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

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 04 Nov 2011 17:28

Anna changes tack, says will campaign against UPA in 5 states'

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 04 Nov 2011 21:02

So speaking truth is a new low?

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 04 Nov 2011 21:51

This is a tweet from Tehelka:

Nitin Gadkari: "Even if Barkha Dutt or CPI(M) protests for the good of the country, we will be with them."

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 04 Nov 2011 23:22

Inder Sharma wrote:Congress is trying to Sharia-ize the Consitution for the Dalits, connecting it to their ethno-religious self identity. This first became evident when NDA govt started talking about Constitutional Amendment that would have debarred Foreign Nationals from holding key offices. It was during that time, when the Congress affiliated Dalit groupings had threatened with street action: was the “Sanctity” of Ambedkar’s constitution compromised.

Then the congress is closely aligned with the western EJ lobby who designed these strategies. Congress is working for enemy entities

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 04 Nov 2011 23:33

[quote="JaritaThen the congress is closely aligned with the western EJ lobby who designed these strategies. Congress is working for enemy entities

[/quote]

S.S and Rajiv Malhotra have been crying hoarse to wake Indics up. Congress is secular so it takes money from Saudis also. MKG was prescient when he advised the abadonement of Congress but got eliminated by his Shishya.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 05 Nov 2011 01:08

Jarita wrote:^^^ Classic beeb - trying to make up stuff on the faultlines. Given our 1.2bn population you can certainly find SC's who are suspicious of Hazare

That not just beeb. It is INC too.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 05 Nov 2011 13:49

UP top cop speaks up against graft, sent to mental clinic

Talking to the journalists in his office located in Indira Bhawan, Mishra said “main Anna Hazare ka smarthak hoon (I support Anna’s campaign against corruption)”.

“I know the state government would punish me for speaking over corruption but I would follow the Gandhian path and continue to speak against corruption,” he said

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 05 Nov 2011 13:52

Advani differs with Team Anna, says Right to Recall may destabilise structure

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Nov 2011 17:14

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 618350.cms

The Anna/Blogger controversy above and Anna's retort below...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 619224.cms

As a new controversy broke out over his unpublished blog on restructuring his team, Anna Hazare on Saturday admitted that he had thought of changing his team many times but said nothing should be inferred till he announces a final decision.

"I have thought of changing my team many times as I heard about the allegations again and again. But you cannot say anything till I announce my decision," he said.

"I used to feel that allegations which people made against Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan were true. That was why I was thinking, should I make some changes in the Team... But now I have understood that crores of rupees have been spent to tarnish our image," he said.

Hazare, who said he will block his blog soon after he reaches Ralegan Siddhi, suspected that there was a conspiracy against him and his team.

Asked whether the letter posted in the website was his, Hazare said, "if there is my signature in the letter, then only you consider it as a mine. If the signature is not there, then its not mine."

The fall-out between Hazare and Raju Parulekar, his blogger, came as the Gandhian claimed that he never ever spoke to the journalist or met him on the issue of restructuring of core committee and forming a new Pan-Indian organisation with immediate effect.

Parulekar posted his version as well as an unpublished blog by Hazare in Marathi along with its English translation in the Gandhian's blog this morning, claiming that he had not uploaded an order dictated by Hazare after October 30 following a core committee meeting asking to hold the core team.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Nov 2011 17:34

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=740493

The vendetta against Team Anna runs deep...

Arvind Kejriwal, a key member of Team Anna, today alleged that government agencies were tapping the phones of Anna Hazare's associates.

A telephone conversation between him and an assistant of Hazare's was tapped by Delhi police a day before Hazare ended his maun-vrat (vow of silence)," he said here, talking at the conclave `Goa Think Fest'.

"We are hounded out. Chased. Telephones are tapped," he said.

A day before the Gandhian activist ended his maun-vrat, his assistant read out to Kejriwal, over phone, a message that Hazare wanted to come to Delhi and sit at Rajghat for 15 minutes.

Hazare wanted no publicity for this, Kejriwal said. However, "within 15 minutes of the phone call, I received a call from police, asking about Anna's Rajghat plan," Kejriwal alleged.

"You can tap phones of the people who are into anti-national activities. Is Anna anti-national? Am I anti-national?" he said.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Nov 2011 19:23

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-s ... /215379?hp

Think Fest in Goa - Debating the Jan LokPal Bill (Arvind Kejriwal etc.)

sum · Post by **sum** » 05 Nov 2011 21:17

Pratyush wrote:UP top cop speaks up against graft, sent to mental clinic

Talking to the journalists in his office located in Indira Bhawan, Mishra said “main Anna Hazare ka smarthak hoon (I support Anna’s campaign against corruption)”.

