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

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 24 Dec 2011 18:19

The latest India Today has an excellenr report on the AH phenomenon,and AH certainly is India's"Man of the Year",as he has galvanised into action a cynical,frustrated and angry nation,that saw no way of ending this institutionalised corruption,where lawmakers were the worst lawbreakers,until he took up the challenge by taking to the street.

All across the country,AH has become the symbol of the war against corruption,that reached stratospheric heights under the regime of Dr.Sin-gh,who blessed his corrupt ministers by taking no action against them until his backside was booted into action by the Supreme Court.Not only does AH represent monumental battle of the "nation vs corruption",but AH is truly deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.For this war against corruption is nothing but the freedom struggle of India in the 21st century.IT has to succeed if we are to remain an independent sovereign nation and not see a return to a new East or "West" India Co. once again stealing the nation's wealth at the expense of the poorest of its poor.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 24 Dec 2011 20:29

Anna for all his great work is more a media creation than Gandhi. Of course now a days there is more media than earlier. Congress is now realized that it has control of the most of the actual power. Only the soft power of airwaves is with Anna and that too is termparary and as long as there is no other BIG news like which ***** star is in Big Bass. So congress will do what it normally does and Anna will continue to agitate. Now that the dirty tricks gang in control it will only end in arrest etc of agitators. Only the 5 state election results will make any change. If congress puts up a reasonable show then Anna is gone back to his Village and Tv gangs will be back to Rakhi Sawath programmes

Arjun · Post by **Arjun** » 24 Dec 2011 20:45

Pranav wrote:Winning polls will be befitting reply to Anna's campaign: Sonia - http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-new ... 786503.asp

Good that Sonia has conflated winning the polls with anti-Hazare sentiment. Now Anna and team need not be apologetic about campaigning against INC in the polls - after all Sonia herself has defined the issue in those same terms.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 24 Dec 2011 21:02

^^^Pranav is spot on.

INC will win regardless of what voters want or do, I fear.

And INC miraculously grabbing 20 LS seats from UP in '09 up from 2 in '04 smelled funny alrite. Only it ain't funny anymore.

When's Swamy appearing for that EVM case in the SC??

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 24 Dec 2011 22:13

^^^
Per Swamy's tweet, the haste in UP elections is because of EVM judgement coming on 10th. I don't how to decipher his tweet.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 25 Dec 2011 05:28

Though the AH movement has some basic flaws in its approach,AH having some personal fads like his anti-alcoholism aka Morarji Desai,which might lose him a huge chunk of the youth votes should he ever take to politics full-time,on the issue of fighting corruption in public life,he has the overwhelming support of the Indian Middle Class,which having been squeezed in the middle for its entire existence since Independence,has decided to "out".Barring progressive states like Maharashtra and some others,where the public take to the streets when they're mad about something affecting their basic rights,we have not seen thus far enough pro-national spontaneous movements against political parasitical pelf due to apathy and the lack of strong moral leaders/leadership.If "Freedom" was our goal during the Independence struggle,then "Corruption" is our enemy today.It has to be fought in the same spirit with which we won our freedom.It is easier said than done,institutions and corporate entities which come under such severe ,pressure and demands from the politico-babu nexus.To a vast majority,AH is the last great hope!

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 25 Dec 2011 05:41

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 237182.cms

Anna wants to know if you're willing to go to prison. And 68,000 people and counting have volunteered in the last two days. As the countdown to Team Anna's third fast this year draws close, his team has unleashed a campaign spanning new technology and social media getting people to register, join the protest in Mumbai or just spread the word.

While activist Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi will be present in Mumbai, Prashant Bhushan is expected to hold fort in Delhi. This time few members of the core team will sit on fast with Anna.

Consider this: over 60,776 people across the country have already registered on the website jailchalo.com to be part of the jail bharo andolan. About 7,000 people have responded on the toll free helpline and registered themselves through smses and IVR and over 19,000 faxes have been sent to parliamentarians in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.

The jail bharo campaign was started by the Mumbai chapter of the India Against Corruption movement and had registered about 37,000 people till Friday night. "The number has more than doubled. The response has been overwhelming," a Team Anna member said on Saturday.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 25 Dec 2011 05:50

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=745416

Adopting a flexible approach over the government's Lokpal Bill, former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today suggested Team Anna to allow the Centre to pass the bill in "some form" after conceding some points.

