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

[VinayB]

It is a long journey ahead: Kejriwal

Good interview of Kejriwal....I found this quote interesting:

Lends credence to the "Insider, Outsider" theory that Rudradev espoused, ain't it? Apolitical is beyond, both like or dislike of any party.

No, I guess he tried to project only BJP as communal leaving Congress and Left, that is in my opinion devoid of any political understanding or maturity.

Anyway people came to streets becoz of Anna.

But Anna went and sat there because Kejriwal said 'I'll make you Gandhi of India' - from the caravanmagazine report.

Kiran Bedi said in an interview 'Anna uses no one and no one uses Anna'.

Kejriwal thanks art of living. If that gives him ready followers from a group of already brain washed pyramid scheme members, tough luck. Somehow nobody is picking on the AOL thank you note. Wasn't Sri squared supposed to be a VHP agent too?

Kiran Bedi creates a saintly miracle out of Advani phone call on Aug 26th. Letter from BJP president to Anna on Aug 25 already committed BJP to Anna's demands (as of that date) about withdrawing Govt draft and introducing JLP. But then in a hurry demands changed to a set of 3.

They make the speech about this being the second freedom struggle. Only Cho asked what about JP before/during emergency. Even those who were part of 'team JP' went tongue tied. Such is probably the role of the media in this, every one is s*it scared. This self-proclamation of second freedom struggle, is it because of the very evident megalomania or simply, 'it aint freedom struggle if it ends badly for INC'?

I cant think of anything that can make me comfortable with circus like this, but if Kejriwal is shown the way out of the gang, that might be. With Agnivesh, atleast everyone knew who he was.

[SwamyG]

Signs of takleef and internal differences in CONgress.

http://blogs.hindustantimes.com/capital ... own-party/

Normally speaking as people who have covered the Congress for many years will tell you, the party would have held Rahul’s speech as the gospel truth and would have crafted its strategy around it. But what amazed everyone was that till Jyotirditya Scindia took the floor towards the end of the debate, there was hardly any reference to the thoughts expressed by the general secretary. Sandeep Dikshit who was surprisingly fielded after Sushma Swaraj, the leader of opposition had said her piece, did not make any mention of Rahul Gandhi or his thinking and went on to give his own line which many found to be closer to that of Team Anna than that of his own party. Mr Scindia did try to do a late damage control but the matter had by then become a huge talking point in Congress circles. I believe that the manner in which the party fielded the earlier speakers irked many who took up the matter in the Lok Sabha lobby with Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal. Bansal on his part defended himself by shifting the onus on the Prime Minister.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110831/j ... 446765.jsp

Although sources said Aron had been “informally” summoned tonight for “an explanation”, no punishment is expected as powerful people in the party seem to appreciate “his sentiments”.

The dominant view in the party is that an investigation would be conducted and corrective measures taken after Sonia Gandhi’s return so that such blunders are not repeated. Some senior leaders may have to pay for the mismanagement.

Aron’s letter was written sometime before Pranab Mukherjee, Salman Khurshid and Vilasrao Deshmukh had entered the scene. Some party leaders are wondering if P. Chidambaram and Kapil Sibal are the target of a choreographed attack.

Ironically, both Chidambaram and Sibal had advocated a tough line, which the majority in the party supported.

This is a brilliant insight into Rahul Brand and the contemporary expectation of people and governance. Must Read
http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... nna-hazare

Even if it is too early to seriously judge the long-term political impact of the churning we have seen in terms of the public-neta equation, among the many questions that emerges as a by-product is one on the politics and political style of Rahul Gandhi.

His deafening public silence in the days between Anna's arrest to his eventual prepared speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday only served to raise more questions than answers.

By dodging direct questions on the Anna movement until then, the Congress' leader in waiting not only strengthened the impression of a rudderless party being left adrift, he did himself no favours. Even when he did speak, seeking to regain the initiative through his call for an Election-Commission like Lok Pal, the biggest question was why did he not say so earlier?

Crises often tend to show up weak points in sharp relief and this crisis has shown up the inadequacies in the making of Brand Rahul.

