The Jan Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare, and Baba Ramdev II

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 14 Dec 2011 22:58

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 110634.cms

All-party meeting tonight failed to reach consensus on Lokpal Bill with parties voicing divergent views on key elements like inclusion of PM and lower bureaucracy, even as PM Manmohan Singh sought cooperation to ensure its passage during the current session.

Singh said the "momentous" Lokpal Bill should not become a subject of party politics as the government was keen to get it passed in Parliament based on consensus that is driven by the House as the "custodian of legislation".

Seeking "guidance and cooperation in this matter of paramount importance", Singh said, "I am personally keen that this momentous legislation should be passed on the basis of consensus among all parties as far as possible and that this should not be subjected to party politics in any way."

The nearly three-hour long meeting, however, saw divergent views being aired by leaders of the parties, with BJP pitching for inclusion of Group C and D employees under the Lokpal, a stand staunchly opposed by CPI.

BJP and other opposition parties also demanded that CBI's investigative wing should come under Lokpal, sources said.

However, both the Left and Right were on the same page with regard to inclusion of PM under the Lokpal, they said.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said his party feels that Group C and D cannot be brought under Lokpal because there are crores of such employees.

There should be separate mechanism to deal with them, he told reporters.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 14 Dec 2011 23:00

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/busi ... 110295.cms

Indian tax authorities have unearthed $12.3 billion (Rs 660 billion) of unaccounted money, the finance minister told Lok Sabha on Wednesday, as part of the government's efforts to curb tax evasion.

Pranab Mukherjee was replying to a debate on illicit funds or black money in the Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee also said the government had signed agreements with 60 countries to share information about tax evasion and was in the process of signing agreements with 15 more nations.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 14 Dec 2011 23:12

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=744402

The nearly three-hour long meeting, however, saw divergent views being aired by leaders of the parties, with BJP pitching for inclusion of Group C and D employees under the Lokpal, a stand staunchly opposed by CPI.

BJP and other opposition parties also demanded that CBI's investigative wing should come under Lokpal, sources said.

However, both the Left and Right were on the same page with regard to inclusion of PM under the Lokpal, they said.

The Left parties also demanded that Lokpal be accountable to Parliament.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader S S Dhindsa said that CBI should be independent but Lokpal should have a say in the selection of the CBI Director.

There was also a strong demand for reservation in Lokpal for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

the Prime Minister said the government is committed to implement in letter and spirit a "good and effective" Lokpal Bill that would have a "quick and positive impact in further curbing the cancer of corruption without any adverse effects on the efficiency of our system of public administration."

Asking everyone to "keep the interests of the country foremost in our minds", he said "the government is also keen that we must make all efforts to pass a Lokpal Bill in this very session that is based on consensus and that is driven by Parliament as the custodian of legislation."

He wanted leaders of the parties to indicate how far the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee meet the sense of Parliament and how far the various provisions are feasible and efficacious.

The Lokpal Bill is expected to come up for consideration in the Lok Sabha on December 20, two days before the Winter Session of Parliament concludes.

There is a talk that the session may be extended by a day and the government could also think of a small session in January next for the purpose.

Anna Hazare has threatened to go on an indefinite fast from December 27 in case the Lokpal Bill was not passed in the current session.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the government must bring the Lokpal Bill during the current session itself.

CPI(M) struck a discordant note with CPI on the inclusion of Group C and D employees under Lokpal.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said Group C and D employees should be brought under the purview of Lokpal.

However, the government said a separate mechanism was needed for this and "we asked the government to come out with concrete proposals in this regard", he told reporters.

Yechury said his party also wanted the corruption cases handled by CBI to be under Lokpal because without an investigative agency, Lokpal will "not be effective".

LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan said leaders of various political parties felt that no decision on the Lokpal issue should be taken "in haste" and government should not decide anything "under pressure" as this has "far-reaching impact".

"A majority felt that the Constitution should be held supreme. There should be no super Parliament," he said.

Paswan said the government has said that it was examining the Standing Committee report on Lokpal and it did not give any commitment on reservation.

On the issue of inclusion of CBI under the Lokpal ambit, he said there was no consensus and various parties had different views on this.

"Our party feels that the CBI should be made into an independent body and should come out of the government's control," Paswan said.

On reservation in Lokpal, he said all parties agreed for this.

"We are happy that no one has opposed the demand for reservation in Lokpal. All parties including BJP supported this," he said.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 14 Dec 2011 23:20

For what I saw on TV, about Indian MPs talking about money stashed in Switzerland in particular, it did sound too hideous and repealing. One after the other speaker (to me) sounded like mocking the dark banks of Switzerland. The FM repeated 'sovereign country', 'laws' etc. which meant that what can be done if dark bankers are hiding their dark banking practices behind sovereignty and laws, too obvious to not understand.

