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

kshatriya · Post by **kshatriya** » 02 Aug 2012 21:50

I hope AH doesn't end up like Gandhi paving the way for Kejriwal (Nehru)

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 02 Aug 2012 23:01

kshatriya wrote:I hope AH doesn't end up like Gandhi paving the way for Kejriwal (Nehru)

Neither is AH a Gandhi nor is that puny Kejriwal a Nehru. This whole IAC is a media prop up with no mass support.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 02 Aug 2012 23:15

muraliravi wrote:
kshatriya wrote:I hope AH doesn't end up like Gandhi paving the way for Kejriwal (Nehru)
Neither is AH a Gandhi nor is that puny Kejriwal a Nehru. This whole IAC is a media prop up with no mass support.

It is the corruption issue which has public support. BJP had (and perhaps still has) an opportunity to tap into that anger but they preferred to apologize to the Mainos.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 02 Aug 2012 23:57

Pranav wrote:
It is the corruption issue which has public support. BJP had (and perhaps still has) an opportunity to tap into that anger but they preferred to apologize to the Mainos.

Ok, boss. Just barking about corruption with no ideas except for a useless bill will not get them anything. Modi can always talk about corruption and he has ideas. Just put all these AH and stooges in any city in Maharashtra (his home state), lets say pune or nagpur or solapur or Mumbai. The total crowd they will draw in 50 meetings, Modi will draw in one. Thats the difference between just barking with no substance (and also talking nonsense on kashmir etc..) and someone who has a proven track record (and of course the other emotive issues)

James B · Post by **James B** » 03 Aug 2012 00:00

muraliravi wrote:
Pranav wrote:
It is the corruption issue which has public support. BJP had (and perhaps still has) an opportunity to tap into that anger but they preferred to apologize to the Mainos.
Ok, boss. Just barking about corruption with no ideas except for a useless bill will not get them anything. Modi can always talk about corruption and he has ideas. Just put all these AH and stooges in any city in Maharashtra (his home state), lets say pune or nagpur or solapur or Mumbai. The total crowd they will draw in 50 meetings, Modi will draw in one. Thats the difference between just barking with no substance (and also talking nonsense on kashmir etc..) and someone who has a proven track record (and of course the other emotive issues)

Pay for Biryani and Rs 300 and I can also bring truckloads of people.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 00:04

James B wrote: Pay for Biryani and Rs 300 and I can also bring truckloads of people.

I am sure Team Anna also does that. So that factor is anyway evened out. I am sure media prop us like Kejriwal and WKK's like the bushans have enuf money for that.

SRoy · Post by **SRoy** » 03 Aug 2012 00:10

Curiously the India's anti-corruption movement starts and end with urban Delhi.
Any popular movement would have spawned citizens groups in other cities and would have given us credible second level leadership from the masses.
None of these are visible.
If gullible people are not able to see through the AH sham then I'm afraid the long term damage is going to be the ant-corruption ground swell itself.

member_23629 · Post by **member_23629** » 03 Aug 2012 12:44

Non-violent method draws foreigners to Anna protest

NEW DELHI: On the day Team Anna decided to turn political, the protest site had supporters from countries like the US, Germany and Denmark.

The usual suspects are here from the countries which send us missionaries -- organise any anti-government protest anywhere in India and these charlatans start swarming around it like flies. Are these people allowed to participate in political activities in India when they are here on tourist or business visas? I also saw some years back an anti-government march by tribals in Delhi being led by some goras who were walking in front.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 03 Aug 2012 16:33

Gen VK Singh to break Anna's fast at 5 pm.

niran · Post by **niran** » 03 Aug 2012 17:24

Pranav wrote:
A lot will depend upon the people who are leading Team Anna's effort ... if someone like Gen VK Singh is playing a leading role then that would have credibility, particularly if Modi remains evasive on the corruption issue.

Anna Hazaray has completed his shelf life, hence this drama of a "veekalp"(option) the public knows this see the way people
ran away since his announcement, now i hear people denying they had anything to do with Anna hazaray and his topi, the anger
is real, and this will turn into anti IAC and pro NaMo if NaMo plays it right.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 Aug 2012 20:23

muraliravi wrote:
kshatriya wrote:I hope AH doesn't end up like Gandhi paving the way for Kejriwal (Nehru)
Neither is AH a Gandhi nor is that puny Kejriwal a Nehru. This whole IAC is a media prop up with no mass support.

And he is neither Binoba Bhave nor JP.