In short, he has preferred not to get his hands dirty, but to take safe, mostly choreographed positions. This style of cocooned politics, while seeming to maintain a distance from its daily hustle bustle, is at odds even with his family's record in the Congress.

Long before she inherited Nehru's mantle, Indira Gandhi was deeply involved in the cut and thrust of daily politics, including in the decision to sack Kerala's first Communist government in the 1950s, and even Rajiv Gandhi who had a short induction period, oversaw Buta Singh's efforts to run the 1982 Asian Games.

Rahul Gandhi has now had 7 years as an MP, four as party general secretary, and the question is how long will he be an absentee leader, a perpetual leader in training; of the party but somehow seeming aloof from it.

[gakakkad]

I an not against SME's . Gandhi's concepts were against mechanization . He considered machines , industries etc to be evil.

[csaurabh]

^^^ I am not a particular fan of Gandhi or his so called followers. His contributions to Indian independence are debatable. And he along with a few others is responsible for socialist economic planning . Disasters like charkha , cottage industry etc handicapped generations of Indians. The problem is that people tend to hero worship , often against the better judgement. IMHO Gandhi was a well meaning gentlemen , but not the smartest . He was by no means a visionary.He often disregarded scientific and logical point of view. And quite often failed to see the broader picture. His peaceful ideas were no doubt revolutionary and thereby attract the imagination of people even today. But they are sometimes far removed from reality. Even after the collapse of every known commy regime these concepts still find attraction . In retrospect perhaps had people not implemented his economic ideas India may have been far ahead today.

Except that Gandhi's economic ideas were never put into practice. Every single one of his ideas were discredited and obsolete before he died, including much vaunted 'non violence' and 'Hindu muslim unity'. For socialism we have Nehru chacha to thank , as well as his disastrous foreign policy outlook such as 'Hindi Chini bhai bhai', Kashmir, etc.

By any index Nehru-Ghandi were a miserable failure. The reason why people think highly of them is because under the Kangress rule they are glorified very much in history books that we all learned, and this is to perpetuate Nehru-Ghandi dynasty rule.
The real heroes of Indian independence were Sardar Patel, Subhas Bose, Bhagat Singh , Veer Savarkar.

[Theo_Fidel]

Isn't AH putting some of Gandhi economic ideas into practice. He has claimed it as his USP.

It is instructive to see what happened to countries without a JLN or Gandhi, esp. in our neighborhood. Compare for instance JLN w/ Rahul princeling which is what most countries got.

Between Europe and Japan we are the only large stable progressive country. Gandhi & JLN get credit for that IMO.

[Muppalla]

It is a long journey ahead: Kejriwal

Good interview of Kejriwal....I found this quote interesting:

However, we have been clear that no BJP leader or leader of any communal organisation will share the stage with us.

My inference from this quote is that Kejriwal would be willing to let the Congress or Left share stage with Anna but not the BJP...

Lends credence to the "Insider, Outsider" theory that Rudradev espoused, ain't it? Apolitical is beyond, both like or dislike of any party.

No, I guess he tried to project only BJP as communal leaving Congress and Left, that is in my opinion devoid of any political understanding or maturity.

Anyway people came to streets becoz of Anna.

Here are my thoughts about this character and such blokes in general
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 0#p1152470

-----------------------
As I always said there are several advantages for Congress party with Anna's movement. If Anna starts a political party, inspite of its loss of credibility in some quarters, it will immensely help Congress party only. With these types of characters, that party will never allign with BJP. It is like an MNS/Chiranjeevi party at national level. This party will help in weaning away the anger-against-congress votes which would have gone to BJP if Anna's party is not there.

At a political level, inspite of the bad-blood that is being shown on media by congress, I still think Anna's movement and congress party are hand-in-glove.

Rudradev's posts are masterpieces. Insider Vs Outsider is classic and extremely accurate.

