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

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Nov 2011 07:27

Foreign influence pervades the Government and the NGOs that are dependant on external funds for their projects. Because of their money-power, foreign funding organisations command an influence in finalising the agenda of sovereign nations

Nothing could be funnier. After giving free play to foreign influence-peddlers, the Congress, the dominant component of the UPA Government, is back to blaming the ‘foreign hand’ for stirring trouble in the country, as it did during late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s time. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is enquiring into the activities of 10 NGOs, recipients of funds from outside, for inciting unrest.

The focus of the ruling dispensation’s animus are said to be Gandhian Anna Hazare and his team and other civil rights groups that, since early this year, have been campaigning against corruption or on other emotive issues.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal had debunked team Anna, while Gandhi family loyalist Digvijay Singh had blamed the RSS for the Baba Ramdev-led campaign to get back black money from secret bank accounts abroad — as if such a demand was anti-national. But, anxiety over being dislodged from office rather than concern for the nation seemed to prompt such diatribe.

In the present instance, investigators are reported to have honed in on Denmark as the provider of funds to NGOs that mask their diabolical intent behind civil liberties and anti-corruption rhetoric. While there is no reason to doubt that these organisations take their cue from whoever funds them, the UPA regime has woken up to the perils of unfettered foreign influence-peddling rather late.

Apparently, the Indian Ambassador to Denmark has reported that the new Minister for Development Cooperation plans to deploy Danish Government aid for development “as a tool to generate popular unrest in recipient countries”. Actually, Indian officials should be ashamed that it took them so long to concede the truth about aid money, whether it comes from the US, UK or some other donor-nation. There are no free meals, ever.

Graham Hancock’s path-breaking 1989 expose, Lords of Poverty: The Power, Prestige, and Corruption of the International Aid Business, bared the truth about the vicious cycle of international aid/funding and consequent dependency and indebtedness of emerging nations. It ensures that poverty is never dispelled though billions of dollars are ostensibly poured into the charade of dispelling it. A sinister spin-off is insurgency, rebellion and regime changes at the behest of alien forces.

Our policy-makers and leaders, intellectuals and civil activists/professional do-gooders need to acknowledge publicly the deadly machinations underlying aid and much of the foreign-funding. But the ruling coalition and its advisors will never do so as their game will be exposed.

For years, the Congress and its allies have genuflected to ‘foreign’ influence-peddlers, be it the Washington-based World Bank-International Monetary Fund combine, the European Union or other entities based in the West, that, after the British withdrawal from India in August 1947 — and liberation of most erstwhile colonies from the Western yoke — pursue an imperialist agenda via proxy rulers.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a few of his close advisors from World Bank-IMF-allied backgrounds in particular are seen as visibly pushing that agenda, reportedly foisted on sovereign nations by global banks and inconceivably powerful business cartels. The end result would be to keep people and countries in a state of perpetual bondage, just as colonialism did.

Aggressive free-market policies and the freedom enjoyed by banks, lending agencies and corporations ensure that most people remain impoverished or in debt as the bottom line is ‘profits’ for players. Government regulation, therefore, is being pruned down, with most people crushed by debt and want. That is what anti-Wall Street protesters and their ilk are demonstrating against.

The absurdity of a section of the ruling coalition accusing the foreign hand of stirring the cauldron of unrest is all the more evident. The Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council, a parallel and unconstitutional decision-making body, is crammed with civil activists, some of whom are recipients of foreign largesse and awards, bestowed by the very power and money cabal mentioned above, just as team Anna is apparently dominated by such individuals.

Funding and laurels are clearly an effective means to win friends and influence people, who, in turn, can be relied upon to help shape Government policies, and even subvert sovereignty by tinkering with the Constitution and laws.

The Union Home Ministry cites the example of the Right to Food Campaign — a showpiece of the UPA’s social justice plank — with Danish Minister Christian Friis Bach reportedly stating that a civil society group should sue our Government on the grounds that 400 million people did not have access to adequate food, though the Constitution guaranteed it as a fundamental right.

The Union Ministry needs to ask, who brought about this dismal state of affairs? The answer stares it in the face: Congress, which has ruled for the longest time and its allies. The disintegration of the former Soviet Union should serve to warn us about the outcome of uncurbed foreign influence-peddling.

Prior to its break up, thousands of foreign-funded NGOs, propagating openness and freedom and campaigning on all kinds of issues, mushroomed in the USSR. Nobel laureates, politicos, scientists, writers, artists, dancers — dissidents, feted by Western countries — joined the movement that led to its dissolution.

Here, Binayak Sen, jailed in Chhattisgarh for being anti-national, was released on bail reportedly under European Union’s pressure, and inducted into the Planning Commission’s panel on health. Many India-baiters are not part of Government but command the media’s and establishment’s respect because the West recognises them. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs.

vishvak · Post by **vishvak** » 28 Nov 2011 12:07

^^^^ So the Govt. of Denmark, a first world country, blatantly interferes. What makes Indian thinks twice about getting closer to Russia?