To me, little is left to be said directly about dark banks of the Swiss, mocked world over including in parliaments. The double-siding neutral emperors of black banks have no clothes, just monies.

Or if I missed the actual tone, do correct me please.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 02:38

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 111967.cms

Majority in the political class on Wednesday endorsed Team Anna's positions on putting the prime minister and lower bureaucracy within the purview of the proposed Lokpal, but cautioned the government against acting in a hurry to meet the winter session deadline set by the anti-graft pressure group to put in place the country's first independent anti-graft watchdog.

At the all-party meeting, the majority also did not seem to agree with Team Anna on reducing the CBI to an adjunct of Lokpal in anti-corruption investigations, holding that the agency should be able to carry out investigations without having to constantly look over its shoulders to either the government or the Lokpal.

An overwhelming majority, however, favoured eliminating the role of government in deciding who heads the premier anti-corruption agency. It was strongly argued that the process for the appointment of CBI chief should be the same as laid down for the CVC or the one proposed for Lokpal itself.

Neither the government nor the key UPA partners -- Trinamool Congress, DMK and NC -- revealed their hands. But going by the deliberations at the meeting of UPA allies on Tuesday evening, the ruling alliance seems to have veered round to meet the demand of opposition parities and civil society to put the PM as well as lower bureaucracy within Lokpal's jurisdiction.

The divergence on CBI - the process of appointment of its chief, who should have administrative control over it as well as whether its anti-corruption wing should be merged with the Lokpal -- was wider, leading to the feeling that the issue may turn out to be the sticking point.

However, many among the participants did not feel that a deadline of December 22, or for that matter December 27 when Anna Hazare plans to launch a fresh fast, should be treated as sacrosanct. Leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad, Ramvilas Paswan and BSP representative Satish Mishra strongly argued that while the Lokpal bill was a necessity, it should not be hurried.

Significantly, they were joined by NDA ally Janata Dal (United)'s Sharad Yadav. According to sources, two other NDA allies Akali Dal and Shiv Sena did not appear focused on the December deadline either.

CPM's Sitaram Yechury said "it would be good" if the bill was passed during the current session itself. However, he was as not insistent on the December deadline as BJP leaders L K Advani , Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 15 Dec 2011 06:35

Consensus eludes all-party meet on Lokpal.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 714906.ece

There is a question mark on adoption of the Lokpal Bill in the current session of Parliament, which is scheduled to end on December 22, as consensus on the contentious issues eluded an all-party meeting presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday night.

With just a week left before the session ends, it is a historic moment that is looming ahead for all of us. What it will bring we have to wait and see.The Lok Pal Bill as formulated by Team Anna, is the best gift that we, the public,could imagine to get, this Christmas.Waiting with fingers crossed, tilalka on forehead, and bowed down humbly.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 15 Dec 2011 10:05

Delhi HC to decide on EVMs

The Delhi High Court will on January 10 next take a call on whether the upcoming Assembly elections in five States will be conducted through the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) or e-ballot papers.

Taking a note of the urgency involved in the matter given the Assembly polls in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur early next year, the court allowed the plea of petitioner Subramanian Swamy for urgent disposal of the matter. ...

Arguing before a division bench of acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, Swamy insisted that ‘transparency’ had to be given priority over ‘efficiency’ in the poll process.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/2790 ... -evms.html

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 15 Dec 2011 12:20

Government casts its 'web' to nail Anna Hazare

A dedicated team of tech savvy officials has been roped in by the government to scan Facebook and Twitter - the two popular social networking sites already used successfully by Team Anna. Interestingly, the babus would use proxy or independent identities to camouflage the fact that the government is behind the retaliation.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gove ... 64313.html

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 15 Dec 2011 12:29

A nice read -

A VERY PUBLIC TUTORIAL
- Why Team Anna won the debate about the lok pal bill

http://telegraphindia.com/1111215/jsp/o ... 880026.jsp

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 15 Dec 2011 12:56

So Team Anna finally triumphs. I can't think of many who could have survived the systematic vilification campaign unleashed on Team Anna by the Congress over the last 2 months.

But Team Anna did....I think this is testimony both to Team Anna's leadership and persuasive abilities as well as to the popularity of the cause.

A hat-tip on a job excellently done... ( I know its not over until it is over, but the government seems to have visibly thrown in the towel. The rest is a formality).

sum · Post by **sum** » 15 Dec 2011 13:41

Pranav wrote:
Government casts its 'web' to nail Anna Hazare

A dedicated team of tech savvy officials has been roped in by the government to scan Facebook and Twitter - the two popular social networking sites already used successfully by Team Anna. Interestingly, the babus would use proxy or independent identities to camouflage the fact that the government is behind the retaliation.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gove ... 64313.html

Am sure large chunk of NTRO will be doing this "national security" work!!

member_21074 · Post by **member_21074** » 15 Dec 2011 13:50

sum wrote: Am sure large chunk of NTRO will be doing this "national security" work!!