If Anna's "right to reject" is passed, potential BJP votes gets invalidate as "I hate everyone"

[IndraD]

For his colleagues to claim that this was a second freedom struggle or a movement of the kind Jayaprakash Narayan led in the 1970s was sheer hyperbole. Hazare is neither a Mahatma Gandhi nor a JP. His lieutenants strangely equated what they called 'civil society' with the entire country, although large sections of adivasis, Dalits and OBCs kept out. Though they are also victims of corruption, these communities seem to fear that Hazare's attack on parliamentary democracy is aimed at undoing the guarantees that the Constitution promises them. Therefore, the movement was essentially an urban middle class phenomenon, meant to voice the concerns of the city-bred.

A fast is not enough http://www.hindustantimes.com/A-fast-is ... 39774.aspx

The time has come for innovative processes of law-making which can be community-based. If you consider only the legislature, the executive, the judiciary and the media as four pillars of democracy, where are the people? That's what gives rise to a banana republic.
(trying to assert NGO in law making)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home ... 800152.cms

[SwamyG]

I an not against SME's . Gandhi's concepts were against mechanization . He considered machines , industries etc to be evil.

You must be referring to his Hind Sawraj. I have always maintained Gandhi or JLN had their plus and minus points. Some of the stances they took should be considered in the light of the then existing conditions. They were occupied with nation building, and sometimes did take a stance that looks now quite silly or strange. Gandhi's opinions must have been shaped looking at the worker's conditions in the Bombay Mills.

All we can do now is recognize the conditions, their efforts and move on. Take the best they offered and march on. They had their flaws. What to do onlee.

[paramu]

Ompuri got savaged by our Netas in the below debate on NDTV. I was kind of upset the way they were attacking the Ompuri and mocking him. And,then comes Mr Bhatia (retired IAS officer) in the later part of the debate and rip apart all our "Respected Parliamentarians" present in the debate single handedly. This video is priceless.
http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/left-r ... /209364?sp

I think, in the end even Sri Bhatia lost the edge.

People who want to attack these politicians need to focus on following aspects of politicians:
- How many of those politicians who pontificate that they are elected by people are supporting right-to-recall by the same people?
- These politicians act like a cartel. Nobody is seriously challenging EVM about its riggability.
- Show how some politicians help other politicians accused of corruption
- These politicians kept big chunk of people illiterate for a long time and they influence these ignorant electorate with silly schemes such rice for Rs. 2, and free saree, TV, washing machine etc.
- None of these politicians are demanding publication of swiss bank account list.

Politicians lost credibility and should stop pontificating that they represent the will of the people. Many of them are supported by less than 30% of their electorate.

[Muppalla]

He's got the action, he's got the motion…

…Oh yeah, the boy can play.

Two weeks ago, this column had suggested that the time had come for the Prime Minister to redeem himself. He has done so with such a characteristically quiet flourish that even his worst critics are now conceding what a rock musician once sang:

“He got the action

he got the motion,

Oh yeah, the boy can play

dedication, devotion;

turning the night time into the day…”

And thereby hangs a tale.

For several years after he became the finance minister in 1991, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, when he met his economist friends would sheepishly tell them that he was now a politician and, therefore, immune to sound economic advice. Not many took him seriously but a few amongst the lowlife of Lutyen's Delhi knew that he had always been one.

How else, they would snigger, would a mere economic advisor (1971), that too in the ministry of commerce become, first, the chief economic advisor in three years (1974), then a secretary to the Government of India in two more (1976), then Reserve Bank Governor in six more (1982), then deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (Cabinet rank, mind) in three (1985) and, finally, finance minister in a mere 20 years from the time he left the teaching profession — that too immediately after having served as economic advisor for four months to Prime Minister, Chandra Shekhar, in 1991? And then, in 2004, just eight years after he ceased to be finance minister in 1996, there he was as Prime Minister! This, after not having had anything to do with 10, Janpath between 1987 and 1997. And this after having had his Planning Commission called a ‘bunch of jokers' by Rajiv Gandhi in 1987.