"Today I spoke to some members of Team Anna and suggested them to allow government to pass the bill in some form after conceding some points," Hegde, also a member of Team Anna, told PTI over phone from Mangalore.

Hegde suggested Team Anna to concede the power of Jan Lokpal by allowing CBI to probe only those complaints coming to them, but not compromise on the demand to bring CBI under purview of Jan Lokpal while probing Lokpal-related complaints.

"There should be no compromise over bringing CBI under the Jan Lokpal, but the former should be allowed to investigate complaints directly coming to them," he clarified.

Hegde, however, said he did not agree with some points and stands taken by some members of Team Anna. "I don’t come out because the media may say there is a split in Team Anna."

Hegde said he wanted to see the Lokpal Bill (with some concessions) passed in the winter session of Parliament as people have waited for it for over four decades.

Reacting to Union Minister of State in PMO V Narayanasamy's remarks, Hegde said dealing with Lokpal issue with an iron hand is not a sign of democracy.

"I hope he (Narayanaswamy) knows the meaning of the word 'democracy'," he hit back at Narayanaswamy's comment that the Lokpal issue would be dealt with an iron hand.

It is the people of India who have accepted democracy, not the politicians, he said."The very first word in the Indian Constitution says 'We the people of India..'," Hegde said.

"A team of five members cannot pressurise the government on passing a bill. A bill can be passed only in Parliament after voting. Parliament alone can pass the bill, and not by someone on the streets or maidans. They cannot decide for Parliament. We will handle this with an iron hand," Narayanasamy had said.

Asked if he would join Hazare's fast in Mumbai on Dec27, Hegde said,"I have committments till Dec29."

JwalaMukhi · Post by **JwalaMukhi** » 25 Dec 2011 05:52

soniaG has actually thrown a political challenge to all the AH admirers than AH himself. AH is no political weight, and I still believe he has done fairly well the task to which his handlers assigned to him, namely to dissipate focus of corruption to a generic mode. AH is gently being reminded by a political superweight to confine to his role and not get too carried away by his media manufactured stature.
Should be interesting to see as to how AH admirers and followers respond. would they show the enthusiasm to go to polling booths as they showed in imagined tahrir square fad?
AH would never issue a fatwa to vote against SG. that's certain. he wouldn't dare double cross his handlers. would he? but the circus has to go on.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 25 Dec 2011 06:05

SG's challenge is not to Ah alone. It is for all Indians. She is challenging her slaves to revolt.

niran · Post by **niran** » 25 Dec 2011 07:54

if INC is so sure of a win win in UP, then why are they preparing to celebrate and hail
baba as the savior if INC grabs around 60 seats, it is measly when compared to 403 totals no?

PS: this is ander ki baat, so no can give proof links etc.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 25 Dec 2011 09:51

JwalaMukhi wrote:soniaG has actually thrown a political challenge to all the AH admirers than AH himself. AH is no political weight, and I still believe he has done fairly well the task to which his handlers assigned to him, namely to dissipate focus of corruption to a generic mode. AH is gently being reminded by a political superweight to confine to his role and not get too carried away by his media manufactured stature.
Should be interesting to see as to how AH admirers and followers respond. would they show the enthusiasm to go to polling booths as they showed in imagined tahrir square fad?AH would never issue a fatwa to vote against SG. that's certain. he wouldn't dare double cross his handlers. would he? but the circus has to go on.

RamaY wrote:SG's challenge is not to Ah alone. It is for all Indians. She is challenging her slaves to revolt.

That is important point. It is a challenge to the current generation. For far lesser evil in the past than what we see today, both Indira and Rajiv were severely punished by the Indians of that generation. They voted out the most powerful leaders (which we don't even have now) of that time inspite of the fact that there were no great alternatives.

The challenge for the current generation is same. They have an option to either allow the congress led governemnt by being extremely inquistive about the choices of non-congress alternative (all are same, communal, Modi is bad etc. etc. - the way Arnab presents on TV) or like their earlier generations blindly throw out the wrong doers. Hope some sense prevails as opposed to being just trying to copy what's going on around the world and imagining themselves as some tahir square waalas etc. Even if they following Egypt model they should vote Modi

.

niran wrote:if INC is so sure of a win win in UP, then why are they preparing to celebrate and hail baba as the savior if INC grabs around 60 seats, it is measly when compared to 403 totals no?