It is weird that Denmark peddles 'unrest' etc. as a style of its own foreign policies.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 28 Nov 2011 12:37

vishvak wrote:^^^^ So the Govt. of Denmark, a first world country, blatantly interferes. What makes Indian thinks twice about getting closer to Russia?

It is weird that Denmark peddles 'unrest' etc. as a style of its own foreign policies.

Not to mention their dubious role in the lankan affair via the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission!

Atri · Post by **Atri** » 28 Nov 2011 13:56

chetak wrote:
vishvak wrote:^^^^ So the Govt. of Denmark, a first world country, blatantly interferes. What makes Indian thinks twice about getting closer to Russia?

It is weird that Denmark peddles 'unrest' etc. as a style of its own foreign policies.
Not to mention their dubious role in the lankan affair via the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission!

Also the case of puruliya arms drop..

saptarishi · Post by **saptarishi** » 28 Nov 2011 15:00

Pranay wrote:http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=742760

Anna Hazare has been given permission by the local civic body to stage protest at the Ramlila Maidan here from December 27 if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed by Parliament during the ongoing Winter session.

The activists had applied to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) two days ago for allocation of the sprawling ground with a capacity of 30,000, and sources said they have been given the permission.

They said permission had been sought to hold the protest from December 27 to January 5.

"We will hold the protest and it will be led by Hazare," a senior Team Anna member said.

However, they are yet to get a No Objection Certificate from Delhi Police without which they will not be able to hold the protest, he said, adding it was not yet decided whether Hazare will go on a fast.

"The mode of protest will be finalised later," he said.

i am anna,,you are anna,,,venerable veteran returns. stage is set for anna part 3

baba ramdev should also join now
ANNA BABA AND CHALIS CHOR

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 28 Nov 2011 18:12

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 902477.cms

Stepping up pressure on the Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare has decided to hold a dharna here on December 11 if the Parliamentary Standing Committee's proposals on the bill were not to his satisfaction.

Team Anna said the 74-year-old activist will lead a day-long protest at Jantar Mantar if the Standing Committee does not come up with strong provisions in the bill.

"It all depends on the Standing Committee's proposals. Anna is planning to sit on a protest in Jantar Mantar on December 11 depending on the Standing Committee's recommendations," a senior Team Anna member said.

"Please join the dharna at Jantar Mantar on December 11 for a strong Janlokpal," Hazare was quoted as saying by his close aide Suresh Pathare.

The Parliamentary panel on Lokpal Bill is likely to submit its report before December 7. Team Anna has been insisting that the lower bureaucracy, higher judiciary, provisions for Citizen's Charter and setting up of Lokayuktas at the state level be brought under the ambit of the Bill.

Meanwhile, confusion prevailed over Hazare's protest plans at Ramlila Maidan from December 27 with MCD Standing Committee chairman Yogender Chandolia saying that the civic body has not given permission for the agitation there even as Team Anna insisted that it has got the nod.

"No permission has been given yet," Chandolia, a senior local BJP leader, said when asked about claims by Team Anna that it has been given the nod to use the Maidan from December 27 to January five for a protest in case the bill is not passed during Parliament's Winter Session.

However, a senior MCD official said permission has not been denied. "But permission has also not been given. We have received an application from Team Anna saying that it wants to book the Maidan," he said.

"Team Anna has stated that it wants the ground after the Winter Session. No dates were mentioned. We told them that we have to see the bookings. Now we are looking into it. If there are no bookings, it may get it," the official said.

Team Anna member Manish Sisodia said, "We have sought permission from MCD from December 27 and we have been granted permission to use the ground till January five."

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 28 Nov 2011 18:43

IAC has already started making its presence felt arround India gate.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 29 Nov 2011 19:50

Vehicle belonging to Team Anna seized

A vehicle carrying publicity material for India Against Corruption was seized by the Delhi Police on Monday evening.

According to IAC members, the vehicle that was being used to carry publicity material about the drafts of the Jan Lokpal Bill -- as envisaged by the Government and the one that is being sought by Team Anna -- was seized and taken to the Tilak Marg police station.

“We have been carrying posters and placards with information about the drafts of the Bill around the city, with a team member holding them up. On Monday around 7 p.m., we were asked to wind up and leave from near India Gate. Even as we were putting the material back into our vehicle, the police arrived and took it all away,” said a member of IAC.
Dharna

To protest against the police action, volunteers of IAC sat on a dharna outside the police station. “On being asked why the vehicle was seized, the police officers said they have orders from ‘above'. When we asked further, they refused to answer us,” the member said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Del ... 670643.ece

While IAC sources say they have approached Delhi Police for permission to hold the protests on December 4 and 11, cops said they were not aware of these plans and had only received word about the December 27 protest at Ramlila Maidan. "We will wait for the MCD to give its permission for Ramlila Maidan. Unless the MCD gives its permission , we cannot consider the case. We are yet to get the MCD permission letter," said a senior police officer.