His trump card
Dr Manmohan Singh's great strength lies in the fact that his rivals and opponents always underestimate him. He manages to lull them into a sense of complacency by his outwardly meek demeanour, good manners and seemingly hesitant ways.

In fact, however, Messrs Hazare and Co have discovered what the Comrades of the Left did in 2008 — that Dr Singh is deadly as the cats that wait patiently in the grass for hours, unmoving, silent, watchful and which finally spring like a fork of lightning at the bird which thinks it is safe.

Indeed, even the malcontents in the Congress, who were sniping at Dr Singh, have had a rude shock. He is now fully in command because Sonia Gandhi is unwell; Rahul Gandhi is too wet behind the ears and reluctant to face genuine fast bowling; Pranab Mukherjee is not trusted by the Family — and the rest, oo la la, don't matter.

Suddenly, he is able to keep A. K. Antony waiting outside the room for not having countered the talk about succeeding him as PM; he is able to make a passionate speech in the Lok Sabha about what a nice guy he is, leaving the Opposition furtively wiping its eyes even as Congressmen weep buckets in sympathy; he is able to get Rahul Gandhi to read out the Government's position on the Lokpal which, amazingly, negates his own speech, leaving the Hazare camp in total disarray; before that he inserts Pranab Mukherjee to negotiate the deal with a clear instruction: split, isolate and pick off.

Match over
And split, isolated and picked off they were.

Swami Agnivesh went one way, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal another. That isolated Prashant Bhushan and Anna Hazare, who cried victory and ran.

One can only quote from the song once again:

After all the violence and the double talk;

There's just a song in all the trouble and the strife;

He can do the walk,

He can do the walk of life.

[IndraD]

Ominous lokpal Bill

Opposition parties are busy discussing a strange coincidence associated with the Lokpal Bills of the past. In the last 43 years, the Lokpal Bill has been introduced in Parliament on as many as eight occasions and every time, it is being pointed out, it has been accompanied by political upheaval. The 1968 Lokpal Bill was followed by the 1969 split in the Congress while the 1971 Bill got overtaken by the Bangladesh liberation war. In 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1996, the government that introduced the Bill in Parliament did not survive the next elections. In 1998 again, the NDA government fell months after putting the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. It won the next general elections though and brought the Bill again in 2001 but did not survive the next elections. Not surprisingly, the Opposition has already started predicting the fall of the UPA government at the next elections.

[ramana]

Singh is truly King!

Of the system.

Aage aage dekho khya hoga!

[Hari Seldon]

Wow. Making MMS out to be a chankian maestro was quite unexpected, even for a jaded observer of political events like moi, must say.

Now I wouldn't be surprised if it also turns out that MMS was behind the Pranab-chidu wars, the 2G scam fallouts and other assorted l;eaks that seemed outwardly damaging to the UPA but have paradoxically strengthened the hands of the PM within the INC....

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find, MMS also quietly aiding SubSwamy's courtroom heroics as a hedge, MMS behind Manish Tiwari's glorious outburst on Anna, in fact, on MMS being behind SG's cancerous tours abroad as well.... wah re wah, singh is king indeed....

[Pranay]

^^^ I am not a particular fan of Gandhi or his so called followers. His contributions to Indian independence are debatable. And he along with a few others is responsible for socialist economic planning . Disasters like charkha , cottage industry etc handicapped generations of Indians. The problem is that people tend to hero worship , often against the better judgement. IMHO Gandhi was a well meaning gentlemen , but not the smartest . He was by no means a visionary.He often disregarded scientific and logical point of view. And quite often failed to see the broader picture. His peaceful ideas were no doubt revolutionary and thereby attract the imagination of people even today. But they are sometimes far removed from reality. Even after the collapse of every known commy regime these concepts still find attraction . In retrospect perhaps had people not implemented his economic ideas India may have been far ahead today.

That was quite a mouthful... though factually incorrect at multiple levels.

This is not the right thread to debate the origins of Socialism in India nor MKG's contribution to India's Independence and i would not like to belabor the point here but i would recommend some research on your end... would welcome to join the issue on an appropriate thread...