PS: this is ander ki baat, so no can give proof links etc.

For congress party in UP and especially for the die-nasty this election is a challenge to the future of dynasty. In many ways this will be a do or die situation. They are creating a perception that if they can get 60+ then congress is improving due to Rahul's magic and it is all just for the survival of the dynasty. In the initial days they created a campaign with INC = Muslims + Jats(via Ajit Singh) + Kurmis(Beniprasad Verma and Apna Dal). They wanted the UPites to beleive that they are going to get all of those votes. There are few communites such as Brahmins would like to go with the winner between BJP, INC or BSP. The entire "congress is coming back" campaign is to get these swing votes.

It is NOT working and their internal surveys seems to be pointing to the same. Hence in a desperation they brought in Muslim reservations inside the 27% OBC quota. This has two things to it. One is SP has to oppose it otherwise it will not look as Mandal flagholder. If it opposes its Mullah credibility goes down. As INC has no say in OBC, it likes the situation. Two is that BJP is also OBC party in UP. It has an opportunity to show that SP is a betrayer of OBC cause and for Hindutva types, BJP's opposition to Muslim reservation is sufficient.

The inital plan of having UP elections in May using the expected wins in Uttarakhand and Punjab, also was not working for INC. It though that SAD+BJP is losing in Punjab but probably the internal survey are pointing that SAD is too strong in rural Punjab. Hence the haste in completing all election in Feb. The ecnomic downturn and harsh decisions from Feb budget will put them is more trouble and hence May timeline will be disaster. In addition, expected reverses on EVM issues from courts probably also a strong reason for the haste.

But INC is most capable in turning their fortunes under chaotic situations. Per the current situation if the Kill-SP model works, it could be either BSP or BSP+INC government in UP. Second one is most advantageous to INC for 2014.

chandrabhan · Post by **chandrabhan** » 25 Dec 2011 15:39

Muppallaji,
Having spent lot of my last 2 years in UP villages here is my take.

A. CONgress understands that it's only UP that can help them come back in 2014 . Considering Andhra is no longer a citadel for them. The desperation is due to this realisation.

B. my own discussions with some CON leaders have zeroed around they getting anywhere close to 60 seats is a victory for them. They are not closed to prop up Mulayam. mayawati is a no-no with quiet a few of them.

C. Sonia have been guided by Janardan dwivedi and Ahmed Patel on UP. Rajputs have got dispproportionate number of tickets - around 18% on a pop base of9%. Brahmin candidates are around 9% but population is 16%. This is done to cut the influence of Pramod Tiwari .

D. There is lot of infighting in CON but it has not come to e fore - pramod Tiwari vs Rita. Jagadambika pal is also eyeing its chances.

E. one major player still not active is Naresh Agrawal in hardoi area. Can easily influence 15 seats. He is now a MP with CON party but not used.

F. Ajit won't make an impact beyond 20 seats and add around 6-7 seats to CONgress.

G. Ajit's son won defeating my family and it was for the first time that we have lost to Ch charan singh's family in64 years. Mathura has nauhwar jats (100 villages) and Ajit's mother is a Nauhwar. There are another 58 Rajput (panchayats) along the corridor of mathura agra. They are crucial as they used to vote for BJP. Need very tactfully handling. If BJP fields Rajnath here then they will loose Brahmin/Bania votes. An Uma bharati is next best bet along with sadhvi ritambra. Ritambra has well respected for 'Vatsalya gram' work in vrindavan.

H. Govindacharya would have made a huge difference in Eastern UP and Varun in west/central UP. Apna dal will again land up cutting BJP votes if no alliance.

I. CONgress may sweep 4 out of 6 seats here.

J. Central UP and purvanchal is the big fight. People are angry with joshiji in Varanasi as he has not visited and rarely meets. Bhadoi area is BSP pocket borough and MAU/azamgarh will be with Mukhtar Ansari as BJP failed to protect and avenge krishnanand Rai.

K. Sonia may laugh all the way to votes owing to BJP's pussyfooting and Brahmin apathy . Brahmins are feeling left out and not voting for BSP but BJP has not made any overtures. kalraj is useless and none knows him beyond Lucknow.

One big factor is going to be Baba Ramdev. May god give him long life, he can and will harm CONgress and SP. BJP has failed to capitalise again.