Plunging into Politics would change his support base. I dont think he can carry the India with him. India wants to see Strong and honest leader, capable of giving good governance and not a empty minded crusaders.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 03 Aug 2012 20:29

chaanakya wrote:India wants to see Strong and honest leader, capable of giving good governance and not a empty minded crusaders.

If, as a result of this, Namo pulls up his socks on the corruption issue, that would be a positive development. He may be very clean as compared to the Mainos, but that is not enough. Structural change is called for.

Throw the corrupt out of power: VK Singh from Anna's dais - http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_th ... is_1723649

Vashishtha · Post by **Vashishtha** » 03 Aug 2012 20:32

I think we are giving anna's party too much credibility.. To emerge on the national stage as a 'alternative' to BJP/CON its going to take them longer than 2 years.. BJP wasn't thought up over night and suddenly became a national party in the 80's, they started small and worked their way up.. Sure, one could argue the media spotlight that AH's party would get for being Congress B/Anti-Namo could push it up but I have my doubt's on that as no urban voter(which AH would target) takes media talk today as convincingly as <2009,2004... I trust urban indians to be smarter this time around and will show IAC the door for its BS.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 20:46

I would say the ball lies in BJP/NaMo's court. If they are smart, they can easily manipulate IAC against congress and destroy both and come out a winner. I believe that if strategists inside BJP are allowed to work without interference from vested interests, they can end up coming a clean winner. The game is very simple, if at all Anna and his coterie are going to have any effect, it is going to be in 20-30 odd urban seats. All BJP needs to do is talk to its audience in a very targeted way, so that they keep them in their grip. I am sure that if Modi is declared PM candidate and there is no IAC coterie, he would have swept all 30 seats at a 60-40 vote percentage ratio. They have to just make sure that the 60% stays with them. The key again is just talk to your audience, becos with modi, their audience itself is 60% in those seats, so no need to appeal to fence sitters.

As far as rural india is concerned, if team anna thinks, they can even move a hair there, they are truly disillusioned.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 03 Aug 2012 20:47

Trusting the urban indian like 2004, 2009? Emotional outburst for 1-2 months after work and then they forget everything. But yes the economy is an issue for them so perhaps.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 03 Aug 2012 20:52

muraliravi wrote:I would say the ball lies in BJP/NaMo's court. If they are smart, they can easily manipulate IAC against congress and destroy both and come out a winner. I believe that if strategists inside BJP are allowed to work without interference from vested interests, they can end up coming a clean winner. The game is very simple, if at all Anna and his coterie are going to have any effect, it is going to be in 20-30 odd urban seats. All BJP needs to do is talk to its audience in a very targeted way, so that they keep them in their grip. I am sure that if Modi is declared PM candidate and there is no IAC coterie, he would have swept all 30 seats at a 60-40 vote percentage ratio. They have to just make sure that the 60% stays with them. The key again is just talk to your audience, becos with modi, their audience itself is 60% in those seats, so no need to appeal to fence sitters.

As far as rural india is concerned, if team anna thinks, they can even move a hair there, they are truly disillusioned.

You have to see UPA has an architecture. Small chunks here and there will give them a comfortable win. IAC is in itself an extension of congress party. What are those bloody nac parasites doing there?

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 20:59

RoyG wrote:
You have to see UPA has an architecture. Small chunks here and there will give them a comfortable win. IAC is in itself an extension of congress party. What are those bloody nac parasites doing there?

Roy Sir,

I agree with you, but what I am suggesting is BJP's possible counter to what congress is doing. This whole concept of dividing votes will work only if BJP is complacent. If it appeals to its core audience (I believe Modi is a great strategist and he knows how to handle the media), then IAC can be screwed. Next, do only minorities and dalits vote for congress. Do other hindus not vote for congress. cant bjp make them vote for iac. BJP does not deserve to exist as a party if it cannot handle such a simple challenge.

Samudragupta · Post by **Samudragupta** » 03 Aug 2012 20:59

I dont understand why esteemed forum members have suddenly became spokesperson for BJP....until and unless there is a purge from the top to bottom of this organisation, BJP is in no position to lead the country....the most pressing issue right now is not BJP or Modi to gain power but to break the hydra of DIE backed network in the whole of India which BJP or Modi himself will not be able to do...
Gentlemen its a Revolution that we need not another transfer of power...Its confirmed that IAC will damage the anti DIE votes but where does in India votes represent the voice of the people....but more than that it will cause immense damage to the network that needs to be unraveled if India really has to meet its destiny....

