The Jan Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare, and Baba Ramdev

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 09 Aug 2011 21:16

ramana wrote:Rahul Mehta says he got an e-mail from an Anna Hazare supporter that AH supports the right to recall(RTR). However RM muses how come such a right is not in the proposed Lokpal draft?

Ramana ji , Even I read somewhere that Anna Hajare ji supports right to recall(there was someone's statement in media , most likely Arvind Kejriwal's.I do not recall for sure).However you have to keep in mind that Lokpal draft is only for dealing with corruption.It does not cover Political reforms as such.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Aug 2011 21:41

A first step of belief in RTR would be to enshirne it in the Lokpal bill no?

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 09 Aug 2011 21:59

ramana wrote:A first step of belief in RTR would be to enshirne it in the Lokpal bill no?

Ramana ji , AH camp is having so much trouble getting the jan lokpal accepted by congress even without RTR.Just imagine the level of opposition he would have to face if RTR was included in Janlokpal.I think AH has probably decided to leave this for future.But yes without political reforms which includes RTR and also direct elections(for PM,CM etc) India is not going to make it to the next league.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 09 Aug 2011 22:02

No what could have been included is the RTR for Lokpal itself. Not for the others as that would be out of bounds.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 09 Aug 2011 22:19

ramana wrote:No what could have been included is the RTR for Lokpal itself. Not for the others as that would be out of bounds.

I have some interaction with touch with Shri Rahul Mehta in real world too, I would humbly request that he be NOT taken at face value. I am not sure what his real drivers are.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 09 Aug 2011 22:31

If they go for RTR, they might get LP

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 10 Aug 2011 00:13

ramana wrote:Rahul Mehta says he got an e-mail from an Anna Hazare supporter that AH supports the right to recall(RTR). However RM muses how come such a right is not in the proposed Lokpal draft?

ramana wrote:A first step of belief in RTR would be to enshirne it in the Lokpal bill no?

The mandate of the Jan Lokpal Bill is to fight corruption, while RTR is tweaking of the election laws of the country. Apples and oranges!

I have heard it mentioned that they are for RTR, but, one thing at a time...

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 10 Aug 2011 00:25

Mods,is there a reason why Rahul Mehta is still banned? He is the be all of RTR, would like to see him on this thread.

BTW I got an exact opposite message from RAhul Mehta saying AH does not support RTR so he thinks Lokpal is a waste.

Me thinks the computer AI has bugs

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 10 Aug 2011 01:46

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 547263.cms

Let's hope better sense prevails on the government end...

Just when they seem to be hurtling towards confrontation, Congress has successfully reached out to the Anna Hazare camp, persuading the civil society activists to appear before the standing committee on law and justice.

Activist Arvind Kejriwal confirmed to TOI that he along with his colleagues have accepted the invite from the parliamentary panel led by Congress's Abhishek Singhvi and will attend the deliberations on Wednesday. Gandhian Anna Hazare, former law minister Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Kejriwal are expected to attend the meeting for "preliminary discussions".

"'We were invited by the Rajya Sabha secretariat to attend the meeting. The official suggested that this would be a preliminary discussion", Kejriwal said

The decision to engage the civil society activists when they are in the campaign mode against the government is seen as reflecting Congress's desire to blunt their campaign. In fact, the Singhvi-led panel appears to have worked with unusual speed, considering that the Lokpal Bill was referred to the committee only on Monday. An engagement also serves the purpose of defusing the perception that government is stubborn and spoiling for a fight, said sources.

Also, the Singhvi-led panel is also racing ahead with the scrutiny of the judicial accountability bill. It has begun clause-by-clause examination of the "judicial Lokpal" bill, and has plans to send the legislation back to Parliament in the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, a member of Parliament has provided a possible opportunity for discussion on the Lokpal bill in Parliament. Independent MP Rajeev Chandrashekar on Tuesday submitted the 'Jan Lokpal Bill' in the Rajya Sabha.

The private members' bill could be discussed in the House and provide a forum to legislators to air their views on some of the controversial sections of the anti-corruption legislation. Talks between the Hazare-led group and the government had broken down after the two failed to eye-to-eye over key issues like the powers of the Lokpal, selection process and other contentious issues.

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 10 Aug 2011 06:11

If better sense prevails the entire congress leadership will be behind bars. With billions of dollars floating around here and there and civil society weak at the knees, nothing is going to happen for now. They are going to drag 2G for 2 decades and they'll make sure the BJP doesn't press too hard. Problem is people in India seem indifferent as long as the economy continues to open up and food prices don't skyrocket. The only thing that I feel could jeopardize the congress is an economic depression or a major secessionist movement in the heart of India.