The civic agency, on the other hand, is yet to process Team Anna's request. "We need a no-objection certificate (NoC) from Delhi Police before we book the park. We have informed Team Anna that Ramlila Maidan is available between December 27 and January 5. But official booking will be done once they submit the NoC," said YS Mann, director, press and Information , MCD.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatime ... permission

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 29 Nov 2011 22:51

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=742907

Putting the government on notice on Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare today threatened to go on an indefinite fast in Delhi from December 27 while terming that the draft report by Parliamentary Standing Committee as a "betrayal" of countrymen.

Hazare said he did want the government to "make a fool of us" on the issue. Hazare also announced that he will sit on a one-day fast in Delhi's Jantar Mantar on December 11.

In a bid pressurise Congress, the activist also sought to corner the ruling party saying he will tour the five poll- bound states and tell electorate how the government was betraying them on the Lokpal Bill.

The 74-year-old activist said his indefinite fast will be at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi from December 27 if a strong bill was not passed during the Winter session of Parliament. If it happens, it will be his third indefinite fast this year on the Lokpal issue.

"The government has assured us that there will be a strong Lokpal bill. We were given an assurance by the Parliament. Now the Standing Committee report is out. When I saw the report, I realised that they have again betrayed the countrymen again. Government has committed deceit," he said.

"What is strong about this Lokpal Bill? How is it powerful?" he told reporters here.

Hazare also sought to attack Manmohan Singh saying that despite the Prime Minister giving it in writing, the Standing Committee did not adhere to the assurances of Parliament.

Hazare wondered why NGOs and media were brought under the ambit of Lokpal. "On one hand, you are including media and NGOs but on the other hand, you do not want the Prime Minister and MPs. This is not fair," he said.

Prominent Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi also joined the chorus against the draft report, questioning the exclusion of judiciary from the ambit of the ombudsman while opposing inclusion of NGOs and media in it.

"Why is the Prime Minister afraid of submitting himself to the Lokpal? If you are clean, then there is no need to be scared," he said.

Hazare noted that Parliament has passed a resolution saying that lower bureaucracy will be included under the ambit of Lokpal besides providing for Citizen's Charter and setting up Lokayuktas in states.

"Now the Standing Committee says no even after the Prime Minister gives it in writing. What is this government all about? Now there is a change. There is a betrayal...We don't want the government to make a fool of us," he said adding the draft recommendations do not help in tackling corruption.

Hazare took exception to the exclusion of lower bureaucracy, judiciary and CBI under the ambit of Lokpal.

On the issue of lower bureaucracy, Hazare said if they are not included in the law, poor people will suffer. "We were demanding that every section, from top to bottom, under Lokpal. Poor people cannot get their work done without paying bribe," he said.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 00:17

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/the-bu ... eststories

The Lokpal Bill - movement ahead? Debate (A.M. Singhvi, Kiran Bedi, etc.)

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 00:45

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 934809.cms

The parliamentary committee on Lokpal Bill was on Wednesday sharply divided with members from BJP and the Left demanding inclusion of the Prime Minister within its ambit while those from Congress favoured coverage of the Prime Minister after he demits office.

There are some members, including those from smaller groups like BSP, SP and AIADMK who opposed the inclusion of the Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal.

Chairman of the standing committee on personnel and law and justice Abhishek Singhvi said after the meeting that the report has been "adopted" by the committee but opposition members contested this saying it cannot be considered as adopted till the time their dissent notes are submitted.

With Wednesday's meeting, the committee concluded its deliberations on the Lokpal Bill that was referred to it in August during the last session of Parliament that saw Anna Hazare calling off his fast at the Ramlila Maidan.

Members from BJP wanted inclusion of the Prime Minister with some safeguards and citizens' charter to be a part of the Lokpal institution. They also demanded the inclusion of the entire bureaucracy under the ambit of the ombudsman.

Congress members strongly opposed inclusion of the incumbent Prime Minister saying he could be covered after he demits office.

Samajwadi Party's main demand was to make the citizen's charter to be a part of the Lokpal.

Singhvi said the report to be tabled in Parliament will reflect dissent notes of members who have divergent views on "some" issues.

Members from CPM and AIADMK are also learnt to have differed on various aspects of the bill.

In the 30-member committee, there are nine members from Congress, one each from Trinamool Congress, RJD and LJP. BJP has seven members while CPM, AIADMK and SP have one member each. BJD and BSP also have one member each in the committee which also has two Independents and as many nominated members.

RSP and SDF also have one member each.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 03:38

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 937281.cms

Conceding a major Team Anna demand, the parliamentary committee examining the Lokpal Bill has decided to recommend that 57 lakh "Group C" central government employees - or the entire lower bureaucracy - be placed within the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman.