Also to dent Ajit factor, BJP must file someone from Haryana. Jats have roti-beti relations across.

LKO is BJP and so is Gorakhpur commissionary. Lot depends on Fateh bahadur and his politics.

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 25 Dec 2011 17:44

CON did badly the last time getting only 20 . Has something changed that will help them win more? Logically speaking they should go down even further. Because the public opinion against Con must be at an all time low by now .

What are BJPs chances ?

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 25 Dec 2011 18:08

gakakkad wrote:CON did badly the last time getting only 20 . Has something changed that will help them win more? Logically speaking they should go down even further. Because the public opinion against Con must be at an all time low by now .

What are BJPs chances ?

INC did well in 2009 lok sabha elections winning 1/4th of the seats. Rajnath Singh is unelectable as CM in UP due to caste composition. BJP should have projected Uma Bharti as CM candidate. BJP chances are only if FCs and non-Yadav OBCs get together like in Bihar.
The Star-Neilsen opinion poll suggests a SP-INC-RLD alliance govt.

gakakkad · Post by **gakakkad** » 25 Dec 2011 18:15

^

That was due to the design of constituencies. Their vote share was much lesser than BSP and SP . Yet they won more seats. The election results reflect the purposeful flaws in designing constituency . To help CON party win .
seat vote share
Samajwadi party 23 23.26% Fourth Front
Indian National Congress 21 18.25% United Progressive Alliance
Bahujan Samaj Party 20 27.42% Third Front
Bharatiya Janata Party 10 17.50% National Democratic Alliance

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 25 Dec 2011 18:41

gakakkad wrote:^

That was due to the design of constituencies. Their vote share was much lesser than BSP and SP . Yet they won more seats. The election results reflect the purposeful flaws in designing constituency . To help CON party win .
seat vote share
Samajwadi party 23 23.26% Fourth Front
Indian National Congress 21 18.25% United Progressive Alliance
Bahujan Samaj Party 20 27.42% Third Front
Bharatiya Janata Party 10 17.50% National Democratic Alliance

IMO it represents tactical voting by Muslims to defeat the BJP. The idea is to back either SP, BSP or INC wherever they are expected to win. So even with less votes, if they are concentrated in a few pockets you win the seats. Basically it is a tactical mistake by the BJP as well. Only a strong OBC leader can help win UP as non-Yadav OBCs make 30% of the voters. Besides due to their feudal past Thakurs are disliked by BCs. So the decline of BJP coincides with exit of Kalyan Singh (OBC) and initiation of Rajnath Singh (Thakur). OBC + FC you are going to win - see Bihar, Gujrat, MP, etc. My prediction is that if the SP-INC-RLD alliance wins there is a strong possibility of UPA3 in 2014.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 25 Dec 2011 18:42

Media gearing up at MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla complex:

Mayank Gandhi and Kejriwal address volunteers

Stage being constructed

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 25 Dec 2011 18:58

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 241246.cms

Team Anna, in an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and parliamentarians on Sunday, hoped the "best possible" anti-graft law will emerge from the debate in parliament and pitched for giving the Lokpal independent investigative powers.

"While we are on record with our displeasure over the current draft of the bill, we are also keen that the best possible law should now emerge from the debate in the people's Houses," Hazare's India Against Corruption (IAC) said in the letter.

It said the Lokpal and Lokayuktas should be able to carry out investigations through the anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which should be merged into the Lokpal, and the anti-corruption bureaus and vigilance departments in states should be merged into Lokayuktas.

Their second option was that Lokpal and Lokayuktas should have their own investigative wings which should have exclusive jurisdiction over cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The third option was that was to give Lokpal the administrative and financial control over CBI, the letter said.

It also demanded that the appointment of the CBI director should be independent of any political control.

"The anti-corruption bureaus and state vigilance departments in state governments should be merged into Lokayuktas," IAC added in the letter.

They also demanded that the Lokpal be picked through consensus of the selection panel and the committee should comprise the prime minister, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, two judges to be nominated by the collegium of Supreme Court judges, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Chief Election Commissioner.

"Search committee to suggest nominees should consist of former chief justices, former CAG, former CVC and former CEC," the letter said.

Team Anna has also demanded that the lower bureaucracy should be under the ambit of the Lokpal.