Dhiman · Post by **Dhiman** » 10 Aug 2011 09:26

Pranay wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 547263.cms

The decision to engage the civil society activists when they are in the campaign mode against the government is seen as reflecting Congress's desire to blunt their campaign.

The real nature of politics in this country involves coming up with new ways to rob the country dry while force feeding ample and regular doses of Gandhian philosophy to the poor and hungry masses in order to delude and lull the public.

Why else there won't be a revolt in India when significant part of the world is either revolting or rioting against their respective governments.

At the very least these politicians should show their real character. I mean wear some bling bling in open in front of poor starving masses that you are robbing (like that Paki princess (a.k.a Pakistani Foreign Minister) does). Every time I see these stupid politicians wearing white dhoti kurtas and/or topis as if they are the sole embodiment of sacrifice for greater good on the planet, it never fails to piss me off. Starting to look more and more fake each passing day.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 10 Aug 2011 19:59

More blatant victimization

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ed-to ... il/829985/

ED to approach Madagascar for Ramdev's trail

Probably they will be able to buy off some in Fiji or else where who will squeal the Congress song.

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 10 Aug 2011 21:29

ramana wrote:No what could have been included is the RTR for Lokpal itself. Not for the others as that would be out of bounds.

RTR exists only through the government, no direct petition to Supreme Court by citizens or a right to recall Lokpal members.

The Lokpal may be removed by an order of the President on the basis of the report of the Supreme Court on a reference by the President. A reference to the Supreme Court may be made by (a) the President, (b) the President on the basis of a petition signed by 100 Members of the Parliament and (c) the President if he is satisfied on the basis of a petition by a citizen.

Do not know, why B and C, even exist, they are superfluous.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 10 Aug 2011 21:33

Sanku wrote:More blatant victimization

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ed-to ... il/829985/

ED to approach Madagascar for Ramdev's trail

Probably they will be able to buy off some in Fiji or else where who will squeal the Congress song.

well I guess why waste resources going against Quotorochi's, Geelanis and Hasan Ali's. This fellow needs to be silenced.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 11 Aug 2011 20:39

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 565980.cms

Gandhian Anna Hazare has appealed to the nation to turn off the lights for an hour on August 15 in a gesture meant to give momentum to their indefinite hunger strike from the next day.

Team Hazare has been granted a spot adjacent to the Firoz Shah Kotla Ground in the capital to hold its protest from August 16.

"On Aug 15, at 7 pm, Anna will appeal to the nation to join the hunger strike for the sake of the country and appeal to everyone to turn out their lights between 8-9 pm," Arvind Kejriwal of told reporters on Thursday.

"We appeal that in that one hour of darkness, they should light a 'diya' (an earthen lamp) which will signify a ray of hope to remove illiteracy, hunger and corruption from this country," he added.

negi · Post by **negi** » 11 Aug 2011 20:43

"We appeal that in that one hour of darkness, they should light a 'diya' (an earthen lamp) which will signify a ray of hope to remove illiteracy, hunger and corruption from this country," he added.

Jai Ho! How about playing vaishnav bhajan and manjeera in background for special effects.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 12 Aug 2011 07:41

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 573316.cms

Buoyed by what they claimed to be a ringing endorsement of the Jan Lokpal Bill in Congress scion Rahul Gandhi's constituency, Team Anna on Thursday swiftly ramped up its plans, announcing a dramatic hour-long blackout to coincide with August 15.

Announcing the results of the "referendum" in Amethi, Team Anna claimed that 90% of Rahul's constituents polled by them had supported their version of Lokpal Bill. The Hazare group said over 83,000 people participated in the referendum.

Speaking after a meeting with fellow activists, Anna Hazare threatened to intensify his hunger strike and press for 'jail bharo andolan' if he was force fed or detained in a hospital against his wishes. He said, "If the government resorts to force, or confines me to a hospital against my wishes, I will give up even water and give the call for jail bharo.'' Hazare will launch his indefinite fast on August 16.

negi wrote:
"We appeal that in that one hour of darkness, they should light a 'diya' (an earthen lamp) which will signify a ray of hope to remove illiteracy, hunger and corruption from this country," he added.
Jai Ho! How about playing vaishnav bhajan and manjeera in background for special effects.

