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

[Murugan]

http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/

[Murugan]

Nine Non-NDA opposition parties unite Demanding Strong Lokpal

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nine- ... al/835845/

Holding placards, leaders of the four Left parties along with leaders of RLD, TDP, JD (Secular), AIADMK and BJD including former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, Sitaram Yechury (CPM), Ajit Singh (RLD) and Nama Nageshwar Rao (TDP) raised slogans in support of their demand here.

****

From above IAC website

Events happening across the country:

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Cjandrashekhar addressed a 3000 strong public meeting at Freedom Park, Bangalore in support of the Jan Lokpal bill that he has submitted in parliament on August 8.

Baroda MP Balu Shukla, Rajendra Singh from Bhavnagar and P. Kiritbhai Solanki has declared written support to Anna Hazare.

Dharna outside Sheela Dikshit’s , Kamal Nath’s and Subodh Kant Sahay’s residence.

Many MPs have said that they will fast beneath Gandhi’s statue tomorrow and join Anna’s demand for Jan Lokpal.
Madhusudan Yadav, MP of Rajanand gaon has given a letter of support to Anna

[IndraD]

If some one wants to kow what a massive media exercise government has put up to counter AH, just google-

Crowd at Ramlila Maidan dwindles as protesters go back to work

The same news item has been published on more than 15 news papers.

In particular Hindustan Times has crossed all limits of loyalty (read a** licking), if there is a change of govt tomorrow, it should be investigated how media houses have benefitted from corrupt congress.

[Murugan]

IndraD, it is too late for con-gress to up the ante.

Things happening at local level have influenced people more than bikau english print media.

[chetak]

This is getting interesting onlee

'Will dance naked if government doesn't pass Lokpal Bill'

New Delhi, August 23, , 2011

A Delhi-based actor and model Salina Wali Khan has found a unique way to express solidarity with Anna Hazare. She has claimed that since she is also a victim of corruption, she will dance naked if the government fails to pass the lokpal bill.

[Tamang]

Err, why would the Govt pass the bill now. Or maybe she knows that the govt can not afford to not pass the bill.

[Aditya_V]

Poonam pandey II- lets move on. The dirty tricks have started.

for those interested anther news item related to the said person
Woman beats up 'model' husband

[gakakkad]

Err, why would the Govt pass the bill now. Or maybe she knows that the govt can not afford to not pass the bill.

They ll never pass the bills if such tempting offers are made.

[Manish_Sharma]

Say the worst case happens, and this is the vehicle for RG to come to power in 2014. Assume MMS is sidelined, and Antonia passes away.

Having seen the mood of the people, how likely is RG to allow the Cong to function in the "business as usual" mode? I think he would at least attempt to clean things up somewhat...at least the mega-scams might be less likely.

That's why the family is in politics to 90 percenti of the loot, that's the new era senior RG ushered in. That loot became for family instead of party funds.

No RG will come to power just to cover-up the old loot and continue with fresh loot.

[Pranav]

Convene joint session of Parl to pass Jan Lokpal bill: Kalyan
PTI | 03:08 PM,Aug 23,2011

Lucknow, Aug 23 (PTI) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh today demanded that a joint session of Parliament be convened to discuss and pass the "strong" Jan Lokpal Bill put forward by the civil society.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/n ... 97506.html

Ex-PM Gujral expresses solidarity with Anna's anti-graft campaign - http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/236818

[IndraD]

Nine Non-NDA opposition parties unite Demanding Strong Lokpal

This is a very significant move,

at the moment middle class hates congress and accomplice

NDA led by BJP has failed to make an impression that they are with the bill

(hence against corruption)

While they attack the govt they never say they will support the bill

This is the right moment for nationalist parties to make an impression

Also for us to know who stands where and with whom.

Is time ripe for a new party?

[chetak]

Say the worst case happens, and this is the vehicle for RG to come to power in 2014. Assume MMS is sidelined, and Antonia passes away.

Having seen the mood of the people, how likely is RG to allow the Cong to function in the "business as usual" mode? I think he would at least attempt to clean things up somewhat...at least the mega-scams might be less likely.

That's why the family is in politics to 90 percenti of the loot, that's the new era senior RG ushered in. That loot became for family instead of party funds.

No RG will come to power just to cover-up the old loot and continue with fresh loot.

If anything happens to the rani, the kangressi party will immediately SPLIT in to many factions.

Yuvraj and siblings will seek refuge outside onlee.

Unwept, unhonored and unsung.

For yuvraj to bloom, the rani has to be around. It's a package deal. The rani knows where the bodies are buried and how to side step more than a few landmines.