They have already started the campaign on fb and twitter or should I say NTRO/IB has been deputed online.
Have seen few users who have joined facebook and twitter in december only, have 1-2 friends and are still enthuastic to post congress media release on updates of IAC facebook page.
But they are few,even if they deploy whole NTRO it will not be possible to set trends on twitter.

Hats off to anna for improving digital literacy among our babus

pradeepe · Post by **pradeepe** » 15 Dec 2011 14:18

Arjun wrote:So Team Anna finally triumphs. I can't think of many who could have survived the systematic vilification campaign unleashed on Team Anna by the Congress over the last 2 months.
.

Yes, more power to him. A lesser man would have capitulated. But he's a DCH what would he know. He just keeps on going.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 15 Dec 2011 14:24

Its not done yet folks.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 15 Dec 2011 19:08

Anna has threatened to take the protest to Sonia's and Rahul's homes. This is like the days of Gandhi, take the protest to the rulers' home and show them some bare skin! Gandhi is reputed to have walked in the chilling cold of London, wearing just a dhoti, to continue his protest against the oppression of Indians by the British.Way to go, Anna ji, I wouldn't mind wearing a Dhoti Kurta in Delhi's chilling winter, and stand in protest outside Rahul's home.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 19:21

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=744441

Stepping up pressure, Anna Hazare today announced a new agitation of filling up jails (jail bharo) from January 1 if Parliament does not pass a strong Lokpal law, amid indications that it is unlikely to be done before the scheduled conclusion of the current winter session.

The agitation is in addition to the indefinite fast Hazare has already announced from December 27 unless a strong Lokpal bill is not not adopted by Parliament.

Racing against time the Department of Personnel has begun drafting the Lokpal legislation taking into account the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee and those of various political parties as articulated at yesterday's all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

What appears to be certain now now is that the Lokpal Bill would be introduced before December 22 when both Houses of Parliament are scheduled to adjourn sine die.

However, the government has the option of extending the session into early January and taking a year-end break to enable members be with their families for Christmas and the New Year. Both Houses could reconvene in the first week of January to consider the Lokpal law.

The draft legislation is expected to be considered by the Union Cabinet early next week, either on Sunday or Monday, after the Prime Minister returns from Moscow on Saturday. It could then be introduced in Parliament on December 20 or 21.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 19:24

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 117623.cms

Anna Hazare on Thursday said the ongoing winter session of Parliament should be extended to pass Lokpal Bill and threatened to go on a hunger strike if it is not introduced soon.

His remarks came a day after a consensus eluded political parties on Lokpal Bill.

The activist said he has confidence in Parliament that it will pass the bill as everybody in government has given his team the assurance that it will be done.

"(There will be a consensus) in Parliament if not at all-party meeting. All MPs are there, it will be passed there...yesterday people put forward right points, some pointed out the deficiencies.

"Everybody in the government is giving us assurances that we will get a Lokpal Bill. So we should have faith in them. But if they don't bring it, then we will have to agitate," he said ahead of the second day of Team Anna's Core Committee meeting.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 19:56

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 120413.cms

In a veiled attack on Anna Hazare- led civil society over Lokpal issue, renowned economist Amartya Sen today favoured a solution by Parliament to take on the menace of corruption, saying "people on the street" could not deal with it in a proper manner.

"I don't personally think, the people on street could, in a very good way, deal with the corruption issue," Sen said while welcoming the fact that the issue had come into prominence. "We need to do whatever anti-corruption thing we have to do. It has to have a parliamentary feature, reality feature, rather than going outside politics and reality of action in India," the Nobel laureate said while delivering a keynote address at the launch of UN ESCAP's sub-regional office for South and Southwest Asia here.

The comments by Sen, who spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier today, came in the backdrop of preparations by Team Anna for a fast later this month on Lokpal issue in case a strong anti-corruption legislation is not enacted in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

"...I am not a believer that it could be done in the way exemplary punishment is meted out by Panchayats to deal with the guy who drinks. I think we have to be careful about this," Sen said.

"I welcome the fact that corruption has become a bigger issue.... it is important that corruption is in someway (being) highlighted and it seems that the people hate (the corrupt)," he added.

Sen said, "I had the privilege this morning of talking for about an hour with my old friend Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister."

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 19:59

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 121057.cms

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Thursday accused Team Anna of trying to downgrade Parliament by putting pressure on it to get the Lokpal bill passed and insisted that the institution ought to be respected.