Besides the huge symbolic value, the August 15 blackout plan is significant for other reasons. Blackouts were successfully used as dramatic mass mobilization tools during the Navnirman movement in Gujarat and JP movement in Bihar in the 70s. Middle class colonies of the Capital used the same device to dramatize their protest against V P Singh government's decision to implement Mandal Commission's recommendation for OBC quota in central services.

The group received a major boost after the results of the 'referendum' conducted in Amethi came. According to IAC aide Sanjay Singh -- who was closely associated with the survey - 95% of the over 83,000 people polled said that citizens charter should be part of the Lokpal bill. About 72% felt judiciary should be included in the ambit of the anti-corruption law while 87% felt PM should be brought within the bill.

The survey conducted between July 25-August 9 echoes the findings of the Delhi referendum where 85% of the people polled in Sibal's constituency supported the Jan Lokpal Bill.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 12 Aug 2011 12:53

Nosy US wants India to exercise restraint ahead of Hazare's fast
Ahead of the proposed August 16 fast against corruption by social activist Anna Hazare, the United States has hoped that New Delhi would exercise democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protests.
"As you know, we support the right of peaceful, non-violent protest around the world," State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, told reporters during her daily news conference.
"That said, India is a democracy, and we count on India to exercise appropriate democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest," Nuland said in response to a question

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nosy- ... st/831000/

IMO A good caution to INC stooges, not to mess with peaceful protesting (PC Chidambaram are you listening?).

sum · Post by **sum** » 12 Aug 2011 12:58

^^ So, the US wasnt "nosy" when it commented on Modi, Gujarat etc which was cheered by INC and its chelas? How come such a headline didn't come in at that time?

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 12 Aug 2011 13:05

Bigotry of the Indian Express scribes.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 12 Aug 2011 13:34

Baba Ramdev has stated that he will nationalize everything under patanjali banner if any charges against him is proved. Likewise he has challeneged diggy piggie's ilk to do the same. Cornered Congi Dhongi Diggy Piggies.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 12 Aug 2011 18:12

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 578705.cms

Government ministers are working overtime to "take the wind out of the sails" of Anna Hazare's movement, but there is no letup in the hubris of these ministers.

The government is ready for talks on the Lokpal Bill but it is for civil society leader Anna Hazare to decide, home minister P Chidambaram said on Friday.

"It is for Hazare to decide (whether to take part in the discussion)," Chidambaram told a press conference here.

Asked if the proposed fast by Hazare here from Aug 16 will be permitted, Chidambaram said the police will decide.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 12 Aug 2011 18:18

[CT Alert]There is going to be massive repression on AH and his movement on 8/16. That is why Rajmata is out of the country. Yuvaraj is after all yuvraj and is part of a group. Some heads will roll after Rajmata comes back and she will force GoI to accept LP bill. This is a charade from the beginning. I hope AH comes out safe and sound at the end [/CT alert]

SCB had even more cult than any of these modern gandhis. Even he couldnt fight the propaganda + state combination.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 12 Aug 2011 18:21

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 578270.cms

If the sale of rakhis is anything to go by, social activist Anna Hazare should be topping the popularity charts in Bihar - ahead of even cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni!

A day ahead of Raksha Bandhan also known as Rakhi celebration, rakhis sporting the face of the 74-year-old Gandhian or named after him are doing brisk business across the state.

And those dedicated to political heroes like chief minister Nitish Kumar or his rival Lalu Prasad are lagging behind.

"Rakhis named after Anna are selling briskly," said Guddu Singh, a shopkeeper at the wholesale market in Old Patna city.

He said it was the first preference for people. "Anna has a clear edge over Nitish and Lalu in the rakhi market," he said.

Agreed Surender Kumar, another shopkeeper: "The demand for rakhis with a picture of Anna is high among all, including girls, youth and children."

Till last year, said Mohammed Hashib, Nitish Kumar and Lalu reigned.

"The rakhis are in huge demand. Even those who do not purchase these rakhis want to have a look at them."

Interestingly, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh don't really figure in the rakhi markets.

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

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?731094

Government today said that Anna Hazare's plan to go on fast from August 16 on Lokpal issue is "unjustified" at this stage, when it is moving forward on the passage of the bill.

"At this stage an extra Parliamentary protest seems unjustified," Home Minister P Chidambarm said when asked how the government views Hazare's proposed agitation at a time when the draft bill for Lokpal is being deliberated before the Standing Committee.

Noting that "everybody has a right to protest and the context and circumstances will decide whether the protest was right or not", Chidamabram said Hazare team's earlier fast, when the Lokpal bill was not in place, was perhaps right but not now when a bill has already been introduced in Parliament and the government has "moved forward" on it.