In a controversial decision, the panel also decided to exclude the prime minister from the Lokpal's jurisdiction as long as he holds office. This was at its final meeting to consider the bill on Wednesday.

BJP members decided to submit a note of dissent to protest against the omission of citizens' charter, grievance redressal mechanism and protection of whistleblowers from the legislation. BSP, the Left and SP will also put in dissenting notes on certain other reservations they have on the bill.

Inclusion of Group C employees should take care of cutting-edge corruption; the kind of extortion that the common man faces when seeking delivery of a whole range of services - from getting a passport to an FIR lodged. This section includes officials of the rank of police inspectors, clerks, supply inspectors and the like, in other words the bureaucracy that a regular person has to deal with.

The draft Lokpal bill now covers virtually the entire bureaucracy, taking care of the criticism that restricting the ambit to just Group A and B would have left people helpless against government employees who are the face of the government to an overwhelming part of the population.

Significantly, the Hazare group was not impressed by the concession. Prashant Bhushan described it as a marginal improvement while criticizing the exclusion of the PM while in office as unconstitutional. His colleague Kiran Bedi spoke in the same vein, setting the stage for a fresh confrontation.

"Inclusion of Group C employees is a marginal improvement but this will not satisfy us. The exclusion of the PM from the Lokpal's purview as long as he is in office is unconstitutional and is likely to be struck down. This is not good enough and will not affect our plans to protest," Bhushan said.

Kiran Bedi added, "Why not Group D too? It is already a part of Parliament resolution and the PM's letter. Do these commitments not have moral binding? CBI remains with government. So how does it help?"

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 03:43

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 752627.cms

Activist Aruna Roy-led National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) has supported the three demands laid down by Team Anna. NCPRI said that these demands - a citizens' charter, lokayukatas in states and inclusion of the entire bureaucracy -- should be built through a "most practical, appropriate and focused architecture".

Though NCPRI agreed with Team Anna that the entire bureaucracy should be covered, it felt that it would be too much for one institution to handle complaints against over 40 lakh public servants and "distract" the Lokpal from its primary task of combating high level corruption.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 01 Dec 2011 08:12

Need help!!

57 lakh class C employees

How many class ABCD employees or there in GoI and by state?

Need to read the AH's LPB again and internalize it. Looks close to my initial thought - make India2 (babudom/administration) answerable to India3=Bharat. Then INC and India 1 can do little damage.

This is the institutional structure that is needed.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 18:57

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 943184.cms

Ambedkar Village development minister Ratan Lal Aheerwar has resigned after being indicted by UP Lokayukta of corruption. He was found prima facie guilty of land grabbing and misuse of MLA fund and Bundelkhand development fund.

Aheerwal is the fifth UP minister who had to resign after being indicted by Lokayukta in last one year. Panchayati Raj minister and BSP state president Swami Prasad Maurya has been handed over the charge of Ambedkar Village Development department after Aheerwar's removal.

According to senior government officoals, Aheerwar was called by UP chief minister Mayawati and asked to put his papers as recommended by Lokayukta justice (rtd) NK Mehrotra in his report. The Lokayukta had asked chief minister to order a thorough probe by a specialized state government agency and remove Aheerwar from the post of minister so that he cannot influence the inquiry.

The Lokayukta has also recommended recovery of the money that he has misused.

The complaints against Aheerwar included diverting Rs 27 lakh of his MLA fund for construction of a school run by his family. He was also accused of grabbing government land and anomalies to the tune of Rs 9.50 lakh in Bundelkhand development fund and pressuring government officials to flout norms.

The Lokayukta took the decision after verifying evidences produced by complainant against the minister. Justice Mehrotra also took into account the defece put up by Aheerwar.

In his report, the Lokayukta has also mentioned that in July 2010, Ahirwar along with his two sons was sentenced to one-year imprisonment by a Madhya Pradesh court for possession of illegal arms

Earlier, five ministers - religious affairs minister Rajesh Tripathi, animal husbandry minister Awadhpal Singh Yadav, secondary education minister Rangnath Mishra and labour Badshah Singh - were made to resign by Mayawati on Lokayukta's report. At the same time, Lokayukta so far has dropped charges against seven ministers for want of evidence.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 01 Dec 2011 21:21

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lokpal-panel ... 37-64.html

This flip-flop by the Congress shows that there is a very well entrenched section within the party that has and is still trying it's very best to scuttle the Jan Lokpal Bill, come what may.

It's Kolaveri time...

Differences have cropped in the Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday on the Lokpal Bill, especially over the inclusion of Group C bureaucrats.

There was U-turn by the Congress members who demanded removal of Group C bureaucrats from the ambit of Lokpal, while BJP, CPM, BSP, SP demanded their inclusion, sources claimed.

They said that why Congress was backtracking as this has gone against the sense of Parliament given by Pranab Mukherjee in August.