"To what extent will you go to downgrade Parliament, elected by the people. Are you not going to respect the integrity of this institution?" he wrote in the editorial of party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

Acknowledging that the menace of corruption has seeped into the system, Thackeray, however, said it was wrong to "usurp the system".

He said people flock to anti-corruption rallies but when the time comes to cast their vote, they set aside the issue of corruption.

"This tendency of people was once again evident in the just-concluded municipal council polls in Maharashtra. People voted for money power. What do people in the anti-corruption movement have to say about this," he asked apparently referring to Congress-NCP victories in municipal council polls in the state, including Anna Hazare's native Ahmednagar.

Thackeray said existing laws in the country, if implemented strictly, are sufficient to nip corruption in the bud.

"More than a Lokpal, we need a hangman to execute Afzal Guru, convicted in Parliament attack case. Not honouring the verdict of the court regarding hanging of Afzal Guru is also a type of corruption," he said.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 15 Dec 2011 20:16

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16194089

OT but for those out there who are dead set against having the PM under the Lokpal Bill and give hollow arguments about India's prestige being on the line, etc.

We have had the case of Indira Gandhi's conviction by the Allahabad High Court prior to Emergency but the judicial system in India has been systematically emasculated since then...

A French court has given former President Jacques Chirac a two-year suspended prison sentence for diverting public funds and abusing public trust.

Mr Chirac, 79, was not in court to hear the verdict because of ill-health but denied wrongdoing.

President from 1995 to 2007, he was put on trial on charges that dated back to his time as mayor of Paris.

He was accused of paying members of his Rally for the Republic (RPR) party for municipal jobs that did not exist.

The prosecution had urged the judge to acquit Mr Chirac and nine others accused in the trial. Two of the nine were cleared. The other seven were found guilty.

In 2004, during his presidency, several figures including France's current Foreign Minister Alain Juppe were convicted in connection with the case.

Mr Juppe was given a 14-month suspended sentence.

The case was divided into two parts: the first count involved embezzlement and breach of trust in relation to 21 bogus jobs; the second related to a charge of illegal conflict of interest concerning seven jobs.

He was found guilty of both.

The former president, who had legal immunity during his time as head of state, faced a potential 10 years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros for the employment of more than 20 bogus officials.

"Jacques Chirac has breached the duty of probity required for public officials, to the detriment of the public interest of Parisians," said tribunal judge, Dominique Pauthe.

rajsunder · Post by **rajsunder** » 15 Dec 2011 23:35

Pranay wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 120413.cms

In a veiled attack on Anna Hazare- led civil society over Lokpal issue, renowned economist Amartya Sen today favoured a solution by Parliament to take on the menace of corruption, saying "people on the street" could not deal with it in a proper manner.

"I don't personally think, the people on street could, in a very good way, deal with the corruption issue," Sen said while welcoming the fact that the issue had come into prominence. "We need to do whatever anti-corruption thing we have to do. It has to have a parliamentary feature, reality feature, rather than going outside politics and reality of action in India," the Nobel laureate said while delivering a keynote address at the launch of UN ESCAP's sub-regional office for South and Southwest Asia here.

The comments by Sen, who spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier today, came in the backdrop of preparations by Team Anna for a fast later this month on Lokpal issue in case a strong anti-corruption legislation is not enacted in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

"...I am not a believer that it could be done in the way exemplary punishment is meted out by Panchayats to deal with the guy who drinks. I think we have to be careful about this," Sen said.

"I welcome the fact that corruption has become a bigger issue.... it is important that corruption is in someway (being) highlighted and it seems that the people hate (the corrupt)," he added.

Sen said, "I had the privilege this morning of talking for about an hour with my old friend Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister."

yesterday i saw the documentary insider job about the financial meltdown in 2008, one of the issues discussed in the movie was about Paid Academicians who went on drumming support for non regulation of derivatives, the list of Academicians who as per the movie included economic professors from the famous universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Yale e.t.c ..... When i read this article, i just could not stop linking both.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 16 Dec 2011 02:04

rajsunder - Good to hear that you saw Inside Job. That's a very incisive and eye opening documentary on the nexuses that have slowly become hardwired in our society. So many of these so called "best and the brightest" come across as bumbling fools. Time very well spent. Always good to keep as broad a perspective on issues, on the intrinsic merits of an idea/argument, as possible and not get carried away with "famous" names.

http://www.timesnow.tv/NHR-Direct-Team- ... 391503.cms

Kiran Bedi - One on One with Arnab Goswami.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 16 Dec 2011 02:13

Pranay wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 121057.cms

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Thursday accused Team Anna of trying to downgrade Parliament by putting pressure on it to get the Lokpal bill passed and insisted that the institution ought to be respected.