The government, in its bill introduced Dec 22 in parliament, has stated that the Lokpal will direct complaints against Group C and D employees to the CVC.

"Without these provisions, the Lokpal bill will be just another law -- one among many that have proven ineffective so far," the letter said.

Team Anna also said that although its opposition to some portions of the Lokpal bill remains, it wants parliamentarians to also include some of their points.

IAC said it wants the Lokpal and Lokayuktas to suo motu initiate their investigations without a complaint or reference from anyone.

"It should also not be required to alert the accused through preliminary enquiry or hearing before filing an FIR (First Information Report)," they said, adding this was recommended by the parliamentary panel that examined the Lokpal bill.

The letter said: "The year-long people's campaign against corruption has brought us to the very edge of legislation that can tackle it powerfully."

"Sensing the national mood, parliament has also taken it upon itself to foster a significant debate on the issues within the Bill, and for this we thank our elected representatives."

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 25 Dec 2011 19:07

chandrabhan wrote:
G. Ajit's son won defeating my family and it was for the first time that we have lost to Ch charan singh's family in64 years. Mathura has nauhwar jats (100 villages) and Ajit's mother is a Nauhwar. There are another 58 Rajput (panchayats) along the corridor of mathura agra. They are crucial as they used to vote for BJP. Need very tactfully handling. If BJP fields Rajnath here then they will loose Brahmin/Bania votes. An Uma bharati is next best bet along with sadhvi ritambra. Ritambra has well respected for 'Vatsalya gram' work in vrindavan.

You are related to Shyam Sunder Sharma ?

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 25 Dec 2011 19:27

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 243741.cms

This guy is at it again... Some people seem to be getting quite hot under the collar with the momentum of the Anti-Corruption movement across the country.

Such people and their minders and the gathering that they call their Party should be relegated to the dustbin of history by the Indian electorate.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh today fired a fresh salvo at anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare saying he once worked as a secretary with RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh.

"Anna Hazare worked as secretary with RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh and (got himself) trained in (sangh activities) in 1983 in Gonda. See Nai Duniya front page today," Singh today wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

The Congress leader also referred to a picture to support his remarks and took strong note of the denial that the 74-year-old Gandhian was not linked to RSS.

"And he denied any association with RSS! Now whom do we believe Facts with Picture and the claim of RSS or Anna ? I am again proved right," he tweeted.

Taking a dig on the shifting of the proposed fast to Mumbai, the Congress leader said the decision was taken not because of cold in the national capital, but because of the fact that the team Anna wanted to garner more funds.

"Merry Christmas to Team Anna and also Happy Fund Raising in Mumbai. Shift to Mumbai from Delhi is because of FUND AND NOT THAND!," Singh's tweet read.

Reacting to the allegations, Kiran Bedi, in her tweet, said, "Does sharing of the dais make one each other's agent. Next time shld one sit alone? When two persons share a dais do they become each others agents?"

IAC on their Webside has a picture of Digvijaya Singh with the said RSS leader...

Congress has called Anna Hazare an agent of RSS - these pictures clearly show Former President APJ Adbul Kalam and Cong Leader Digvijaya Singh posing with Nanaji Deshmukh - will Congress or its stooge Alok Mehta, Editor of Nai Dunia dare to call them RSS agents now?

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 25 Dec 2011 20:40

Folks, Let us discuss elections in GDF. Let this be exclusive for AH and anti-corruption news and analysis.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 25 Dec 2011 20:54

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 243949.cms

In a fresh political offensive against Anna Hazare, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh accused the crusader of being associated with the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The BJP retorted, saying the Congress has "lost its mind".

Another Congress leader, Rashid Alvi, also attacked Anna Hazare, who is set to go on a three-day fast in Mumbai Dec 27-29.

"Anna should come clean on his links with the RSS. Which ideology does Anna follow, is it his personal decision? But there should be some honesty about it; people have the right to know what your ideology is. People must know," Rashid Alvi told reporters here.

The BJP strongly reacted to the Congress statements.

"The Congress has lost its mind. And it is because of their frustration that they are talking rubbish and asking inane questions which need not be answered," BJP's Prakash Javadekar told reporters on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Team Anna Member Arvind Kejriwal supported Hazare saying that he is an "agent" of the country.