BJP leaders wanted inclusion of Group C as dissent. There was no discussion on the Prime Minister inclusion in Lokpal, sources said.

Decision to exclude Group C was taken after core group meeting. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Law Minister Salman Khurshid had met congress core group on this issue, sources added.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 01 Dec 2011 22:07

Lokpal: Neither Congress nor Team Anna holds the aces

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Dec 2011 04:37

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=743139

Overturning its two key decisions within a day, the Parliamentary panel examining the Lokpal Bill today favoured exclusion of group C officials from Lokpal and not to tamper with the present selection process of CBI Director despite opposition by at least 10 members.

A day after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law and Justice had finalised its report on the Lokpal Bill, its Chairman Abhishek Singhvi called an emergency meeting this evening to discuss the two issues afresh.

In the meeting, several members, mostly from Congress, said group C officials should not be brought under Lokpal as it would bring "too much pressure" on a new institution.

They also said the appointment of CBI Director was not under the jurisdiction of the Committee as the Lokpal Bill was aimed at creating the institution of the ombudsman.

At least ten members, mainly from BJP, SP, CPI-M and RSP opposed the "sudden U turn" saying a decision taken by the Committee cannot be amended. "If they have reservations, they should give a dissent note," BJP member Kirti Azad said.

However, ignoring their contention, Singhvi is learnt to have agreed with the exclusion of group C employees and not tinkering with the selection process of the CBI chief.

Congress sources said "the sense of the meeting" overwhelmingly was to exclude group C and not to change the appointment procedure for CBI Director.

Yesterday, the Committee had favoured including group C employees under Lokpal's purview and have a new selection committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Lokpal Chairman.

In the 30-member Committee, there are nine members from Congress, one each from Trinamool Congress, RJD and LJP. BJP has seven members while CPI-M, AIADMK and SP have one member each. BJD and BSP also have one member each in the Committee which also has two Independents and as many nominated members.

RSP and SDF also have one member each.

The trigger of today's meeting was the letters written by Shantaram Naik (Cong) and Bhalchandra Mungerkar (Nominated, who later joined Congress).

The two had flagged the two issues and asked Singhvi to call as meeting to discuss the same.

Six of the seven BJP members today submitted their dissent notes to Committee Chairman Abhishek Singhvi and said its Rajya Sabha member Ram Jethmalani will do the same tomorrow.

BJP's dissent note is on non-inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal, exclusion of the lower bureaucracy and not having the public grievances mechanism as part of the Lokpal institution.

RSP member Prasanta Kumar Majumdar also registered his dissent on non-inclusion of the Prime Minister within the purview of Lokpal.

SP member Shailendra Kumar said he would submit his dissent note on non-inclusion of group C employees under the ambit of Lokpal and not having the mechanism of public grievance under the Lokpal system.

Some Congress members later explained that their change of stand claiming that after the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, there is virtually no difference between group C and D employees.

"As it is, the patwaris, tehsildars and SHOs who actually are known to take bribe are state government employees and are covered under Lokayukta, Prevention of Corruption Act and other penal provisions," a Congress member said.

The Congress members said group C and D officials of the central government are covered by the CVC, hence overloading the new institution of Lokpal would not be advisable.

"If the experiment of group A and B is good, then more categories can be included later," the member said.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Dec 2011 05:22

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indi ... 59569.html

A very perceptive editorial by M.J. Akbar...

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Dec 2011 19:12

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 955875.cms

Team Anna will meet here for two days in the second week of December to chalk out its strategy for the proposed indefinite protest announced by Anna Hazare demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.

The meeting will be held on December 14 and 15 after Hazare holds a one-day protest in Jantar Mantar on December 11 to protest against the "watered down" report of parliamentary standing committee on Lokpal.

"We will sit and decide the mode of protest in the second week of December," prominent Team Anna member Manish Sisodia said.

Hazare has already announced that he will sit on an indefinite dharna from December 27 at Ramlila Maidan if Parliament does not pass a strong Lokpal Bill. Team Anna has already approached MCD and Delhi Police for permission.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Dec 2011 19:34

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 952508.cms

Both sides girding up for the final showdown?

Faced with an open confrontation with the opposition and the looming threat of Team Anna's next agitation, the Centre has roped in 11 ministers to act as spokespersons to project its point of view on government policies.

I&B minister Ambika Soni has written to 11 ministers of state asking them to disseminate information on contentious issues. The ministers include Pallam Raju, D Purandeswari, Milind Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rajiv Shukla, Ashwini Kumar, Krishna Tirath, Ajay Maken, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasada and R P N Singh. The communication was sent out after the group of ministers (media) felt the government's view was not being highlighted adequately.