"To what extent will you go to downgrade Parliament, elected by the people. Are you not going to respect the integrity of this institution?" he wrote in the editorial of party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

Acknowledging that the menace of corruption has seeped into the system, Thackeray, however, said it was wrong to "usurp the system".

He said people flock to anti-corruption rallies but when the time comes to cast their vote, they set aside the issue of corruption.

"This tendency of people was once again evident in the just-concluded municipal council polls in Maharashtra. People voted for money power. What do people in the anti-corruption movement have to say about this," he asked apparently referring to Congress-NCP victories in municipal council polls in the state, including Anna Hazare's native Ahmednagar.

Thackeray said existing laws in the country, if implemented strictly, are sufficient to nip corruption in the bud.

"More than a Lokpal, we need a hangman to execute Afzal Guru, convicted in Parliament attack case. Not honouring the verdict of the court regarding hanging of Afzal Guru is also a type of corruption," he said.

Care to tell me what is wrong in Bal T's statement. People have a way to defeat corruption even in the current format. People are just voting to default party if they don't like the opposition instead of experimenting with changing who ever is in power consistently.

On oneside they join revolutions for fancy and untested anti-corruption laws but at elections they vote to same who they say they hate. Sharad Pawar of all the bunch gained in Maharashtra recently.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 16 Dec 2011 03:59

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=744517

A day after the all-party meeting, government today indicated that the Lokpal Bill will be brought next week and the session would be extended by a day, if needed.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters here that it was government's intention to bring the bill for consideration in the session which is concluding on December 22.

The government amendments to the much-debated bill are expected to be finalised by three ministers -- Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy -- in the next two days under the overall charge of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, sources said.

This would enable government to bring the amended bill for consideration before the meeting of the Union Cabinet scheduled for Sunday evening.

A senior minister said that the inclusion of Prime Minister with certain safeguards and evolving an "appropriate mechanism" to include group C employees under there ambit of Lokpal in the amended bill appears a foregone conclusion.

A whip has been issued to Congress members of Parliament to ensure their presence from Monday to Thursday, Bansal said indicating that if need be the Winter session could be extended by a day.

A senior minister who declined to be identified, said that government would like the legislation to sail through in order to avoid any blame about lack of sincerity on its part.

According to current indications, the bill would come up in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 16 Dec 2011 17:22

Ramdev swoop was pre-planned: Amicus Curiae to SC

New Delhi: The midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev was an organised crackdown to meet political ends, Amicus Curiae Rajiv Dhawan told the the Supreme Court on Friday. Dhawan claimed that Delhi Police official were in was in constant touch with the Union Home Ministry during the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters on the intervening night of June 4-5 at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.

He also pointed out that when Ramdev was arrested, he did not make inciting speech and did not merit the lathicharge by the police.

Earlier, during the hearing in August Dhawan had accused the Delhi Police of perpetrating violence on innocent people during its crackdown on Ramdev. He had castigated the Delhi Police for its action on Ramdev saying that the police used force on innocent people to break the agitation at Ramlila Maidan.

The amicus curiae, which means advisor to court, quoted from police wireless logs of June 5, the night Ramdev was evicted from Ramlila Maidan.

One of the messages said Kamla Market police are beating people at Ramlila Maidan while another one says CRPF is not obeying orders and is moving out of Ramlila Maidan.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ramdev-swoop ... 37-64.html

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 16 Dec 2011 17:33

Anna ji announces the Schedule for this year ending - a prelude to 2012 Jail Bharo - offshoot of the 2nd Independence Struggle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZIVR95BqgI

Upendra · Post by **Upendra** » 16 Dec 2011 18:20

Congress uses it old divide and rule trick to kill jan lokpal at its birth

New Delhi: As the government gears up to introduce the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in Parliament next week, it's wooing in earnest political parties that have been reluctant beaus so far. So the cabinet, which meets on Monday, will consider a reservation quota for the new ombudsman agency.

The proposal - part of a note being prepared for the cabinet - suggests that 50% of the Lokpal's members should belong to Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/STs), and Other Backward Castes (OBCs).

No constitutional body in India has a quota governing its members. Experts say introducing reservation in the Lokpal could be challenged in court.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 16 Dec 2011 21:42

Crackdown on Ramdev supporters at Ramila ground was preplanned to please political masters: Amicus to Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was today told that the decision on midnight crackdown on yoga guru Ramdev and his supporters was taken in advance by the Centre and police implemented it to please their "political masters".

Advocate Rajeev Dhawan, assisting the apex court as amicus curiae, referred to an interview of home minister P Chidambram who had himself said a decision had been taken to remove Ramdev out of the city if he goes ahead with the agitation.