[SwamyG]

Hari garu: MMS would be the true Manchurian candidate, then Bringing the downfall of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

[Altair]

Hari garu: MMS would be the true Manchurian candidate, then Bringing the downfall of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

If it is the case it would be the best coup in my lifetime.

[sanjeevpunj]

Regarding dynasties falling down, the Srimad Bhagvatam offers predictions. I am quoting from Srimad Bhagvatam, but it needs interpretation.It is not clear to me as to who is ruling at present (as per these predictions) but one thing is clear, most of the rulers will be devoid of intelligence, will be weak, and generally corrupt.
http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 5#p1157025

[sum]

Now I wouldn't be surprised if it also turns out that MMS was behind the Pranab-chidu wars, the 2G scam fallouts and other assorted l;eaks that seemed outwardly damaging to the UPA but have paradoxically strengthened the hands of the PM within the INC....

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find, MMS also quietly aiding SubSwamy's courtroom heroics as a hedge, MMS behind Manish Tiwari's glorious outburst on Anna, in fact, on MMS being behind SG's cancerous tours abroad as well.... wah re wah, singh is king indeed....

Somehow been feeling the same since last 1 years ( since 2G scam erupted and SSwamy was in possession of unusually high level documents)

[derkonig]

Wasn't MMS under suspicion of being the mole in the PVNR cabinet who leaked the nuke test plans? Sorry, "chankian" MMS is not doing India any favours by bringing out the fissures in the INC. He and the INC are a bunch of traitors top to bottom who should not be in power.

[IndraD]

Often read about non marathis getting thrashed in Mumbai for miscellaneous reasons by MNS/S Sena etc, was caught in one such commotion where my taxi driver got thrashed and I had to run with my luggage while going to airport (and finally missed the flight) . If I sit on fast in Mumbai for pressurising government to protect non marathis in Maharashtra would AH sit on fast by my side?

[Aditya_V]

BJP MP to be questioned in RTI activist Shehla Masood's murder

[chetak]

The minorities are muscling their way into the Anna movement.

bukhari wanted Anna to take up the Gujarat issue.

Let's see how the Anna team pads up to this googly.


Anna gets a call from Srinagar: Help find truth behind unmarked graves

Sep 01, 2011

Srinagar Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asked Anna Hazare and his team of civil society activists to help prevent killings of innocent civilians in the Valley.

[RajeshA]

Anna gets a call from Srinagar: Help find truth behind unmarked graves

Sep 01, 2011

Srinagar Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asked Anna Hazare and his team of civil society activists to help prevent killings of innocent civilians in the Valley.

Anna, have you seen my socks?

[IndraD]

http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/reji ... nna-130545
suspicious members of team anna

"During our protest at Ramlila Maidan, there were moments when we were nervous because of the behaviour of some of our own members more than outsiders. We will review the role of such members during our Ralegan meeting," said an insider of Team Anna.

After the exclusion of Swami Agnivesh, twenty-three members of core group of Team Anna will meet at Ralegan. "Either some new members will be included in the core committee or some more committees or co-ordination committees will be formed after the important meeting, besides announcement of future course of action," added the member.

Remembering the critical moment, a member of Team Anna hinted that they had doubts about the integrity of one or two members of the medical team taking care of Anna. "The day all round pressure mounted to break the fast of Anna, even police sources were hinting that Hazare might be taken away for hospitalisation. Doctors were silent. Many among us were nervous," said a source in Team Anna.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kash ... 49658.html
Anna invited over in Kashmir

[chetak]

Here's the thing

Spicejet was a debt free and profit making company just some months ago.It was also one of the more efficient airline companies.

It was taken over by the marans.

It is now in serious financial doldrums, having been completely sucked dry.

The powers that be have extracted their pound of flesh and that's the price of freedom for the owners of airline.






Jaswant falls in 2G net; clean chit to Maran?

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which on Thursday filed its interim report in the 2G spectrum allocation case in the Supreme Court, is expected to question BJP leader Jaswant Singh for his role in the spectrum allotment made during the NDA regime.