The ministers have also been given background notes on issues that have hit the headlines in recent weeks including inflation, FDI in retail and black money.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 02 Dec 2011 19:38

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 958837.cms

Bringing Rahul Gandhi in the line of fire, Anna Hazare on Friday alleged that Congress might have taken a U-turn on contentious issues of lower bureaucracy and CBI in Lokpal under his instructions and claimed that the government was delaying resolution of FDI imbroglio to avoid passing Jan Lokpal Bill in the winter session of Parliament.

Hazare launched a scathing attack on government, accusing it of dishonouring an assurance given by Parliament and later by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that lower bureaucracy, citizen's charter and setting up Lokayuktas through a central law will be included in Lokpal.

"I think there is no coordination in this government. Standing committee took a decision (on inclusion of Group C employees in Lokpal). I think after this decision was taken Rahul Gandhi must have told something else that no, no, no (it should not be taken).

"They operate under the instructions given by him. I think it is Rahul Gandhi who has instructed them not to include Group C and D employees under Lokpal. If you don't include this, public will teach you a lesson," he told reporters.

"May be Rahul Gandhi told (the Congress members on the panel) on phone not to bring these two-three issues," he said, adding "this is my guess. You know that when there is smoke there is fire. It is not necessary that the fire is seen."

Hazare's comments came a day after parliamentary standing committee on Lokpal decided against the inclusion of Group C employees under the ombudsman and to have a new set up to select CBI Director as against its earlier decision.

Asked why the government was not resolving the FDI imbroglio to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament, Hazare said he suspected that they were doing this as they do not want the Jan Lokpal Bill be passed.

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 02 Dec 2011 22:57

Varun Gandhi given SC notice. He was working against black money and gave the congi's nightmares during the lok pal stir..

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 02 Dec 2011 23:59

Pranay wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 958837.cms

"They operate under the instructions given by him. I think it is Rahul Gandhi who has instructed them not to include Group C and D employees under Lokpal. If you don't include this, public will teach you a lesson," he told reporters.

Could it be that the Mainos are banking on EVMs to brazen their way through the upcoming elections?

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 03 Dec 2011 00:21

^^^ They are trying to build a chimera of support through media, muslim reservations etc. That way, the manipulation can be subtle but they are hoping that the media blitzkrieg with give an illusion of support when they win through rigged EVMs. Even before 2G it is important that EVMs without a paper trail are removed.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 03 Dec 2011 02:12

http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-Cant-be-m ... 390464.cms

http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-Cant-be-m ... 390474.cms

Arnab Goswami / A. M. Singhvi debate on Jan Lokpal Bill...

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 03 Dec 2011 21:08

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16003576

Corruption is everywhere, from the organisation of the Commonwealth Games to match fixing, from getting a driving licence to getting a divorce. Everyone is playing the game. Indeed, some wise commentators have argued that there is no such thing as corruption in India because what people in the West define as corruption is simply ordinary life in the subcontinent.

But we should beware of wise commentators. Because what's also remarkable about modern India are the efforts of people to protest against corruption. In India people define corruption in the same way as sociology professors: "the abuse of public office for private gain". It is mistaken to think that people in India just accept corruption as common sense.

Perhaps the most interesting example of anti-corruption comes from a corner of rural eastern Uttar Pradesh. It was here in 1976 that a poor 15-year-old called Lal Bihari decided to go on the warpath. In that year Bihari's land was seized by an unscrupulous uncle. The uncle bribed government revenue officers to register Bihari as deceased. But Bihari didn't take this lying down. He quickly complained to officials. His appeals went unheeded.

But Bihari still persisted. In an extraordinary move he stage-managed a mock funeral for himself to publicise his case. Bihari quickly discovered that others had suffered the same fate, and so he launched a campaign on behalf of the many thousands of people in Uttar Pradesh who have been illegally declared dead.

Bihari's Dead People's Society ("mritak sangh" in Hindi) petitions on behalf of victims of corruption. It organises regular "skeleton rallies" in north Indian cities.

The Mritak Sangh has succeeded in bringing hundreds of people back to legal life, restoring to them their land and pride. It just goes to show, of course, that there is more than one way of being reincarnated in India.

But the serious point is that corruption is not taken for granted in India. Things can change

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Dec 2011 03:55

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 982233.cms

With serious egg on face of the Congress party and the Government re: FDI in Retail, it will be interesting to see how they handle this coming tsunami...

Hundreds of Anna Hazare supporters, carrying national flags and wearing T-shirts with his name, participated in a car and bike rally to build support for the activist's version of Lokpal bill--the Janlokpal bill.

About 400 cars and bikes participated in the rally organised by India Against Corruption (IAC), the umbrella organisation of Hazare's anti-graft movement, ahead of his planned protest at Jantar Mantar on December 11 to express their disappointment with the government's version of the anti-corruption law.

"We want to hear the high command, what does the high command want? If the high command wants the right kind of bill, it will come. It is the high command's word, which is final... What does the high command want?", asked Team Anna member Kiran Bedi during the rally here.