"This suggests that the decision had been taken but suspended while talks were going on and when the talks failed the police were told to enforce the decision," Dhavan told a bench of justices BS Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar.

He rejected the claim of the government that it was not aware of all the developments at the Ramlila Maidan where the agitation was going on.

"It is not possible to believe that all informations were not sent to the Home Secretary and further it was not possible to believe that it was not sent to the home minister," Dhawan said adding "it was an abrupt operation in the midnight to please their(police) political masters."

"The home minister and the police commissioner were working together to decide what is to be done to Baba Ramdev," he said.

He also contended the Centre was also planning to do the same thing with Anna Hazare two months down the line by arresting him in the morning but they could not.

The court was hearing the matter which it had on June 6 taken suo motu cognisance of the police action and asked the Centre and Delhi police to explain why it resorted to such an action in the middle of the night.

Delhi police, in its affidavit, denied the allegation that it had used force and claimed teargas shells were fired only after Ramdev's supporters turned violent and pelted stones at the police.

Justifying its action, police had said the authorities had granted permission to Ramdev to use the ground only to hold a yoga camp and not for any other purpose.

Disagreeing with the stand of the police, Dhawan contended the video footage of the incident showed lathis were used by them on the supporters.

"I don't think police are telling the truth. Whether they accept it or not, lathis were used in the night," he said adding "I am astonished and concerned with the malafide action by the police and the object was to remove Baba Ramdev at midnight."

Earlier, police had accused Ramdev of being responsible for the "entire mess" saying he should take the responsibility for it.

Ramdev swoop was pre-planned: Amicus Curiae to SC

New Delhi: The midnight swoop on Baba Ramdev was an organised crackdown to meet political ends, Amicus Curiae Rajiv Dhawan told the the Supreme Court on Friday. Dhawan claimed that Delhi Police official were in was in constant touch with the Union Home Ministry during the crackdown on Ramdev and his supporters on the intervening night of June 4-5 at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.
He also pointed out that when Ramdev was arrested, he did not make inciting speech and did not merit the lathicharge by the police.
Earlier, during the hearing in August Dhawan had accused the Delhi Police of perpetrating violence on innocent people during its crackdown on Ramdev. He had castigated the Delhi Police for its action on Ramdev saying that the police used force on innocent people to break the agitation at Ramlila Maidan.

The amicus curiae, which means advisor to court, quoted from police wireless logs of June 5, the night Ramdev was evicted from Ramlila Maidan.
One of the messages said Kamla Market police are beating people at Ramlila Maidan while another one says CRPF is not obeying orders and is moving out of Ramlila Maidan.

However, Delhi Police officials had blamed Baba Ramdev for the chaos at Ramlila Maidan following his fast. Delhi Police had told the Supreme Court that Ramdev's behaviour led to a law and order problem at Ramlila Maidan.
According to the police Ramdev was given a permission to hold a yoga camp for 5,000 people, but very soon the numbers swelled to more than 50,000.
The apex had issued notices to the Union Home Secretary, Delhi Chief Secretary and the Delhi Police for the midnight swoop.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 17 Dec 2011 04:11

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/ ... erfect-law

From the very beginning, the Government has shown little desire to pass an effective anti-corruption law. A small coterie of ministers, people with little or no actual political experience such as Salman Khurshid and Kapil Sibal, have been at the forefront of the Government’s effort to backpedal and subvert any substantive new measures being proposed. These same ministers have also been handling the media spin on the resultant criticism with an arrogance that does not take into account public perception. They haven’t managed either job well. At the end of the process, the Government has had to concede much that it did not want to, but even so, it has ensured that the final result falls well short of an ideal law.

The one thing that will continue is the confrontation with this government. In fact, the reason that Team Anna may well survive the passage of the Lokpal Bill is the weakness of the current dispensation, which is what fuels the movement. The sense of crisis that has overtaken the UPA is not going to disappear, and it only seems to worsen with each poorly conceived attempt at damage control. It is this sense of crisis that drew opposition leaders as disparate as AB Bardhan and Arun Jaitley onto Anna’s protest stage. In doing so, the opposition is doing what it must, taking advantage of a political opportunity. But this is feeding back into the stasis in policy and government. The question remains whether we can afford another two years of this government in confrontation with this movement.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 17 Dec 2011 04:19

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/ ... al-and-you

The Lokpal and You

A look at how differing proposals to fight corruption will actually work for the harried citizen

As Open goes to press, we have three alternate versions of the Lokpal Bill before us. One, of course, is the one proposed by Team Anna, the Jan Lokpal bill; the other is also a Civil Society version drafted by the National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information (NCPRI); and the third is now the consensus Lokpal

Here we consider some real-world scenarios of corruption and lead you through the proposed remedial process once the legislation is enacted and Lokpal instituted. They range from high corruption such as seen in the 2G case to the kind of corruption almost every Indian deals with in day-to-day life.