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 21:04

Samudragupta wrote:I dont understand why esteemed forum members have suddenly became spokesperson for BJP....until and unless there is a purge from the top to bottom of this organisation, BJP is in no position to lead the country....the most pressing issue right now is not BJP or Modi to gain power but to break the hydra of DIE backed network in the whole of India which BJP or Modi himself will not be able to do...
Gentlemen its a Revolution that we need not another transfer of power...Its confirmed that IAC will damage the anti DIE votes but where does in India votes represent the voice of the people....but more than that it will cause immense damage to the network that needs to be unraveled if India really has to meet its destiny....

Why do u assume that IAC will help in unraveling the network. They are just a congress extension for all I know.

Samudragupta · Post by **Samudragupta** » 03 Aug 2012 21:14

It will be a mistake to consider CP as an unitary organisation....its the DIE in it that needs to be contained and destroyed..IAC is a vehicle that represents a genuine Urban India's frustration against the DIE and the constant manipulation of the vehicle by the DIE itself...hence it will always be in a fluid state of fundamental conflict between these two forces...interestingly DIE understands this and hence cannot come up overtly to take over IAC....hence it will be a mistake to concede IAC to DIE so easily...as one member already expressed it is upto the nationalist forces to manipulate this and destroy the DIE

Samudragupta · Post by **Samudragupta** » 03 Aug 2012 21:18

What IAC will effectively do is that it will increase the fluidity and confusion both among the DIE and the PIF..... the PIF needs a person who will enjoy this creative destruction....the presence of VKS is actually given me hope...

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 21:18

Samudragupta wrote:It will be a mistake to consider CP as an unitary organisation....its the DIE in it that needs to be contained and destroyed..IAC is a vehicle that represents a genuine Urban India's frustration against the DIE and the constant manipulation of the vehicle by the DIE itself...hence it will always be in a fluid state of fundamental conflict between these two forces...interestingly DIE understands this and hence cannot come up overtly to take over IAC....hence it will be a mistake to concede IAC to DIE so easily...as one member already expressed it is upto the nationalist forces to manipulate this and destroy the DIE

My question is, why do you think, urban india cant vent its frustration against the DIE through a vehicle called NaMo. Why does IAC have more credibility than him. Moreover, IAC very well knows that they are only helping congress win elections.

fanne · Post by **fanne** » 03 Aug 2012 21:19

or they can be part of not unraveling corruption in India but unravel India itself.

My 2 cents for what is the problem in BJP
- D4
- A loose group of compromised players screwing it. Compromised by external agent or self importance or corruption or...or all of them - example RS etc
- Sudhir Kulkarni (shades of Brajesh Mishra). This gentleman is Advani's advisor. An ex-communist turned right wing. I may not doubt his loyalty (though no one should be trusted blindly), I challenge his ability. He masterminded CNN-IBN recording of Cash for Vote scandal (which the channel did not show). What level of incompetence one needs to have to come up with this kind of a plan and trust CNN-IBN. Clearly his other advice has not landed BJP anywhere.
-Too many chiefs and not enough Indians in this team

Well all that can change - I pray for safety of the chosen one. A lot rides on this.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 21:24

and one more issue here, all team anna can talk about is lokpal and corruption. Is that all you need to run a govt. People need governance, they need a proven record of performance. Namo is light yrs ahead of all this kejriwal and co. I would say bjp supporters need not worry, NaMo will pull the rug on which IAC is standing.

Samudragupta · Post by **Samudragupta** » 03 Aug 2012 21:26

Ravi,

My own thought tells me that NAMO cannot win this frontal assault which he is trying....the DIE is actually afraid of this frontal assault and hence they are hiding behind networks even IAC which u are calling as a front for DIE....if NAMO is such a strategist as he is made out it is important for him to take out the network first and then destroy the DIE in the final assault.....

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 03 Aug 2012 21:30

Samudragupta wrote:Ravi,

My own thought tells me that NAMO cannot win this frontal assault which he is trying....the DIE is actually afraid of this frontal assault and hence they are hiding behind networks even IAC which u are calling as a front for DIE....if NAMO is such a strategist as he is made out it is important for him to take out the network first and then destroy the DIE in the final assault.....