[IndraD]

biraathers latest news is raj mata is coming back by end of this month (as on 23/8/11-India Today). But in what health & form (that means how active) we do not know.

[Murugan]

Bukhari draws flak

http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/an ... 27746.html

A day after he urged Muslims to stay away from Anna Hazare’s anti corruption campaign, the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari has drawn flak from community leaders.

Imam Bukhari had accused Anna Hazare of working on RSS and BJP’s behest and described his slogans as ‘anti-Islamic’.


Reacting to his appeal to the Muslims, the All India Ulema Council general secretary Maulana Mehmood Daryabadi said that these might be Bukhari’s personal view and need not be taken as the view of the whole community.

Taking a dig at Bukhari, Daryabadi described him as a ‘Royal Imam’ of mosque built by an emperor and said that he doesn’t represent the views of a common Muslim.

According to newspaper reports, Bukhari failed to garner any support for his views even outside the Jama Masjid. A local hawker Mohammad Irfan insisted that he supports Anna wholeheartedly for ‘at least someone is standing-up for the country’.

Though, some voices differed also. Another hawker Rehman dismissed the whole movement as meagre drama opining that, “He wants BJP to rule."


Anna’s movement is gaining steam among Muslims in Mumbai also where NGO representatives and clerics are exploring the idea of a rally from Crawford Market to Azad Maidan on Tuesday.

Bukhari’s views were also condemned by the Maharashtra Urdu Writer's Guild that called his statement as ‘misleading’.

On Bukhari’s objections on Vande Matram and Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans, the guild opined that these are the ways of expressing love for the country and should be taken in right context.

Guild president Salam Bin Razzak further said, “Muslims may not worship the motherland but their love for it is second to none. Bukhari is needlessly communalizing the movement against corruption."

Vande Mataram not an issue for Muslims

Daily News & Analysis -

Delhis' Shahi Imam may have appealed to Muslims to stay away from Anna Hazare and his anti corruption brigade, but they are not deterred by his views.

Muslims snub Imam, join Anna
NDTV

It seems the message from the top Muslim cleric hasn't spread well among the community. A day after Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, pointed out that slogans such as 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', staples of Anna's campaign, did not make Muslims any comfortable, more and more people from the community are flocking to the Ramlila Maidan.

[Lalmohan]

hmmm... is bukhari part of the Cong-gravy train status quo?

[Murugan]

Feeding frenzy
Meanwhile, a large number of fasting Muslim volunteers were seen feeding hungry protesters at the venue. Iqbal (23), a volunteer in one of the kitchens, was seen distributing food to supporters on Sunday. "This is our struggle for freedom. I have kept my roza, but that does not deter me from feeding all these people."

Maqsood Ull Hasan Qasmi, president of the Imam Council of India, who was present at Ramlila Maidan, asked fellow Muslims to come out in support of Anna. "We all are equal sufferers in this. This is our second freedom struggle," he said while addressing the gathering.

Resignation
The 'anti'-effect of Bukhari's message was such that a Muslim MLA from Okhla resigned from his party and joined the crowd at Ramlila Maidan. Former RJD MLA Asif Mohammad Khan said, "There are two ways to go. One is to support the movement and another is to toe the party line. I chose the first one, sensing the people's mood."

The leader said he was miffed over party leader Lalu Prasad's stand on the issue and he himself did not want to go against people's wishes. "I am people's elected representative and will always be with them," he said.


On Bukhari asking Muslims not to join Anna's protest, Khan requested clerics not to give such statements. "I would request him not to divide people on religious lines. Anna's voice is also the voice of common Muslim. I request him to respect it."

[Murugan]

This Article Cannot be Missed. It is music to ears. After a long time such an article is published on main page of ToI group Akhbar

Jan Lokpal Bill: Does the fear of space loss make public intellectuals and unsuccessful leaders oppose the Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement

RELATED ARTICLES
NEW DELHI: Looks like it is the turn of public intellectuals of the Arundhati Roy mould and unsuccessful leaders among Dalits to get fidgety over Anna Hazare's growing popularity as the new CEO of India's Grievance Inc - after the government found itself in a strategic bad spot.

While Ms Roy castigated the movement as an "awful crisis" that has stemmed from "the utter failure of India's representative democracy", so-called Dalit leaders such as Kancha Illaiah and Udit Raj, National President of the Justice Party, see Anna Hazare's impromptu mass mobilisation as a conspiracy of forces owing allegiance to "manuwadi parties".