“I know the state government would punish me for speaking over corruption but I would follow the Gandhian path and continue to speak against corruption,” he said

How is it that even one babu doesn't ever utter a word against any INC neta and all conveniently only happen against anti-INC netas?

If a babu manages to utter that Rajmata is corrupt, the DDM itself will rush forward and admit him to a asylum before he could even complete his sentence!!!

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 05 Nov 2011 21:56

@rk_patil001 : Insha Allah, this month UPA doomed. Mid term poll Feb-March--since voter rolls not ready.MMS will be kaam chalao PM till then

http://twitter.com/#!/swamy39

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 06 Nov 2011 19:47

http://newsinsight.net/archivedebates/n ... recno=2213

The first option when things fail is to change the leader, in this case, the head of government, Manmohan Singh. The PM's personal honesty is to no avail when he leads India's most corrupt government since Independence.
So why can't he be removed? Removing Manmohan Singh abruptly could create a stink and a scandal. But the Congress has ways to get him to go. It could always unleash Digvijay Singh. Being timid, Manmohan Singh will provide any excuse that is needed and leave.
Some of those excuses may well be true. The PM has health issues. His officials say so. Anyone in his late seventies would naturally have them. His family is also distraught that his clean image is being daily destroyed by his government's corruption.
So why doesn't Manmohan Singh quit? Maybe he is ambitious. Or perhaps his loyalty to the Gandhis prevents him from taking an extreme step. But then why isn't the Congress leadership asking him to go? After Manmohan Singh's spectacular failure, why is he being retained?
In truth, the Congress has no alternative to Manmohan Singh. At a pinch, A.K.Anthony may officiate. But he is no Manmohan Singh. Despite Manmohan Singh's failure, his clean image is desperately needed for the UPA to sputter along.
So unless something unexpected happens, don't imagine the PM is going. Neither Pranab Mukherjee nor P.Chidambaram will replace him. And Rahul Gandhi won't come anywhere near the prime-ministership for the foreseeable future.
Now if Manmohan Singh is so indispensible, why doesn't the Congress leadership let him perform? Why doesn't it give him a carte blanche to clean up the government, sack the corrupt and non-performing ministers, and prove Aziz Premji wrong in short time?
Ah, no. That won't do. The basis of the power-sharing arrangement between Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh since 2004 is to concentrate power in her. How can Manmohan Singh be given a free hand? How can he be made powerful?
If a non-dynast succeeds, won't it cut into the dynasty's mystique and USP? Won't it make the dynasty potentially dispensable? When Rahul Gandhi is not ready, can such risks be taken?
So quit thinking things will change. Manmohan Singh can never become powerful. His cabinet ministers will remain out of his control. And the situation on every front -- prices, indecision, corruption, non-governance -- will worsen.
There is, however, a third option. The Congress/ UPA could go for snap polls. If you believe political commentators, there is no alternative to the Congress today. The BJP is weak. The rest of the opposition is fragmented.
So if there are elections, the UPA will come back.
If the UPA returns, obviously it does not have to answer to charges of rampant corruption, paralysis in government, runaway prices, and so on. Being re-elected means the voters reject these charges and repose great faith in the UPA.
If you believe the political commentators, that is what the Congress leadership should do: Go for immediate polls. It will win them convincingly.
So why isn't the Congress leadership cutting its term midway and proceeding to the polls? If the BJP and the remaining opposition are so weak, why isn't it taking them on?
Because, like the first two options, this is a non-option. The Congress/ UPA leadership knows it is not winning. It may not believe it is losing. But it may have, after Hissar and all the other factors taken together, reason to believe it is not winning.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 06 Nov 2011 22:54

Third alternative is MMS doesn't want to quit to make way for worse figureheads. He knows the problems and the capacity of the INC herd. IOW he is thinking beyond the party.

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 07 Nov 2011 01:06

Baba Ramdev Plays Kabaddi at Moga during Kabaddi World Cup.

Can we say that of Rahul Baba?

SBajwa · Post by **SBajwa** » 07 Nov 2011 01:08

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 07 Nov 2011 03:13

Rahul Baba will most probably need pure Columbian before getting into the Kabaadi Match.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 07 Nov 2011 04:58

it's good to see BRD going about his business completely ignoring the random ramblings of Doggy Singh and others. this is good. the man is clearly showing his maturity when he refuses to wallow in self pity and also refuses to even consider DVS and other response-worthy.....he might be thinking long term here. he probably learned the lessons very well. he will continue his yatras and connecting with people. his true potential will come into play after the "initial" avenues of exploration, like AH, are all exhausted...