As per reports, the CBI is expected to quiz the BJP leader on the terms on which Universal Service Agreement Licence (USAL) were granted during the BJP -led National Democratic Alliance government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In its report the CBI also mentioned that licences granted during the tenure of former telecom minister Arun Shourie and late Pramod Mahajan also needs to be examined.

The investigating agency told the two-judge bench of justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly that Loop Telecom is a front company for Essar and both companies are guilty of cheating.

In another important development in the high-profile case, the probe agency said that prima facie there was no element of coercion found in licences issued between 2001 and 2007, thus giving a virtual clean chit to Dayanidhi Maran .

During the hearing on August 24, the CBI had informed the court that it has filed chargesheets has against 17 persons including former telecom minister A Raja and DMK MP Kanimozi. It had said that a third chargesheet would be filed by September 15.

Besides Raja and Kanimozhi, other accused in the case include Unitech Wireless Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom's Director Vinod Goenka, former telecom secretary Siddhartha Behura, Raja's former personal secretary R K Chandolia, DMK-run Kalaignar TV's MD Sharad Kumar, Bollywood filmmaker Karim Morani and Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group's executives Hari Nair, Gautam Doshi and Surrendra Pipara.

The other accused persons included Swan Telecom promoter Shahid Usman Balwa, his cousin Asif Balwa and their colleague Rajeev Agarwal. The accused also included three telecom firms Reliance Telecom Ltd, Swan Telecom and Unitech (Tamil Nadu) Wireless Ltd.

All the accused have pleaded that they have not done anything wrong and refuted the charge of drawing illegal benefits in the 2G spectrum allocation.

Meanwhile, the CBI status report has drawn sharp criticism from the main opposition BJP, which has attacked the central probe agency for its double standards in 2G investigations.

BJP said that the CBI is highly discriminatory in its probe in high-profile cases.

Addressing a press briefing, BJP spokesperson Jaswant Singh said that his party is always ready for a through probe in the 2G spectrum licences allocated given during the NDA regime.

Alleging a cover-up on part of the CBI, Prasad said, “It is highly unfortunate that the central probe agency could not collect concrete evidence against Maran, this shows that there is an attempt to save him.”

Prasad, while maintaining that BJP has nothing to hide, warned, “The BJP shall expose the double standards of the CBI in its ongoing probe into the spectrum case.” He stated that his party is proud of the expansion of the telecommunication sector and mobile telephony during the NDA regime.

He also asked why is the CBI shying from probing the role of then finance minister P Chidambaram and the Prime Minister’s office in connection with the case.

However, the BJP leader concluded by saying that his party is ready to cooperate with the CBI in its probe into the spectrum licenses granted during the NDA rule.”

[IndraD]

That is why CBI doesn't want to be under lokpal

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 815701.cms

Chidambaram may ask CBI to investigate RTI activist murder

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 823267.cms

lokpal to sound death knell for CBI, CVC
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... corruption

[IndraD]

Baba Ramdev in ED net over FEMA violation
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 820758.cms

[vijayk]

There will be continuous efforts of the DARK media, Sonia CON party and her chamchas to keep the CON DIE-nasty in power.

There will be attacks on BJP, RSS more and more and a campaign to discredit in order to save the face of CON DIE-nasty.

The problem is BJP has not realized how to play the game.

This is the game of SONIA, cronies, LEFTISTS who are chamchas of the DIE-nasty

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?278032

Most of the non-government members of the all powerful National Advisory Council (NAC) have been members of influential NGOs/CSOs. Their legitimacy comes primarily from the fact that they were handpicked by Sonia Gandhi as her personal advisors. When questioned about the legitimacy of NAC, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari is on record saying:

"NAC members are constructive but Anna Hazare's team is the destructive face of CSOs."

Today, neither the BJP with its internal disarray, nor any left party is in a position to offer solid opposition to the Congress led government because their track record is no better than that of the Congress. But the anti corruption movement is capable of inflicting a serious dent into the Congress party's vote share. That is why Congressmen are panicking.