"It is not a battle for Lokpal it's a battle of people. They keep saying that that Ann is RSS agent or BJP agent. Anna is agent of this country. They keep levelling baseless charges against him because they have nothing against him. "

Kiran Bedi, another Team Anna member, tweeted: "Does sharing of the dais make one each other's agent. Next time should one sit alone? When two persons share a dais do they become each others agents?"

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 25 Dec 2011 22:20

RSS is projected by the Congress party as untouchables.
http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34-more/ ... -newspaper
New Delhi: In an embarrassment to Anna Hazare, 'Nai Duniya' newspaper on Sunday claimed that the anti-graft campaigner had links with RSS patriarch Nanaji Deshmukh.
The newspaper claimed that Anna was one of the close aides of Deshmukh and both were seen together during many programmes in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the RSS has rejected the claims and said that by merely meeting someone Anna doesn't become an aide of that person.
Ram Madhav, RSS spokesperson, told STAR News that even Mahatma Gandhi had participated in a programme of RSS.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh attacked Anna Hazare and said that the truth has been revealed once again.

Team Anna's response was even more funny

Digvijay with Nanaji Deshmukh

chandrabhan · Post by **chandrabhan** » 25 Dec 2011 22:28

Anmolji,
Are you from Mathura

Tamang · Post by **Tamang** » 25 Dec 2011 23:15

Warning from pro-Congi firstpost

Will you be marked for life if you join Anna’s ‘jail bharo’?

Edit: Warning from Chief Election Commissioner

Team Anna's conduct during polls will be monitored: CEC SY Quraishi

What about the fatwas of religious leaders in every election asking people to vote against a particular party?

prahaar · Post by **prahaar** » 26 Dec 2011 00:02

uddu wrote:RSS is projected by the Congress party as untouchables.
http://www.newsbullet.in/india/34-more/ ... -newspaper
New Delhi: In an embarrassment to Anna Hazare, 'Nai Duniya' newspaper on Sunday claimed that the anti-graft campaigner had links with RSS patriarch Nanaji Deshmukh.
The newspaper claimed that Anna was one of the close aides of Deshmukh and both were seen together during many programmes in Uttar Pradesh.
However, the RSS has rejected the claims and said that by merely meeting someone Anna doesn't become an aide of that person.
Ram Madhav, RSS spokesperson, told STAR News that even Mahatma Gandhi had participated in a programme of RSS.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh attacked Anna Hazare and said that the truth has been revealed once again.

Team Anna's response was even more funny

Digvijay with Nanaji Deshmukh

Sorry if this is OT, but Anna's photo with RSS is being peddled as if he is seen sharing the stage with some terrorist or a criminal. I am attaching the wiki link about Nanaji http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanaji_Deshmukh. This is a strange situation in our country, Nanaji is being invoked when he is not around to defend himself, TADA convict is a celebrity in mainstream media, Krishna's OBC status is debated. INC seems to be out of ammunition to make such below the belt attacks (Added later: about Nanaji and Annaji).

How long can such a charade go on before there is complete loss of faith in govt. machinery?

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 26 Dec 2011 00:09

This attempt to associate RSS and AH is basically an attempt to scare away the fence sitting urban voters those who are not Hindutva-pasand but are pissed off enough to look for non-UPA alternatives.

anmol · Post by **anmol** » 26 Dec 2011 00:26

chandrabhan wrote:Anmolji,
Are you from Mathura

Yes, relative is in RLD... so remember that Shyam Sunder Sharma came second.

somaz · Post by **somaz** » 26 Dec 2011 00:44

The Bogeyman of NDA corruption is actually a huge distraction. Tehelka is the only source of information who are into the NDA Corruption == UPA corruption & I trust it as much as "The Onion"

It is imperative a well documented primer on corruption between UPA & NDA is created and publicized. May have mentioned before, RTI was passed in a hurry to primarily embarrass NDA & they actually found inept clerical mixup and not national loot congress-wadi had institutionalized.

Bangaru Laxman ... even the mention of his episode gets me frothing at the mouth ... Mango folks needs to see the clear distinction between institutional loot and constitutional deception and corruption of bad political elements.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 26 Dec 2011 02:27

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 245737.cms

Dismissing Digvijaya Singh's statement that he had links with late RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh, Anna Hazare today said that such allegations were being levelled against him by "supporters of corruption" as they had no other issue to raise.

"The allegations prove that supporters of corruption in India have no valid issues left," he told PTI.