Asked about Team Anna's claims of 90 per cent support in Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi for Jan Lokpal bill, the Home Minister said that he can only repeat what Union Minister Kapil Sibal had earlier said that "we are surprised it is not 100 per cent".

The Home Minister said people of the country are "reasonably satisfied" with the government moving forward on the Lokpal bill.

Asked whether the ministers can claim to have gauged the mood of the voters in their constituencies on the Lokpal issue especially in the backdrop of Team Anna's surveys in Amethi and Chandani Chowk showing people's support for Jan Lokpal bill, Chidambaram said that there are no such methods before MPs to conduct any referendum.

There is also no legal mechanism for it but the interactions with party workers and voters give an indication that people are satisfied with the government's initiative on the issue, he said.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 12 Aug 2011 18:30

RamaY wrote:[CT Alert]There is going to be massive repression on AH and his movement on 8/16. That is why Rajmata is out of the country.

^^^ but isn't she suffering from cancer cervix?

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/181 ... rgery.html

she had Werthime's hysterectomy + radiotherapy as well. Last heard on facebook.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 12 Aug 2011 20:52

Rajmata's health condition is a different issue best left aside.What is alarming is the increasing aggressiveness of PC against Anna Hazare, Modi, and in general the aggressiveness of INC against anything that gives advantage to the BJP.A fear psychosis seems to have set into the INC, and PC is shooting off pre-emptive assaults on AH and team, Ramay ji's analysis is correct, come 8/16 and there will be massive repression,the groundwork is being laid for it.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Aug 2011 21:09

MHA is leading the charge to get President's rule in Gujarat.

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 12 Aug 2011 21:19

sanjeevpunj wrote:Rajmata's health condition is a different issue best left aside.What is alarming is the increasing aggressiveness of PC against Anna Hazare, Modi, and in general the aggressiveness of INC against anything that gives advantage to the BJP.A fear psychosis seems to have set into the INC, and PC is shooting off pre-emptive assaults on AH and team, Ramay ji's analysis is correct, come 8/16 and there will be massive repression,the groundwork is being laid for it.

That is not how we should read PC. There is a concerted move again to remove MMS and replace him with either RG or AKA. RG is still not ready for the prime time as he and his mom are s h i t scared. AKA seems best bet. If such a replacement actually happens then PC would like to see himself as PM. He is just warning INC that he can destroy it by going overboard against BJP or massively respond to Hazare.

INC has a nice option. They can make PC as PM.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 13 Aug 2011 12:25

Hmm, interesting angle, so thats what PC is pushing for.However, much of the Indian security apparatus doesn't like this man, he has the death of thousands of CRPF soldiers on his head, Maoists are baying for his blood.If he is capable of leading India to victory, why not.The danger is of him becoming autocratic, and pushing India into becoming a dictatoriship, with himself at the top.Chances are very less though.

sanjeevpunj · Post by **sanjeevpunj** » 13 Aug 2011 12:27

Nothing wrong with US remark on fast: Team Anna
New Delhi: Responding to a US State Department official's call for 'restraint' in dealing with Anna Hazare's proposed fast from August 16, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan on Saturday said it's the duty of a nation to speak up if a country was violating its citizens' rights.
"If they feel and see that human rights, democratic rights of people to protest are denied, then every country has a right and a duty to tell the government of that country that this should not be done," Bhushan told a news channel.

Do you feel USA is playing soft tunes into the ears of AH Team? Or is it a genuine reaction by USA?

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/whats-wrong- ... 409-3.html

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 Aug 2011 13:05

Some of PCs kaarnama here. Read it all:
S Gurumurthy narrats how Amit Shah has been fixed by fabrication