100% correct statement. But give him some time boss. He cant do anything until this december. After that the game will start. Just wait. If Anna making a party is making waves, when Modi wins gujarat and moves to the center (in the process destroying the D4 network in BJP which helps congress), it will create a thunderstorm

Sushupti · Post by **Sushupti** » 04 Aug 2012 00:07

Listen to Ved Pratap Vaidik and Sazia Elmi.

Sazia says we upstaged Ramdev.

http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-Team-Anna ... 407706.cms

and listen to the beginning of part-2. How "team anna" has hijacked Ramdev issue and basically helping cons?. Sazia Elmi says we don't believe is fasting anymore.

http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4407708.cms

member_23692 · Post by **member_23692** » 04 Aug 2012 02:02

Am new here. I just would like to know how Modi is thinking he can come to power in the current political setup. The Indian electorate is divided into groups. The way I understand it, (and I am inviting views from people much better informed than I am on Indian politics and Indian electorate) as things stand right now, the Tamils will never vote for him, the Telegus will never vote for him, the Malyalams will never vote for him, then moving on North, the Yadavs and other OBCs of UP and Bihar will never vote for him, the Muslims all over the country will never vote for him, the Dalits all over the country will never vote for him, the entire North East barring minor exceptions like Arunachal and parts of Manipur will never vote for him, the Marathas including Shiv Sena will not vote for him, so how does the math work ? Is Modi coming to power just a pipe dream of his and a wet dream of a few nationalists (of which I consider myself one) ?

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 04 Aug 2012 02:13

rsangram wrote:Am new here. I just would like to know how Modi is thinking he can come to power in the current political setup. The Indian electorate is divided into groups. The way I understand it, (and I am inviting views from people much better informed than I am on Indian politics and Indian electorate) as things stand right now, the Tamils will never vote for him, the Telegus will never vote for him, the Malyalams will never vote for him, then moving on North, the Yadavs and other OBCs of UP and Bihar will never vote for him, the Muslims all over the country will never vote for him, the Dalits all over the country will never vote for him, the entire North East barring minor exceptions like Arunachal and parts of Manipur will never vote for him, the Marathas including Shiv Sena will not vote for him, so how does the math work ? Is Modi coming to power just a pipe dream of his and a wet dream of a few nationalists (of which I consider myself one) ?

Indian elections are won by parliamentary seats, not a presidential style election. The parts I have bolded in your para are statements that you are making with no reasoning or stats. Modi has all the abilities to help BJP get to 175 seats. Do the math yourself.

member_23692 · Post by **member_23692** » 04 Aug 2012 02:18

^^^^^ agreed, it is a parliamentary system. But can you please elaborate to educate me.

1. Please explain the math which will allow Modi himself to win 175 seats for the BJP and

2. Please explain in detail why I am wrong about the Dalits, the Yadavs and OBCs and Marathas including Shiv Sena not voting for Modi .

Please understand, I do this in the spirit of learning, not in the spirit of being argumentative. I lurked for a few weeks before I joined and I know that people on the forum, sometimes justifiably so, are overly sensitive to even perceived slights which are not intended.

Thanks.

muraliravi · Post by **muraliravi** » 04 Aug 2012 02:49

rsangram wrote:^^^^^ agreed, it is a parliamentary system. But can you please elaborate to educate me.

1. Please explain the math which will allow Modi himself to win 175 seats for the BJP and

2. Please explain in detail why I am wrong about the Dalits, the Yadavs and OBCs and Marathas including Shiv Sena not voting for Modi .

Please understand, I do this in the spirit of learning, not in the spirit of being argumentative. I lurked for a few weeks before I joined and I know that people on the forum, sometimes justifiably so, are overly sensitive to even perceived slights which are not intended.

Thanks.

No offence taken.

Login to the GD forum, you'll find a asembly election thread. Search my posts and some other BR members in the last 1-1.5 months there. I had posted an excel sheet. If you have time, you can read that thread and you might see why some members feel Modi can help BJP reach 175.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 05 Aug 2012 01:16

In India, Anti-Corruption Activists Crowd Source Name for Nascent Political Party

Aides to Anna Hazare, the 75 year-old Indian anti-corruption crusader who is often compared to Mahatma Gandhi, have announced their intention to launch a political party. Hazare aide Arvind Kejriwal, fresh off a 10-day fast in protest of parliament's refusal to discuss the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, said in his announcement that the activists would crowd-source the party's name.

"This party will not be like others... the public will decide our agenda. We don't want to win elections ... we want to challenge the existing parties. The donations we receive will be posted on our website ... this will dare the others to follow," he added.