The message is clear: NGOs/CSOs, who serve the Congress party's interest, either overtly or covertly, are "constructive" and therefore welcome. Those who don't are to be treated as predators and deserve a suitable drubbing. For this loyalty test the Congress Party has set simple criteria-assurance of obsessive, aggressive and incessant BJP and Modi bashing no matter what the occasion, no matter what the issue-because the Congress party knows it can ride back to power only if voters believe BJP is even worse than the Congress.

The youth are particularly vulnerable to symbolism as practiced by the CON masters and their agents.

BJP/RSS has to create an image of reconciliation to break of the box they are arrested.


1. Go and organize few community (Hindu/Muslim) understanding sabhas with moderate leaders of muslim community and keep it in the news.
2. Organize few youth conferences/competitions on this topics all over India.
3. Conduct some sensitivity training for their cadre and other citizens Hindus and Muslims, OBCs, SCs/STs showing that they are engaging all sections. Get young faces in front of these crows and keep pushing the message. Always keep national flag in all these meeting to reinforce the concept of unity.
4. Image building and projection is an important part in this day and age. That is what the DIE-nasty is doing for Rahul but BJP buffoons are sleeping at their wheels.

Otherwise, believe me, BJP is not even on the radar of the young people. My 20 year old nephew/nieces flock to LokSatta or AnnaSatta and don't even consider BJP as an alternative.

Of course, politically they have to keep pounding CON party on SWISS accounts and why the accounts are still hidden. The goal is to project a softer image not meaner image.

[Jarita]

Baba Ramdev in ED net over FEMA violation
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 820758.cms

Guess CBI does not care about credibility anymore. Couple this with the Maran letoff and who trusts CBI anymore.
What is surprising is how blatant the congress has become in using institutions to subvert democracy. They just don't care that it is evident for all. Especially in this age of information, either this behavior is driven by a sense of invincibility or abject desperation.

Pathetic

[vishvak]

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kash ... 49658.html
Anna invited over in Kashmir

Movements like following can also invite Annaji, one has to make the most of this:

1) Kashmiri Pandits' human rights and Panoon Kashmir

2) Anti-Sikh riots

3) Terrorism in the north East, attacks on trains carrying Hindu pilgrims, banning Hindu festivals, etc.

4) Illegitimate conversions

5) Implementation of 6th Pay Commission Regulations for the defense personnel

6) Illegal influx of Bangladeshis

7) State looting temple funds by passing dozens of legislation across states and Silence on grab of temple lands and assets by state/goondas

8 ) Lack of equality of Tamils in Shri Lanka, Generally Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan & Bangladesh, etc.

etc.

[Aditya_V]

quote="chetak"]Anna gets a call from Srinagar: Help find truth behind unmarked graves

Sep 01, 2011

Srinagar Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asked Anna Hazare and his team of civil society activists to help prevent killings of innocent civilians in the Valley./quote]

Anna, have you seen my socks?

The fact that the Hurrirat's, A.Roy's, Irom Sharmila's and list of NGO's are jumping in Trying to cut Anna to size indicates a lot of vested interests have invested in the UPA Government. Remember the Western Banks would not want someone to cut out a major source of interest free capital.

[IndraD]

^^^ Anna is going to NE to oppose a Hydel power project. Will he address issues of conversion terrorism etc? Only time will tell.

. What if from stage he announced 'I hear some feel this movement is not joined by muslim & dalit, I do not feel same' but he chose to be politically correct and get soup/water from dalit muslim girl. It wasn't necessary.

[Sushupti]

Governor Kamla Beniwal herself was accused of illegal land allotment when she was minister in Rajasthan


http://deshgujarat.com/2011/09/01/gover ... rajasthan/

[IndraD]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 823675.cms

If Raja followed govt policy to paisa kaha gaya..who will answer? CBI will do satyanash of case keeping up their tradition.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 826110.cms

Rs 10 000 crore FEMA violation in 2G scam-ED tells court

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... lenews_wsj

India needs a tea party

To begin with, India's urban middle classes have long opted out of electoral politics. About 70% of India's voters live in villages, and even in the cities the middle class tends to outnumbered by the poor and semi-literate. Many working professionals—the backbone of democracy in advanced societies—believe they aren't a large enough constituency to influence policy and don't even bother to vote.