The climax of the CBI story is how it smuggled Amit Shah into the Sohrabuddin case. Here is a brief, simple account of the complex episode. There are two chargesheets in the case; one by Gujarat CID (July 2007) in which AP Police figured as co-conspirators; the other by CBI [July 2010], which has scored out AP police as accused and inserted Amit Shah instead. The Congress-led AP and the BJP–led Rajasthan and Gujarat had jointly chased Sohrabuddin with the common motive of fighting terror. But with AP Police absolved and the encounter made an all-BJP affair, the motive of the encounter too had to be changed. Or is it vice versa? Anyway, if fight against crime and terror were the motive, Amit Shah and BJP would be seen as fighting terror; the Congress as supporting it. That would be deadly for the Congress in Gujarat. So, the CBI had to invent some ignoble motive for the encounter – to depict Amit Shah more as corrupt, and less as fighting terror. See how the CBI innovates, actually fabricates.
The CBI chargesheet therefore understandably accused Amit Shah and Gujarat Police thus: that they were running an extortion racket, even using Sohrabuddin for its extortion business; (Para 4&5) that Shah got Sohrabuddin to fire at the business premises of “Popular Builders” owned by two brothers, Raman Patel and Dasarath Patel, on 8.12.2004, to have a case registered against Sohrabuddin as accused, to justify killing him in encounter later and use his encounter to threaten others and extort; (Para 4,5&9) that, for the purpose, Shah directed Patels to name Sohrabuddin as accused in Popular Builders case, threatening them with “dire consequences”, if they did not. (Para 4&10)
Note the dates. Firing at Popular Builders took place on 8.12.2004; Sohrabuddin was killed on 26.11.2005; Shah threatened Patels on 16.12.2005. Now analyse. The CBI says that in December 2004 – note 2004 – Shah wanted Sohrabuddin as accused in Popular Builders case to justify killing him later. In the same breath, it says that Shah threatened Patels a year later, in December 2005 – note 2005 – to name Sohrabuddin as accused in Popular Builders case! Sohrabuddin became suspect in Popular Builders firing for the first time in December 2005 – that is, after his death, not in 2004.
This single fact shreds the CBI innovation that Shah got Sohrabuddin to fire to have a case registered against him in 2004, to justify killing him later. Did the CBI make the silly mistake of reading December 2005 as December 2004? Or, is it a crude fabrication? Or both? Read on.
The stupid story that Shah had planned the firing incident is proved bogus by the facts of Popular Builders case. The case was in cold storage for eight months, not knowing who the accused was! If Shah got the firing got done specifically to make Sohrabuddin accused, how could the case languish in search of an accused for eight months? See further. In June 2005, Rajasthan police informed Gujarat police, in normal exchange of clues, that Sohrabudin’s associates, questioned in another case, had confessed to their involvement in some firing at Ahmedabad in 2004. Yet, even on 5.8.2005, the case file read “undetected”, meaning no suspects found! When Tulsi Prajapathi and Sylvester, Sohrabuddin’s sharp shooters, were brought to Gujarat from Rajasthan in December 2005, they confessed that they had fired at Popular Builders at Sohrabuddin’s behest. The Gujarat police also found that before and after the firing – that is 7th and 9th December 2004 – Sohrabuddin had called Patels from his cell phone. Knowing that Sohrabuddin had ordered the firing to threaten Patels to pay up his dues, the Gujarat Police questioned Patels, on December 15/16 2005; but they persistently suppressed their links with Sohrabuddin, forcing the police to add them as accused. These irrefutable facts reduce the CBI story – that Shah got Sohrabuddin to fire in 2004 to make Sohrabuddin accused then itself to justify killing Sohrabuddin later – into bizarre and absurd fabrication.
Come to extortion as the motive for the encounter. It is based on Patels’ evidence. Here is a one-line profile of Patels. They are realtors – read land mafia – caught in land-related criminal cases. The interest of Patels waiting to hit at Gujarat government, and of the CBI eager to fix it, had become common. Patels testified that, to avoid arrest in some other case, they had paid Shah Rs 70 lakhs, in three instalments on specific dates, through Ajay Patel, Shah’s friend. But, as noticed in the high court anticipatory bail order of Ajay Patel, his passport showed that, on the date of the second payment claimed, he was in Singapore, which meant that Patels were indeed lying.
Patels also rendered a strange help the CBI by doing four bizarre sting operations on the unwary Ajay Patel and another friend of Shah; Patels gave the sting CDs running several hours to CBI. Yet, surprisingly, in the stings, Patels didn’t even hint about either Shah’s threat or the payment. In contrast, stings show Patels complimenting Ajay Patel for never indulging in any “money talk”! Anyway, if the threat and payment were true, Patels would have fixed Shah’s friends on both issues in the sting. But, they did not dare do it.
What’s the inference? Both charges are false. The CBI had intentionally made the accused in Popular Builders case, hardened criminals, as its witnesses in Sohrabuddin case, Patels being the star witnesses, to support CBI’s (bogus) story that the motive for Sohrabuddin’s murder was extortion. As part of this strategy, the CBI has planned to take over the Popular Builders case, reinvestigate it based on the (fake) theory that it was Shah who got the firing done, and absolve all accused in that case. Was it not this lollypop that made Patels and other accused to tell lies to support CBI’s bogus charges? Alas, with the CBI story that Shah himself had planned Popular Builders firing proving to be hoax, their testimonies against Shah are fit only for shredder. The fabricated case against Amit Shah is of course good enough to arrest him and disturb the best-governed and most prosperous state in the country.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 13 Aug 2011 19:00

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 592045.cms

Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday accused the government of betraying the nation's trust, and said if he had known the government would cheat he wouldn't have called off his fast in April.