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 07 Nov 2011 05:29

per this site
http://exploredia.com/richest-politicians-in-the-world/

Soina's net worth is $18.66 billion.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 07 Nov 2011 07:28

RD's behavior is in such contrast with MMS's refusal to inagurate Khalsa Heritage compelx and Mohali airport. Real MMS= Maha Madam Sonia's order takes priority over any promotion of country's very own social and cultural values/events.

csaurabh · Post by **csaurabh** » 07 Nov 2011 11:13

RD is thinking long term which is a good thing. The short term solution may be to kick out the congress. Don't get me wrong that too is absolutely necessary. But what is to prevent them from coming back to power in a couple years like in IGs time . And corruption is more than one party. All parties have corruption to some extent, and it is pervasive in beaurocrats and civil servants. Other short term demands like bringing back black money from Swiss banks ( most of which is already gone over the last few months ), passing Lokpal bill , can easily be subverted by congress. The true solution is to bring back nationalist thinking at grassroots level. And he is the only one who can do that.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 07 Nov 2011 14:52

Politicians can learn from how Team Anna used social media: Tharoor

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 07 Nov 2011 15:07

Anna to restructure his team to an all inclusive core committee

WTF, Kind of bull $HIT is this. Well in this county everything can be subverted in the name of inclusion of Dalits and muslims and Blah and Blah. If he is going to bend to criticism in this manner then there is no hope that this movement can ever achieve results. It is as if the fight against corruption is different for different communities.

With his team rocked by controversies, Anna Hazare today said he plans to restructure his Core Committee to also give representation to religious minorities, tribals, dalits and youths to strengthen the campaign against corruption. Hazare also hit out at the UPA government for targeting the key members of his team, alleging that those who are threatened by the Lokpal movement are attacking his supporters and close aides and trying to break his team.

“They fear that their political career will be jeopardized if a strong Lokpal mechanism comes into effect,” he said in Ralegaon Sidhi.

The social activist’s move to restructure his core team came against the backdrop of allegations that he was being misguided and used by his team members to fulfill their political agenda. Some key members in Team Anna – Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kegriwal – also faced alleged financial irregularities. “We will take all sections in the Core Committee, Dalits, Muslims, Adivasis and all others. Nobody should complain that they were not given a chance,” the anti-corruption crusader said.

“Even youth will be well represented. Youth’s power in Committee is extremely necessary. Youths from different communities will be picked for the Committee,” he added. Hazare recalled that when the Core Committee was formed there were complaints from some sections they were not not given representation. “That Committee was for two-and-a-half months. But the Committee that we will form now will be for a much longer period,” he added.

Hazare said he and his team will not be cowed down by anyone and challenged the government to show any evidence of misconduct or irregularities committed by his team members. ”We have nothing to fear. The government is free to conduct any investigation against any of our team members but our fight against corruption will continue. Do it(the inquiry) not once but four times,” he added.

Bedi is under the scanner regarding some inflated air travel bills while Kejriwal faced allegations of diverting funds to his trust. Plagued by controversies, Team Anna is also approaching retired judges requesting them to become part of a committee to be set up the civil society to probe the allegations against some of its members.

PTI

sum · Post by **sum** » 07 Nov 2011 15:11

^^ and how would that youth have become the "voice of the community" he belongs?

Will they choose a muslim RSS/BJP member or a OBC like Narenda Modi? What is the criterion for these token person being taken from each community?

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 07 Nov 2011 15:13

Anna has just destroyed the integrity of his movement. How will he insure that the people he will select now are those who are the most deserving to lead the fight. Its all the way down from now.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 07 Nov 2011 15:24

This Anna Movement will fade out slowly now and instead someone else or something else will take the center stage.
Their "15 minutes of fame" are up and we as a nation of quick sound bytes need more drama and action and not just fasting,silence and candle light vigils.
Anna has played his role and paved way for the next leader to appear.
We are currently in the phase of skirmishes while the actual battle lies further down the road.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 07 Nov 2011 15:38

By accommodating the worst from of social pandering the movement has shown a loss will power which brought the GOI to its knees in August.

I am deeply disappointed by what has happened. Some on the the BRF had commented during the April agitation, when IAC removed the poster of Bharat Mata as an evidence of what Team Anna stood for.

I had disregarded that act as an act of momentary misjudgement by Team Anna. Today I release just how astute that observation had been.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 07 Nov 2011 15:51

Hazare overestimating his version of Lokpal Bill: Digvijaya

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 07 Nov 2011 16:12

Ravi Shankar ji on Anti Corruption Yatra in UP

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/sri-s ... esh-147487

***

Ravi Shankarji In an interview:

Q) You have been an active participant in the India Against Corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare. However once a spiritual master enters the political arena, he will be criticised like any other politician. Are you prepared for this? Will not your devotees get dvesh bhav for your critics?

A) A yogi doesn't mind criticism at all. All the brahmagyanis in the past have been criticized including Lord Krishna. A saadhak should not get into dwesha bhaav. At most, knowing that criticism is out of ignorance, he can have a good laugh about it.