Waving flags, Bedi and some of her supporters sat on the hood of the car waved to people lined up on the two sides of the rally route.

The rally started from Rajghat in central Delhi and terminated at Tughlakabad Maidan in south Delhi.

Bedi also said there was a need to make people aware of government's moves on the Lokpal bill.

"We have to spread the word that the government is betraying us. Everyone doesn't have the knowledge about what is going on," the former IPS officer said.

Bedi and another Team Anna member and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan led the rally.

Jarita · Post by **Jarita** » 05 Dec 2011 05:53

Check this one out. Click on the link.

SEZ rules tweaked to allow real estate stakes for foreigners

Three specific cases were thereafter cited: DLF Ackruti Info Parks (Pune) Ltd., Aachvis Softech Pvt Ltd and Sterling Addlife Mundra Hospitals Pvt Ltd.

http://www.firstpost.com/blogs/sez-rule ... 46248.html

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 05 Dec 2011 06:50

The blind men say that Congress is opposing Janlokpal because Janlokpal will hurt Congress. God give them some vision !!
Congress is all set to lose 2014 election. BJP is all set to come in power in 2014.
Now in 2012, 9 people will appoint 11 Janlokpals who will rule till 2017. Who are these 9 people? Vice President, PM, Leader of Opposition, 2 Supreme judges, 2 High judges, CEC, CAG. Vice President , PM, CEC and CAG are Congress agents. Out of 4 judges, at least 2 will be Congress agents. So out of 9 people, at least 6 are congress agents. The remaining 3 can be co-errced. IOW, in 2012, Congress will manage to appoint 11 of its puppets as Janlokpal and rule them till 2017 !! Let a powerful Janlokpal come, after that --- Raaj karega Janlokpal. The majority in Parliament will become namesake and useless. And in 2017, 9 people plus 11 Janlokpals will appoint next 11 Janlokpals. So in 2017 too, Congress puppets will be in majority !!
If Congress had proposed Janlokpal in Apr-2011, all anti-Congress people would have smelled this rat long back. Thats why Congress opposed Janlokpal and paid media to highlight The Anna, so that all anti-Congress people start rallying behind a law that in reality benefits Congress elite.

RM Sahib Uvacha on Kitab e Chehra

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Dec 2011 18:58

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=743465

Team Anna today invited leaders of all parties to Jantar Mantar on December 11, when Anna Hazare plans to sit on a day-long fast, to put their views on Lokpal Bill, a deviation from its stand on previous occasions when it did not allow politicians to share its platform.

"December 11th, Jantar Mantar debate with no adjournments on Lokpal. Come, listen, ask questions and clarify doubts. Political representatives are invited to speak," activist Kiran Bedi tweeted.

A Team Anna spokesperson said formal invites are being sent to parties.

Hazare will be sitting on a day-long protest demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.

In the past, Hazare had said that he will not invite any politicians to his fast. He had said they can come and sit with protesters but cannot share dais or make speeches.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 05 Dec 2011 18:59

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=743436

Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan today dragged the Prime Minister's Office into the controversial CD issue involving his father Shanti Bhushan alleging that it was behind withholding a forensic report which said it was doctored.

His remarks came following an RTI reply that the forensic examination by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh shows that the CD was "doctored", contradicting findings of two other such tests.

Bhushan claimed that the PMO in response to an RTI of Subhash Aggarwal gave him only Delhi CFSL report and not the Chandigarh report.

"The interest taken by the Home Minister P Chidambaram in this matter and the PMO in revealing the Delhi CSFL report while withholding the Chandigarh CFSL report shows that the Government is behind the dissemination of this fabrication, if not the actual fabrication itself. This was the beginning of the repeated attempts by the Government to defame important members of the anti-corruption campaign - an attempt which continues till this day," Bhushan said.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 05 Dec 2011 22:57

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/s ... 111205.htm

The leadership vacuum in the Congress due to the lack of political stature in the party as well as the government has led to an undesirable abrasive style of politics poisoning the conduct and proceedings inside Parliament, writes B Raman

The initiative for reversing the erosion through better parliamentary etiquette and conduct has to come from the ruling party, but unfortunately there has been a leadership vacuum in the Congress due to the lack of political stature in the party as well as the government.

Neither Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the party, nor Dr Manmohan Singh, the leader of the government lacking parity of status with the party leader, has been able to give an ethical lead inside the two Houses.

The lack of self-confidence of the two leaders arising from their lack of stature has added to their feelings of political insecurity leading to an undesirable abrasive style of politics poisoning the conduct and proceedings inside the two Houses.

The political ineptitude of the two leaders was seen in the manner in which they tried to push through the decision on the question of FDI in the retail sector. The parliamentary proceedings have been paralysed by the determination of the ruling party to push through the decision by hook or by crook and the equal determination of the opposition to frustrate the machinations of the ruling party.