Addressing a press conference ahead of his fast from Aug 16, Hazare said because of the government's misgovernance, the US got the opportunity to pass remarks on the country's internal matters.

The activist expressed his anger against the restrictions put up by Delhi Police for his hunger strike - allowing him to hold it for just three days at a park in central Delhi.

"We have been telling the government about the Aug 16 fast since April...about a month and half back we told them again about the fast and asked them for a protest site and gave them options. I have written so many letters to the prime minister," Hazare said.

Refusing to agree with Delhi Police which has asked him to sign an undertaking that the fast will end in three days, he said: "We don't agree with the restrictions of the police. The fast will happen."

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday, Hazare commented on the furore created over a US State Department official's call for "restraint" in dealing with the fast.

He said: "It's regretful that because of your misgovernance, US got the opportunity to interfere and pass remarks on the country's internal matters."

"We hope that the prime minister will respond to my letter," he told media persons.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 13 Aug 2011 19:19

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 590671.cms

Peeved at being denied permission to hold an indefinite fast from August 16 on a venue desired by him, Anna Hazare on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accusing the government of "crushing" the fundamental rights of people.

In the strongly-worded letter, written in Hindi, Hazare charged the Government with suppressing those who raised their voice against corruption.

"Your Government is trying to crush those who raise their voice against corruption. This is happening more often in your Government," Hazare said in his letter.

Noting that he was not given permission to hold fast at the venues sought by him, without any proper reason assigned, Hazare questioned, "Whether all this does not give the impression of dictatorship?"

"Does it behove of you to crush the fundamental rights of people by murdering democracy and violating the Constitution? People say your government is the most corrupt government since independence, though I am of the view that every successive government is more corrupt than the previous one."

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 13 Aug 2011 19:21

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 589613.cms

The Anna Hazare team on Saturday said it has been asked by Delhi Police to give an undertaking that it will end its protest fast at a park in central Delhi in two-and-half days, a condition which it said was not acceptable and "totally unconstitutional".

Anna Hazare team member Manish Sisodia said they have received a letter from Delhi Police giving permission for holding the protest at Jai Prakash Narain Park for two-and-a-half days.

"They have asked us to given an undertaking that we will end our fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park in that period. This is not acceptable to us," he said.

"We are discussing the matter. We may now sit at Jantar Mantar," he said.

Hazare was denied permission by Delhi Police to hold fast at the capital's protest hotspot Jantar Mantar and instead offered Jai Prakash Narain Park as the venue.

Lokpal bill drafting committee member Prashant Bhushan slammed the undertaking as totally unconstitutional.

"They (Delhi Police) are saying you first give an undertaking that you will move out in 2 or 3 days. Then we will given you permission. Requiring such an undertaking is absurd and totally unconstitutional. Therefore, there is no question of giving any such undertaking," Bhushan said.

Krishna_V · Post by **Krishna_V** » 13 Aug 2011 20:38

JP in one of his recent interviews mentioned he was involved in drafting Lokpal bill...not sure if its the Gov version or Anna's version...any idea?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 13 Aug 2011 22:25

Anna was chanting Vande Matram and Bharta Mata ki Jai on TV and mentioned that freedom have not come to India yet . He was doing BR speak. How long before some one charge him with communalism / Hindutva etc.

sum · Post by **sum** » 13 Aug 2011 22:26

^^ Dont worry...not too long. Certain NGOs and "prominent personalities" will raise this issue from 16th onwards if heat on INC/GoI increases.

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 14 Aug 2011 01:39

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 592045.cms

Your misgovernance led US interference-Anna to PM

I don't think this is OK, US should not be given opportunity to give pravachan on governance issues , I hope Anna doesn't use this to score brawny points over government (which he seems to be doing).

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 14 Aug 2011 06:15

BRFites in desh should turn off lights between 8 and 9pm tomorrow. I dunno how NRI's in desh-bidesh are responding to this whole Jan-Lokpal movement. I haven't seen much happening in massa or anywhere else. Please pardon my ignorance if I missed something here.