The Gandhian said social leaders like Deshmukh were above political ideologies, and selfish party and power politics.

"If there is a picture of mine with Nanaji, does it mean that the country does not need the Jan Lokpal Bill and there is no need to tackle corruption by ministers and political leaders," the 74-year-old activist asked.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 26 Dec 2011 02:38

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 245480.cms

Anna Hazare on Sunday said he would stage dharna outside residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi after his three-day fast in Mumbai and asked his supporters to refrain from violence during the stir.

"Some people are waiting for violence during the agitation. If there is violence, the agitation will be maligned," Hazare said addressing a "gramsabha" here tonight.

The anti-graft crusader said he would reach Mumbai tomorrow for his three-day fast beginning on December 27 at the MMRDA ground.

"After the fast, I will go to Delhi and stage a dharna outside the house of Sonia and Rahul. After Mumbai, we will hold a fast in Delhi. Our agitation has been going on for over a year but to no avail. We will need to speak in the language they (government) understand," Hazare said.

"During the agitation in Delhi, we have prepared ourselves to receive lathi blows if the government resorts to canecharge," he said.

The MMRDA ground rent is around Rs 2 lakh per day and the organisers of the fast have paid the rent with donations from the people, he said.

"The duration of the fast at Mumbai has been kept only for three days due to insistence from people not to undertake a long fast," Hazare said, adding he was fully fit to do it.

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 26 Dec 2011 07:57

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/natio ... n/891508/0

See the scum media started their campaign... Now try to divide the corruption movement on caste lines. Look at the garbage scum vomitting all over to protect CON DIEnasty

Why is there a preponderance of this underclass among those charged with corruption, or even targeted in media sting operations? Here is a roll call: A. Raja and Mayawati (Dalit), Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren (tribal), Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav (OBC), are all caught in corruption or disproportionate assets cases. Faggan Singh Kulaste, Ashok Argal and Mahavir Singh Bhagora, caught in the cash-for-votes sting, are all SC/ST; among the BSP MPs in the cash-for-queries sting, Narendra Kushwaha and Raja Ram Pal (who is now in the Congress) are OBC, and Lalchandra Kol a Dalit. Of course, there are also some illustrious upper-caste representatives in the net: Sukh Ram, Jayalalithaa, Suresh Kalmadi. But there are far fewer of them. Could it be that the upper crust tends to be “cleaner” as a rule, or could it be that the system is loaded against those in the lower half of the social pyramid? The Sachar Committee report on the condition of Muslims also tells us that the only place where our Muslims have numbers disproportionately high in comparison to their population is jails. So, face the question once again: do Muslims tend to be more criminal than Hindus, or is the system loaded against them?

For another example, look at the BJP. Two of its senior leaders were caught on camera accepting cash. One, Dilip Singh Judeo, caught taking Rs 9 lakh, was a mere MP, but of a high caste, and was happily rehabilitated in the party, fielded in the election, and is now back in Parliament. The other, Bangaru Laxman, caught taking just Rs 1 lakh, was ranked much higher in the party; he was, in fact, the president, but much lower on the caste pyramid, a Dalit. He has been banished and isolated and is fighting the charges in that Tehelka sting case by himself. I am sorry to use this expression, but the party treated him as an utter outcast even as it continued to defend Judeo. What is the difference between the two except caste? You want to take this argument to the judiciary? It has been loosely insinuated by many prominent people, including by some notable members of Team Anna, that a large number of our former chief justices have been corrupt. But who is the only one targeted by name (however unsubstantiated the charges)? It is Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, currently chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and, more importantly, India’s first Dalit chief justice.

somaz · Post by **somaz** » 26 Dec 2011 23:38

Moily's bit was mathematically complicated :

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 257718.cms

"Not only more stronger, I think it is more than 200 percent, the proposals have been incorporated," he added.

does it mean the extra 100% is just made up ? I have been enjoying the discomfort in CPi /CPIM as they move closer to Kangress - here is a PhD on Cognitive Dissonance waiting to happen

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 27 Dec 2011 01:11

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 257468.cms

The online campaign of Anna Hazare's 'Jail Bharo Andolan' has received over a lakh registrations within three days of the launch, an India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteer said Monday.

The IAC, an umbrella organisation, launched the online campaign jailchalo.com Friday which allowed people to register themselves for courting arrest and supporting Hazare in his protest for a strong Lokpal.