Q) The Congress sees all sages as a group which is politically saffron (close to BJP/ RSS). Aren't you reinforcing this impression by praising Nitin Gadkari and asking for the BJP's help over Jan Lokpal? Shouldn't the distinction between spiritual saffron and political saffron be maintained?

A) If Congress has an untouchable attitude towards spiritual and religious gurus, it is their problem. It is wrong to think that, to please the minorities, you have to keep away from spiritual sages and gurus.

My nature is to praise people for the good work they have done, irrespective of their political affiliations. Earlier in the month of June, I released the book of KPCC President, R.V.Deshpande, who also happens to be an Art of Living devotee. And now, Nitin Gadkari requested me to release his work. I did acknowledge the good work he had done in Vidarbha region. Same with other Congress ministers Dr. Karan Singh, Patangrao Kadam, Veerappa Moily, Satej Patil, etc. Last year, I also appreciated and complimented Veerappa Moily at the Times Foundation function when he received the Moorti Devi award. Similarly many other senior Congress people have come in touch with the Art of Living. If and when they have done some good social work we have always acknowledged them. Politics and the party affiliation is only one aspect. A human being is much more than politics and we need to recognize that.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 07 Nov 2011 16:57

Another Swamy-ji is active

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/202 ... ainst.html

Swamy to file complaint with CBI against foreign bank accounts

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 07 Nov 2011 19:07

scami anadi ass to take part in Big boss..

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/r ... se_1608943

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 07 Nov 2011 20:39

I fully support bringing in Tribals and Dalits. for one thing, if Anna decides to focus on repealing some of the anti-Tribal laws that were instituted by the British, I will be very glad. there used to be a system of communication and interaction for the Tribals, before the British, that allowed to have a lot of autonomy in their forests and at the same time included them in the broader socio-political system of the state they were part of. British policies destroyed that. if Anna can do something about that, it will be a first step in the decolonization of the Indian Politico-Legal setup....

SandeepA · Post by **SandeepA** » 07 Nov 2011 20:49

Don't even know what to expect here...

Swami Agnivesh to enter reality show 'Bigg Boss'

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 08 Nov 2011 07:48

csaurabh wrote:RD is thinking long term which is a good thing. The short term solution may be to kick out the congress. Don't get me wrong that too is absolutely necessary. But what is to prevent them from coming back to power in a couple years like in IGs time . And corruption is more than one party. All parties have corruption to some extent, and it is pervasive in beaurocrats and civil servants. Other short term demands like bringing back black money from Swiss banks ( most of which is already gone over the last few months ), passing Lokpal bill , can easily be subverted by congress. The true solution is to bring back nationalist thinking at grassroots level. And he is the only one who can do that.

Will the current demographic changes in the country allow that

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 08 Nov 2011 11:15

SandeepA wrote:Don't even know what to expect here...

Swami Agnivesh to enter reality show 'Bigg Boss'

This guy is just a Swami for namesake, he is really Dongi-swami who is just a political player with strong connections to Maoists, leftists , Congress leaders and even Kashmiri separatists.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 08 Nov 2011 20:35

link

If there's one person who clearly should remain on silent mode, it is Shashi Tharoor. On October 30, while delivering a talk at the D.G. Vaishnav College in Chennai, he told his audience, whose mobile phones had started ringing, "During public meetings, the organisers usually request everybody to keep their cellphones in Manmohan Singh mode. I guess they forgot to do the same here." But when the audience burst out laughing he did some damage control. "I was just joking. Our Prime Minister is the most efficient person I have ever seen." Too late.

Jokes apart, very curious.

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 08 Nov 2011 22:45

^ Interesting dig at MMS

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 08 Nov 2011 22:47

hnair wrote:link

If there's one person who clearly should remain on silent mode, it is Shashi Tharoor. On October 30, while delivering a talk at the D.G. Vaishnav College in Chennai, he told his audience, whose mobile phones had started ringing, "During public meetings, the organisers usually request everybody to keep their cellphones in Manmohan Singh mode. I guess they forgot to do the same here." But when the audience burst out laughing he did some damage control. "I was just joking. Our Prime Minister is the most efficient person I have ever seen." Too late.
Jokes apart, very curious.

He is batting for Maino. Maino is on a mission to put her son on the seat and MMS is in the way. There will be more congressis making slimey underhanded comments at MMS.

rajsunder · Post by **rajsunder** » 09 Nov 2011 01:00

SandeepA wrote:Don't even know what to expect here...

Swami Agnivesh to enter reality show 'Bigg Boss'

I think the con party is paying him for his loyalty through this channel. BTW how much do these big boss candidates get?? last i remember Pamela Anderson got 5 crore rupees.