How a law actually works on the ground can be very different from the rarefied arguments we often hear on TV channels or read in newspapers. Keep these scenarios in mind as you watch the debate unfold in Parliament. The real question is not whether a particular group of officials is within the purview of the Bill or not, it is whether the law that is enacted can have a real impact on your life. This Bill will affect every citizen, and whatever version is finally put in place will assuredly be better than the current reality, but whether it works for you depends on how particular provisions come to bear on specific cases.

The hypothetical case studies discussed in the article are interesting. Would like to hear from members here on BR on other such cases and their possible outcome.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 17 Dec 2011 15:32

Does corruption have a caste? Lokpal quotas are a lunacy

A hard hitting article in First post.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 18 Dec 2011 18:31

Anna is in Chennai today -

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 18 Dec 2011 22:07

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 158160.cms

The Union Cabinet is expected to consider tomorrow the much-awaited Lokpal Bill that is likely to bring Prime Minister under the proposed anti-graft ombudsman with certain conditions and provide for creation of an independent prosecution directorate.

While the bill will see incorporation of recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee which examined it, the government has made it clear that it was open to other ideas that emanated at the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

"You all know that how many days are left (for Parliament session). We have literally worked day and night to ensure that we meet the deadlines," Law minister Salman Khurshid told reporters.

"Let us just get the Bill done and bring it to the Cabinet so that it can be brought before Parliament as quickly as possible," he said amid the looming threat of Anna Hazare to go on hunger strike from December 27 if the legislation is not enacted by then.

Referring to the various proposals floating around, Khurshid said, "the Government is not taking up anything as outstanding view but finetuning keeping in mind the basic structure of the law... to ensure that we take public confidence with us because we are also determined and commited to a very powerful Lokpal Bill."

Accordingly, the Bill is likely to suggest that the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act be amended, sources said. The bill is also expected to provide for removal of the Lokpal Chairman or member if a joint complaint is made by at least 100 MPs.

The legislation also is likely to provide for 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, minorities and women in the Lokpal bench on the lines of demand raised by almost all the parties, except BJP, at Wednesday's meeting, the sources said. With regard to demand for inclusion of Group 'C' employees, the sources said discussions are underway to create an "appropriate mechanism" for this. One of the suggestions in this regard is placing them under the purview of the CVC who would be asked to report the progress on anti-corruption cases to Lokpal.

The Parliamentary Committee had recommended reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women in the Search Committee which will assist the Selection Committee to select Lokpal. However, it was silent on reservation in the Lokpal.

If reservation is provided in the Lokpal panel, it will become the first Constitutional body to have the provision. On the issue of PM, the Standing Committee had refused to take a position but recommended three options -- inclusion without exception and qualifications, inclusion with no exclusionary caveats but after demitting office and inclusion with exclusions on issues like national security and foreign affairs and some others.

Making CBI, or its anti-corruption wing, a part of Lokpal still remains a contentious issue. The Lokpal Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in August this year says that "Lokpal shall constitute an Investigation Wing for the purpose of conducting investigationof any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988."

Several parties, however, are insisting that CBI's anti-corruption wing should be under Lokpal to give it teeth. On the inclusion of group C employees under the amit of Lokpal, one of the options with the government is recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee which had recommended a "broad supervisory fusion at the apex level" by some changes in the CVC Act.

"The CVC should be made to file periodical reports, say every three months, to the Lokpal in respect of action taken for these class C and D categories. "On these reports, the Lokpal shall be entitled to make comments and suggestions for improvement and strengthening the functioning of CVC, which in turn, shall file, appropriate action taken reports with the Lokpal," it had recommended.

It had also recommended "appropriate increase" in the strength of the CVC manpower.

Narad · Post by **Narad** » 19 Dec 2011 12:42

Apparent reverse chanakian tactics by Govt to discourage mass public support to Annaji's movement. This seems to be motivated, shameless and deliberate propagandu attempt by UPA dhurandhars.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 160832.cms

NEW DELHI: Last week the police received a letter that threatened to inject Anna Hazare and his supporters with needles contaminated with the HIV virus. The letter said if Anna remained adamant on his Lokpal agitation, they will be attacked with the deadly virus.

The police, now beginning to take the threat seriously, have registered an FIR and begun looking for those who sent the letter. The letter states that "a needle team, which has prepared 500 HIV positive needles, would inject the virus in atleast 1,000 people at the demonstration".

This anonymous letter was sent to DCP Central office on December 9.