Kejriwal insisted that activists involved in the nascent party were not interested in achieving power, but rather in being in a position to challenge government corruption and look out for public interest from within the system. Crowd sourcing feedback appears to have become a mainstream expression of grassroots activism. "How do we select candidates who have integrity? Write to us and tell us," urged Mr Kejriwal

http://techpresident.com/news/22668/ind ... ical-party

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 06 Aug 2012 06:46

http://www.mediacrooks.com/2012/08/team ... B8bO47qq04

Team Anna - The Genie's Back In The Bottle

On the evening of August 2 Team Anna (TA) decided to end their fast and confirmed their option of going political. So on prime time TV all the channels were discussing, debating, kicking and screaming over the decision, the nature and the contours of such a new political party. I have a very simple answer and willing to bet on this: There is going to be no TA political party of any kind. Period! Anna Hazare, the anti-corruption activist, never was and never will be a politician. Not because of some arithmetical outcome but because of his own choice. Throughout his life as an activist Anna has been confronting corruption, corrupt politicians or some social evil and that is the mission he has chosen for himself. This has been mostly as a lone ranger. I doubt he ever wanted a large national stage but yet he found himself in one. Perhaps this wasn’t of his own choice or making. The mystery remains over how he got into this JanLokpal (JLP) mess with a Rag, Tag and Bobtail outfit. Having gotten into it, pulling out was never easy even if one assumes it had crossed his mind sometimes. So whose movement was this really? Who were the real actors? And why were they doing this?

So in April 2011 Anna Hazare goes on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to demand a Lokpal Bill. Govt holds talks with his team and agrees to a JLP. That’s when the term ‘TeamAnna’ (TA) was coined. The dais for the agitation was decked with symbols of national pride, patriotic songs were being sung, chants of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata. All very moving! All, except that picture of Bharat Mata as we know. That was communal. Then that Imam Bukhari called for muslims to boycott the movement as it doesn’t give voice for Muslims. Not done! So Kiran Bedi and co. rush to placate the mullah, in vain. Team Anna promised their movement was non-political, no politicians will be entertained, no communal forces would be allowed. Anna Hazare hardly bothered much as long as there was forward movement. Nothing to worry, corrections will be made in the next bout.

The straight-talking, honest Anna Hazare made a deadly mistake though. He praised Narendra Modi and Gujarat. That was that! The secular credentials of the movement were questioned and the world came down on him. Modi immediately even warned him of the consequences of praising him in a personal letter. TA must have advised Anna to make amends. So Anna visits Gujarat and screams “Ghotala hi Ghotala” and there was corruption everywhere in Gujarat; that there were rivers of alcohol and hooch flowing in Gujarat. Okay, credibility restored!

So AK comes up with charge-sheets against 15 ministers, including the PM but excluding Sonia Gandhi. Of course, he had called MPs corrupt, murderers and rapists. A sweeping generalisation by a losing man! And so it came to July 2012 with AK himself leading the charge and going on a fast. He took the opportunity again to condemn Narendra Modi, calling him corrupt and a communalist. Let’s see, Modi has been called a lot of names but surely corrupt has hardly been one of them. Even Wikileaks revealed that a US Diplomat mentioned that Modi is “not only NOT corrupt, but incorruptible”. If AK wanted to score Congress points like a Teesta, Shabnam, Mallika, Sanjiv Bhatt, Harsh Mander or the entire media by abusing Modi, he was a bit too late for that. AK’s political ambitions, though not explicit, were slowly being revealed in bits and pieces by Anna himself.

Even the best laid plans can terribly go wrong. AK didn’t provide for that. In his political quest he alienated not just supporters but many of his own team members. This list of bloopers and blunders are too long but here are some lessons:

… In a movement like this the media was already paying enough attention. There was no need for AK or for TA or Anna to constantly be in the media and suck up to them with interviews, sound bites and turning panellists. TA was too naïve to see the media is a puppet there to destroy them. Never accept sham awards from the media.

… Never criticise anyone to merely score silly points. Narendra Modi was all praise for Anna and has never criticised TA or any of their members. Yet turning an anti-corruption movement to also one against Modi is a fatal mistake. TA simply had no idea how many Modi supporters had initially supported them.

… Never lose focus. If it was JLP why turn it into a demand for SIT against some ministers? Never abuse by generalisation like AK and TA did with all MPs and govt workers.

… Never antagonise and side-line your own team members in an individual quest for glory.

