-long fast for Anna Hazare

IITians in Canada went on a day-long fast here Wednesday in support of Anna Hazare’s crusade for a tougher Lokpal Bill to combat corruption in India.

Members of the IIT Alumni Canada (IITAC) observed fast in their corporate offices and working places.

“We didn’t gather at one place in a demonstration. Dozens of us observed the fast in our offices in our individual way. In all, 56 IITians, their spouses and friends were involved in this gesture in support of Anna Hazare’s crusade,” Chander Dhawan, former president of IITAC, told IANS.

He said, “IITians are very happy that Hazare has begun a revolution in India. We are demonstrating our support to his efforts to eradicate corruption from India’s public institutions. Though he has ended his fast, only a part of the problem has been addressed. Now we need to support Hazare to get the law enacted and implemented in its true spirit.”

Describing IITs as India’s best brand, Mr. Dhawan said, “By fasting, we IITians in Canada want to uphold leadership position we have taken on issues impacting India’s public life. Arvind Kejriwal, who is involved with Anna Hazare’s campaign, is a proud IITian who played a crucial role in ushering the right to information (RTI) Act in India.

Lokpal Bill movement part 1

On 5 April 2011, Anna Hazare initiated a movement for passing a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal (ombudsman) bill in the Indian Parliament. As a part of this movement, N. Santosh Hegde, a former justice of the Supreme Court of India and Lokayukta of Karnataka, Prashant Bhushan, a senior lawyer in the Supreme Court along with the members of the India Against Corruption movement drafted an alternate bill, named as the Jan Lokpal Bill (People's Ombudsman Bill) with more stringent provisions and wider power to the Lokpal (Ombudsman). Hazare began a fast unto death from 5 April 2011 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, to press for the demand to form a joint committee of the representatives of the Government and the civil society to draft a new bill with stronger penal actions and more independence to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Ombudsmen in the states), after his demand was rejected by the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh Before commencing his 'fast unto death' he stated, "I will fast until Jan Lokpal Bill is passed".

Advani praises Hazare, but says not all netas are corrupt

Veteran BJP leader L K Advani today expressed support for the anti-corruption movement headed by noted social activist Anna Hazare, but cautioned that presenting a picture that all politicians are corrupt was not good for India's democratic politics."Our party has been against corruption since the beginning. Two sessions of Parliament were fruitless following our demand for discussion on various corruption cases in the country," he told mediapersons at the Sardar Patel Airport here upon his arrival.The former Deputy Prime Minister maintained that he had never criticised Hazare or was against his movement, and praised his efforts for demanding a stringent Lokpal Bill, saying corruption was a big issue in the country."But to paint a picture that all the politicians in the country are corrupt is not good for the democratic politics of the nation." The former Union Home Minister said India was a shining example of democracy in the world.On Hazare's praise for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, an ally of BJP, for their work on rural development front, the former party President said it was a welcome comment.Advani later went to Gandhinagar, his Parliamentary constituency, where he attended a seminar of BJP workers involved in the preparation for the April 19 election of newly formed Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC). (More) PTI PB PD RSY

Rajinikanth wants to join Hazare's fight against graft

While all eyes are on the battle between the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, superstar Rajinikanth has voted for Anna Hazare.

The actor expressed his desire to work for the anti-corruption crusader's campaign as he cast his vote on Wednesday, sayingcorruption is the biggest issue facing Tamil Nadu politics.

"I want to work with Anna Hazare to remove corruption," the actor said, adding, "Corruption is the biggest issue facing the state today."

Emphasising the need for special attention to be paid to farmers for their betterment, Rajinikanth said, "Whoever comes to power will need to work for the welfare of poor people and farmers."

Tamil Nadu went to elect its new assembly on Wednesday. The ruling-DMK led front is battling serious odds with the AIADMK-combine launching an all out offensive to dislodge Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, veteran of many a successful electoral battle in his seven decades of public life.

Amid Modi controversy, Anna appeals for unity

Anna Hazare appealed today to the country and to his supporters to stick together for the "India Against Corruption" campaign. Last week, Mr Hazare's four-day-hunger strike forced inspired lakhs of Indians around the world to shake off their inertia and demand a tough new law against corruption.

This week, Mr Hazare is being criticized by some of his most respected supporters for praising the rural development accomplished in Gujarat by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"I appeal to all citizens to keep this campaign alive - we are all one in this. There are efforts to break our resolve. Forces have come together to break the campaign. Don't pay heed to misinformation," Mr Hazare said today.

Confronted with the combined power of the 72-year-old's charisma and the rallies in hundreds of cities that urged him not to cede his ground, the government agreed to introduce a new Lokpal Bill that will combat corruption. To ensure that politicians do not draft a bill littered with loopholes, Mr Hazare insisted that civil society representatives be included in the process. So the committee that works on the Lokpal Bill has been formed with five ministers and five activists who will meet sometime next week for the first time

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/amid-narendra-modi-controversy-anna-hazare-appeals-for-unity-98147?cp

Anna Hazare says no to Sonia; vows to fight till last

Anna Hazare says no to Sonia; vows to fight till last

With his crusade against corruption emerging as a virtual tsunami in the country, Gandhian social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday stepped up his campaign, spurning Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s appeal to end his fast.

"I thank Sonia Gandhi for her statement (appealing to him to end the fast). Soniaji, tell the government to get the Lokpal Bill enacted at the earliest," Hazare said in a terse reaction to Gandhi`s appeal.

Anna goes soft on Modi remark; asks people to stay focused on corruption - Hindustan Times

Anna goes soft on Modi remark; asks people to stay focused on corruption - Hindustan Times

Wary of the adverse impact his pro-Narendra Modi statement might have on the anti-corruption plank, veteran crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday appealed to the citizens to stay focused on the main issue of corruption.

“It is clearly evident that there is handful of people who are already active trying to create schisms in this great coming together of all sections of our society to fight for a corruption-free future,” said the veteran Gandhian. Hazare had kicked up a major controversy with his praise of the Gujarat chief minister along with Bihar’s Nitish Kumar for their work on rural development during a press conference on Sunday. Hazare had clarified within hours that he was opposed to all sorts of communalism and condemned communal riots.

AntiCorruption

The dream of India as a strong nation will not be realised without self-reliant, self-sufficient villages, this can be achieved only through social commitment & involvement of the common man."

- Anna Hazare