Some retired senior officials with whom I had discussed this in Delhi last week attributed the haste displayed by the Congress to its urgent need for funds for the UP elections next year. They alleged that some corporate houses, which would be the main beneficiaries of the FDI decision, were expected to be the main contributors to the coffers of the Congress for the UP elections.

According to them, the determination of other political parties to prevent the Congress from financially benefiting from the decision before the UP elections accounted for their obduracy in preventing the normal functioning of the two Houses.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 05 Dec 2011 23:14

^ Good point.

We need to check who longed/shorted Retails stocks before and after this announcement to see who is playing the market with these asinine policy changes....

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 05 Dec 2011 23:15

Isnt the increase in FDI in retail sector another 2G type of scam? How is this different than the earlier one?

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 06 Dec 2011 20:34

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 008244.cms

Acknowledging that he "committed violence" when he made the infamous remark "just one slap" after Sharad Pawar was attacked in Delhi last month, Anna Hazare today said he did not consider this violence as wrong.

"For the betterment of the society and the country, I have used strong words many times in the past. "Just One Slap?" - I admit that I committed violence when I said that. But for the betterment of society, I do not consider this violence as wrong," Hazare posted on his blog.

"Many politicians felt very bad about the slapping incident. Many of them got very angry also. But it is important to discuss as to why did that youth slap," he said.

"Sharad Pawar is the agriculture minister at the centre and the power minister of the state is from his own party. Today after 22 years, the electric pumps of the farmers still get burnt due to low voltage, the crops get burnt, the transformers get burnt, but the politicians still don't get angry. This is unfortunate," Hazare said.

"The farmers protested at Mawal near Pune. They were shot at. Three farmers died. But the politicians still did not get angry about it," he said.

As agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar imported rotten wheat and since it was not edible, the wheat was buried in huge pits, he said, adding crores of public money was wasted but none of the politicians got angry about it.

"Padmasinh Patil, a relative of Sharad Pawarji, who was a minister in Sharad Pawar's cabinet, indulged in corruption while he was minister. I demanded an enquiry. When enquiry did not take place, I started a movement because of which the enquiry had to be ordered. The minister was found guilty and he had to be removed from the cabinet. To take revenge, this minister gave 'supari'(contract) of Rs 30 lakh to someone to kill me," Hazare said.

somaz · Post by **somaz** » 07 Dec 2011 02:16

Pranay wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 008244.cms

Acknowledging that he "committed violence" when he made the infamous remark "just one slap" after Sharad Pawar was attacked in Delhi last month, Anna Hazare today said he did not consider this violence as wrong.

...

Been watching a lot of Rhona-Dhona on TV for such an un-Gandhian comment , so thought I dig up a bit from what MAN himself had to say.

http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/momgandhi/chap28.htm

Though violence is not lawful, when it is offered in self-defence or for the defence of the defenseless, it is an act of bravery far better than cowardly submission. The latter befits neither man nor woman. Under violence, there are many stages and varieties of bravery. Every man must judge this for himself. No other person can or has the right. (H, 27-10-1946, pp369-70)

I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence....I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour.

But I do not believe India to be helpless....I do not believe myself to be a helpless creature....Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. (YI, 11-8-1920, p3)

I have been repeating over and over again that he who cannot protect himself or his nearest and dearest or their honour by nonviolently facing death may and ought to do so by violently dealing with the oppressor. He who can do neither of the two is a burden. He has no business to be the head of a family. He must either hide himself, or must rest content to live for ever in helplessness and be prepared to crawl like a worm at the bidding of a bully. (YI, 11-10-1928, p342)

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 07 Dec 2011 02:22

somaz, AH is taking it beyond Mahatma Gandhiji, of even thinking of sin as being equivalent to sinning.

So all these are maha purush!

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 07 Dec 2011 09:14

Worth reading Anna Hazare's post in entirety - http://news.indiaagainstcorruption.org/ ... ays/?p=104

I have said many times that I consider Mahatma Gandhi as my ideal but sometimes I keep Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also as my ideal.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 07 Dec 2011 18:56

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 020551.cms

A parliamentary standing committee examining the Lokpal bill has finalised its draft amidst growing dissent from members, including three Congress MPs. The report is likely to be tabled in parliament on Friday, sources said.

The three congress members who dissented, asking for inclusion of group C employees under the Lokpal are Deepa Dasmunshi, PT Thomas and Meenakshi Natarajan.

Rejecting the parliamentary panel draft, Anna Hazare said the government was not serious about fighting corruption.

Panel chairman Abhishek Singhvi said the issue of bringing the prime minister under the Lokpal has been left to Parliament. He also said the many dissenting notes given by members on various issues would be reflected in the report.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, meanwhile, opposed giving constitutional status to the Lokpal, demanding reservation for dalits, backward castes and the minorities in all panels of the Lokpal.

However, sources said there was general agreement in the panel that the Lokpal should have constitutional status.