Delhi Police has registered an FIR under sections 505 (2) - statements conducting to public mischief, 506 (criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) of Indian Penal Code at Daryaganj police station last week and investigations have begun. The police suspect that "this letter seems to have been posted to the DCP's office from Delhi itself".

"We are trying to ascertain the identity of the sender though, after lot of discussions, we have also come to the conclusion that it might be a prank letter sent by some criminals. {piggy raja or kapil maharaj?} But since it is related to Anna Hazare, we don't want to take any chances as there is already a threat to his life and to the large number of people who congregate at his demonstrations," said a police officer.

The letter had stated that there are around 50 "volunteers in this needle group who are trained and they would use the needles cleverly {sic} on atleast 1,000 people".

Vashishtha · Post by **Vashishtha** » 19 Dec 2011 16:19

^^So this is what we are down to.....

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 19 Dec 2011 17:32

Vashishtha wrote:^^So this is what we are down to.....

A needle team of 50 with fatal virus threatening Annaji's supporters who are supporting a strong a Lokpal bill!

How can any gang do this without any political motive?

Or is this a way to reduce the support so it does not look too popular? What can politicians not do to take all the credit from others and give all the debt to others, even decades after not passing such a bill.

Narad · Post by **Narad** » 19 Dec 2011 17:44

^^^ Point is to scare people away. Govt knows that heavy handedness will cause serious political backlash. Thats why resorting to ugly tactics. Not that anyone would really roam around with needles in a "cleverly" manner, but an attempt is being made to scare people by spreading disinformation so that people do not gather in large numbers or attend rallies etc.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 20 Dec 2011 08:02

The Games P Chidambaram played - http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_th ... ed_1627178

Re Chidambaram and Sonia's involvement in Commonwealth Scam.

As per SSwamy, Chidambaram is a bag-man for Sonia's Italian sisters.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 20 Dec 2011 20:03

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 181281.cms

The Congress Party and the Government has shown it's true colors. Now let the people decide on who represents them - individuals with the mindset of used car salesmen with the title of "Cabinet Ministers" or a set of people who are at the vanguard of an idea whose time has come...

Very sad indeed that such crooks rule the roost...

Not yielding to Anna Hazare's demand, government is understood to have decided to keep CBI out of the purview of the proposed Lokpal.

This is the view that has emerged out of the discussions senior ministers, who are lawyers in their own right, had among themselves and had reportedly recommended to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The draft Cabinet note, to which officials of the Personnel and Legislative department had given final touches last night, was sent to the prime minister who has cleared it for the special Cabinet meeting tonight.

Home minister P Chidambaram, law minister Salman Khurshid and telecom minister Kapil Sibal discussed the amendments to the Lokpal yesterday and finalised the changes. Minister of state for personnel V Narayansamy was also part of these discussions.

Sources said that the Lokpal would have no control over the CBI, a demand strongly pursued by Hazare and his team during the last several months. The sources also said there would be no separate Directorate of Prosecution of the CBI under the Lokpal.

Among other amendments proposed to the existing Lokpal Bill is that the panel to chose CBI chief would comprise the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. The Chief Justice of India is being named in the place of Lok Sabha Speaker as originally planned.

The Bill will also provide for impeachment of the Lokpal for which 100 MPs have to initiate a proposal. The Lokpal also cannot initiate a probe on its own and can only act on complaints referred to it, the sources said.

The office of Prime Minister is expected to be brought within the purview of Lokpal with certain safeguards.

The winter session of Parliament has been extended by three days from Dec 27 to facilitate passage of the Lokpal bill and some other legislations.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 20 Dec 2011 20:06

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=745002

Expressing disappointment with the new draft Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Parliament, Anna Hazare today said he would fast for three days from December 27, followed by a three-day 'jail bharo' agitation.

"I will fast on December 27, 28 and 29. This will be followed by a three-day jail bharo from December 30. After this, I will go to five states (where Assembly polls are due) and campaign against the (Congress-led) government," Hazare told reporters here this evening.

Maintaining that the government's intentions on bringing an effective Lokpal bill were "suspect", Hazare said the government was ignoring the "voice of the people".

"The common man's life has become miserable due to all-pervasive corruption. But the government has become blind. It cannot see or hear the suffering of the people," he said.

"Let the government go its way, we will go our way. I have decided that I will continue to fight till there is life in me," Hazare said.

Asked if he agreed with the provisions of the draft sought to be tabled in Parliament, he said, "We say, bring in whatever draft, but end corruption."

Hazare was also opposed to centralisation of the grievance redress mechanism in the draft bill. "For a ration card, you will need to go to Delhi," he said, adding Uttarakhand had brought a good Lokayukta bill.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said, "In our Jan Lokpal Bill, we had provided for redress mechanism at the block level."