"About 1.1 lakh people registered in 72 hours for upcoming 'Jail Bharo Andolan'. We never expected such a response but now we are confident that in two more days we'll have at least five lakh registrations from all over the country," said Shivendra Singh Chauhan, an IAC volunteer.

"People from all over the country can register for voluntary imprisonment and show solidarity with the national campaign against corruption," Chauhan said.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 27 Dec 2011 01:21

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=745607

The Congress drives the wedge ... like minded minions follow.

A top body of Muslims today strongly opposed Gandhian Anna Hazare's fast for a strong Lokpal Bill beginning here tomorrow, saying it will help communal forces.

Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind was against corruption but people involved along with Hazare are working at the behest of RSS and communal forces, the group's state unit General Secretary, Maulana Hhalimullah Quasmi, said in a statement here.

"We have experienced in the past that whenever such an agitation is carried out against secular government, communal forces get into power," he said.

The Congress-led UPA Government is seriously making efforts to address problems of minorities, especially Muslims. Hence, such agitations will weaken the Government and help communal forces, Quasmi said.

Hazare's agitation was a conspiracy to strengthen communal forces, he alleged.

Meanwhile, another organisation, All India Ulema Council, said it will make its stand clear on Hazare's agitation tomorrow.

Representatives of both organisations were present at Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's meeting with Muslim organisations earlier in the day.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 27 Dec 2011 01:25

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=745603

Pledging his support to anti-graft initiatives, superstar Rajinikanth has lent his sprawling marriage hall here free of cost for the three-day fast being organised by Team Anna activists for a strong Lokpal Bill.

"We are organising a three-day fast from tomorrow. We had approached him for support. He (Rajinikanth) accepted it and said he was always for anti-corruption," India Against Corruption's (IAC) Central Core Committee member M S Chandramohan said today.

The Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in the heart of the city in Kodambakkam locality here will be the venue for the fast being held from tomorrow to express solidarity with social activist Anna Hazare, who is beginning his fast in Mumbai.

"He (Rajinikanth) offered it free of cost and said it was his service to the country," Chandramohan said.

Asked whether Rajnikanth would visit the venue during the fast, Chandramohan said, "He is always invited. But, he has not said anything on that possibility so far."

IAC is also planning to hold 'jail bharo andolan' from December 30, he said.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth made a surprise visit to his marriage hall where the three-day fast called by India Against Corruption-Chennai Chapter is set to commence tomorrow, sources said.

According to sources, the Tamil superstar visited the Raghavendra Kalyana Mandapam in the evening and inspected the arrangements being made to conduct the fast, India Against Corruption sources said.

The actor's stay at the marriage hall was brief and he left after taking stock of the arrangements, they said.

Around 200 people have so far registered to take part in the fast, which will conclude on December 30, they added.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 27 Dec 2011 01:29

http://www.timesnow.tv/Direct-Anna-chan ... 392323.cms

Such is the intellectual acumen of a Government minister...

Lok Sabha is all set to consider passage of Lokpal Bill tomorrow (December 27) as Anna Hazare mounts a fresh campaign for a "strong and effective" law with a three-day fast in Mumbai, amid signs that the civil society will escalate its protest in the days to come. TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami spoke to Senior Congress leader & Minister Verappa Moily.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 27 Dec 2011 06:54

Tamang wrote:Warning from pro-Congi firstpost

Will you be marked for life if you join Anna’s ‘jail bharo’?

Edit: Warning from Chief Election Commissioner

Team Anna's conduct during polls will be monitored: CEC SY Quraishi

What about the fatwas of religious leaders in every election asking people to vote against a particular party?

This is how an insidious and strategically thinking party sets up "poodles of compassion".

It has likewise set up things to it's benefit by having compassionate personages in almost all constitutional bodies and entities. This is just a subtle mafia like subversion of democracy.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 27 Dec 2011 08:59

Manmohan showers praise on Chidambaram - http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 750374.ece

“Whatever task is bestowed upon him, he performs it with calm and composure,” Dr. Singh said as an introductory remark at the inauguration of the Ramanujan Centre for Higher Mathematics ...

MMS continues to break records for abject servility. No wonder he is called the "boneless wonder". As per Swamy, Chidu is a bag-man for Maino's Italian sisters.