The consequences of this dysfunctional political culture become clear if you compare the Hazare protests with the Tea Party movement in the U.S. In both cases, a large chunk of the middle class has decided that politics as usual is not delivering the right policies. But while the Hazare movement holds itself above politics, the Tea Party has quickly turned itself into a force in the Republican Party and thrown up a clutch of prominent politicians including Michele Bachmann, Rand Paul and Nikki Hale.#

Much of the blame for this kind of political culture in India lies with moribund political parties. They trawl for votes from a majority long conditioned to think in terms of caste, faith and government handouts rather than efficiency or probity which the middle classes care about.

Worse, most parties tend to be fiefdoms whose leadership is passed down like a family heirloom, whereas the middle classes have prospered from and would hence prefer a meritocracy. If, as appears likely, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi takes formal control of the Congress Party from his mother, he'll belong to the fifth generation of his family to have done so. Nor is the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party immune to this disease. The most prominent young BJP members of Parliament are almost uniformly the children of politicians.

My Q is-can middle class it self become a vote bank?

[gakakkad]

30% India is the middle class. (probably more) . Surely middle class is a votebank.

[Sanku]

30% India is the middle class. (probably more) . Surely middle class is a votebank.

By what yard stick is 30% middle class? Please explain the demographics.

[gakakkad]

^^^ Household disposable cash between 2 lakh and 10 lakh. Was estimated @ 5 crores in 2005 . Now it is estimated at about 30 crores. Difficult to estimate. But indirect estimates like number of Internet connections , car sales per year etc gives a reasonably good idea.

[sanjeevpunj]

Sanku ji, and Gakkakad ji,

The middle class segment is the fastest growing segment, but it still might be much less than 30%.
According to a report by Deutsche Bank Research, source http://www.dbresearch.de/PROD/DBR_INTER ... 253735.pdf
The middle class in India
Issues and opportunities 5th February 2010.

The middle class is not (yet) the biggest segment of India’s overall
population. Given all the attention focused on India‟s middle class in recent
years, it is important to keep a proper perspective on its size and potential
purchasing power. While there is no official definition of the middle class,
estimates range from 30 million to approximately 300 million people. Even using
the most generous estimates of the group‟s size, the middle class comprises
less than 30 percent of the population. Thus, the rich and the poor combined far
outweigh the Indian middle class. The importance of the middle class lies in the
fact that it is the fastest growing segment of the population.

Another angle- According to McKinsey's picture of India by 2025, Indian Middle class will increase from 5% (in 2005) to 20% in 2015 and then to 40% (in 2025).
Poverty will go down from 55% to 20%. Lower class will hover around 40%.

[gakakkad]

Lower class will hover around 40%.

Lower class of US too is around 40 %.Please don't say that standards are different. Because direct conversion of $ to rupee may give people a false estimate American prosperity . For Instance 10k / year income for a family of 4 in US will be poor. While in India it will be middle class. But the fact is that with 10k / year in US you cannot even get an year supply of food for four. But such a guy in India would live comfortably. Not with luxuried like AC etc . But surely sustainably.

It is impossible to get below that. As per some economist even the figure of 30% may be an underestimate even today.

The estimates of 30% Indian middle class is surely correct. 10 crore Indian households have Internet connections. Assuming the size of household to be 3.5 we can assume that 35 crore people in India can access Internet through homes. If we assume that all of these are middle class than the figure of 35% stands.

[IndraD]

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/det ... 0211/oth05

Irom Sharmila shocked by reporting of NDTV

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110829/j ... 436619.jsp

Aamir supports Irom Sharmila

I hope stars and others will assess and read about case before throwing their weight behind

Arvind Kejriwal asked to pay Rs 9 lakhs before he can be relieved from IRS job

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 828654.cms