… Most of all, the JLP movement never had to be secular or communal. It wasn’t a pre-requisite. It should have been just open to all citizens. By constantly catering to muslims and minorities TA became another Congress party. They forgot that a huge majority of their supporters were actually anti-Congress and anti-Fake-Secularism. Stay away from unrelated cases and issues (like those of Sanjiv Bhatt). You end up being terribly stupid.

In the end nobody stunted TA, not the Congress, not the govt but their own team did. Though TA has stated they will seek a referendum from their supporters on forming a political alternative I don’t think that is going to happen. There is going to be no political party by TA, regardless of any silly referendum. I don’t think people were desperate for another political alternative. I cannot say who but I can definitely say there has to be one person or a group or an entity that popped the genie out of the bottle in early 2011. On August 2, 2012 the Genie went back into the bottle and will stay there for a long time.

ravar · Post by **ravar** » 06 Aug 2012 15:21

Breaking news- Anna disbands Team Anna.

IMO, this is a good move.

kshatriya · Post by **kshatriya** » 06 Aug 2012 18:06

^^ Good move for India... Atleast Anna should stay away from the nonsense and prevent IAC using his name

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Aug 2012 19:53

perhaps better sense has prevailed in his head. he should disassociate himself from political activity and stop being hungry for publicity. let the scandals in the INC and Yuvrajs continuing non-delivery in ANY role come to the fore again.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 06 Aug 2012 20:42

^^^

The disbanding is just the first step towards the establishment of the political party. The question ask is, will baba ramdev associate himself with the new party.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 06 Aug 2012 21:29

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/kiran ... 07548.html
Kiran Bedi clearly clueless about Team Anna disbanding

In a post on his blog, Hazare wrote, “Today we have ended the work done by Team Anna. Team Anna was brought about in order to press for the creation of the Jan Lokpal. We have decided not to maintain any relations with the government. Because of this, from today all the tasks done under the name of Team Anna have ended and from now the Team Anna committee ceases to exist.”

The post comes a day after the group, consisting of anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal, Bedi, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and other members of Team Anna met with Hazare yesterday; reportedly to discuss the future of their political plans.

Her comment was in direct contrast to the statement made by Prashant Bhushan that Anna’s announcement was not a surprise and was the ‘logical next step’ in the movements transition to a political one.

In his blog post, Hazare said that while offering a political alternative to people, he had placed the various problems of forming a political party before them and was seeking their answers on possible solutions.

“If this is done (the political alternative is achieved) then I will travel the country for the next one and a half years and will awaken the nation’s people. I will appeal to people to choose candidates with ideal characteristics to be sent to the Lok Sabha,” he wrote.

Key Team Anna member N Santosh Hegde also appeared to be in disagreement with Anna Hazare‘s decision to disband the team, which he said could have “gone on” to create a mass awareness on corruption and maladministration without resorting to the path of fasting.

“I feel sorry (about the decision to disband the team) for the reason that the movement started by Anna for a strong Lokpal was the need of the hour…It (the movement spearheaded by Team Anna) had progressed sufficiently and controversy or difference of opinion in regard to whether Team Anna should contest elections or not is unfortunate and which must have led to Anna disbanding the team,” the former Supreme Court judge said reacting to Hazare disbanding the team.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 09 Aug 2012 15:04

Baba Ramdev Starts 3 Days Symbolic Fast at Ramlila Maidan

None from the media is showing the actual pictures of the people present there!

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 09 Aug 2012 15:27

Washington Post Reports on Baba Ramdev's Ramlila Fasts Today

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asi ... story.html

Middle class Indians fed up with corruption had flocked to Hazare’s protest last year, which Ramdev also supported. But the government dragged its feet on his demand for an ombudsman and political apathy among many wealthier Indians sapped his movement of its support.

Ramdev’s support, however, comes from the far more politically active rural poor, angry that they have not benefited as promised from the country’s economic rise in recent years.

Security was tight at the protest. Police squads patrolled the periphery of the grounds and paramilitary soldiers scrutinized visitors as they were scanned by metal detectors to enter the grounds.

Thousands of young volunteers in white T-shirts with Ramdev’s image printed on it helped manage the swelling crowds, shepherding people into roped enclosures erected to prevent stampedes. They distributed bottles of water to the thousands of elderly supporters, while ambulances and firefighters kept watch.

An army of volunteers prepared vats of spicy potato curry and deep-fried bread in a vast makeshift kitchen set up to provide free lunch to the protesters.