Roy went to the extent of saying that "the aggressive nationalism and flag-waving of Anna's Revolution are all borrowed, from the anti-reservation protests, the world-cup victory parade, and the celebration of the nuclear tests". For his part, Illaiiah told a newspaper, "The Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minorities have nothing to do with it . We oppose it."

Sociologist Shiv Vishwanathan says both these camps - who often find a common platform - are missing the point. "This is a fight against corruption and I am sure there is indeed an adequate representation of all classes in this struggle, but one doesn't need to count and figure out any such representation."

"At this point it is premature to talk about caste," he says, adding that people's anger at the collapse of delivery systems and the government's own 'arrogance' can't be looked at as a farcical act. "This mobilisation has a lot of passion. This is something new and intellectuals shouldn't categorise this as a naive phenomenon. They have to wait and see." Roy said in Hyderabad on Sunday that she felt uncomfortable over the developments in Delhi.

Across Delhi and other parts of the country, people continued to throng thoroughfares to march in support of Anna Hazare, who is fasting unto death to push the government to accept the Jan Lok Pal bill, which is aimed at curbing graft. The ongoing fast by Hazare reached the seventh day on Monday.

Visvanathan feels that many intellectuals have understood the significance of Anna's movement and are sympathetic of it. "Forget the person. Forget ideologies. Look at the issue. Look at the facts. There is something that you can't ignore. People are out there offering their support. I only hope that it doesn't get intolerant by some chance. So far it hasn't been."

Besides, he adds, "no movement has to have representation of the whole of society". While no one has done a caste-based survey of the protesters to substantiate their viewpoint, the so-called Dalit leaders and opinion leaders like Roy, like the government, see ground beneath their feet slipping as Anna manages to mobilise masses discontented with political parties.

Visvanathan says that the media is to blame for putting the spotlight on "usual suspects" among Dalits and so-called intellectuals such as Roy who come out with 'old-fashioned' statements about an entirely 'new phenomenon'. Two politicians, a Congress leader and a CPM functionary, said that intellectuals like Arundhati Roy fear for erosion of their space as so-called keepers of the other India's conscience and champions of subaltern politics.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 700783.cms

[SaiK]

IMO, constitution is supreme and important.. but when it is lies on a bed of filth (politicians and corrupt officials), there goes it in the garbage. It is important for any country to realize this..

we keep saying this can happen only in India, and no where else, this happens etc.. we lacked, lacking and will lack all mindset is what would kill this movement further.. The criminals are now working against the well set minds, and now attacking with constitution is mightier than individual and freedom itself. What constitutes is ignored..

And, there are mightier pens working for the criminals and a large section of public which supports corruption, and has built temple and living around it as a religion.

We have the next generation of "corrupted-way-of-life", and I doubt many honest minorities understand.

[Manish_Sharma]

If anything happens to the rani, the kangressi party will immediately SPLIT in to many factions.

Yuvraj and siblings will seek refuge outside onlee.

Unwept, unhonored and unsung.

For yuvraj to bloom, the rani has to be around. It's a package deal. The rani knows where the bodies are buried and how to side step more than a few landmines.

Exactly, here is a classic example of how she got yuvraj out of dollar trouble in US during ABV regime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opGxcOju ... FE8D987F9C

[Inder Sharma]

Jan Lokpal to be tabled in the Parliament.

[sumishi]

...
One unanswered Q.Is there any coincidence between the Indian uprising and those in the Arab world? Are we being manipulated or are outside elements making use of the opportnuity which the UPA has presented them with?

PPS:Britain's secret role in Libya.
...

Certainly something to keep at the back of the mind for now, for the entire world seems to be in turmoil along with the economic tsunami advancing on the West, and subsequently the world. Order out of chaos is a chief guiding strategy of a NWO, in whatever way one designates it.
Another viewpoint, esoteric, of the junta turmoil all over is the second interpretation of the Mayan 2012 "prediction": A mass awakening (rise in consciousness) to the illusions (falsehood) under which people live, a la the Matrix.

[Anantha]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Will-danc ... 36415.aspx

A Delhi-based actor and model Salina Wali Khan has found a unique way to express solidarity with Anna Hazare. She has claimed that since she is also a victim of corruption, she will dance naked if the government fails to pass the lokpal bill.

[uddu]

at the moment middle class hates congress and accomplice

Actually it's everyone except the rich.
The most affected by corruption are the poor people, who need services like ration card etc and the middle class. So the support for Anna comes from these two quarters.
The rich ones who make money through corruption and corrupt practices will be really worried.

[Mauryan]

Here's rebuttal to Arundhati

Why I’d rather be Anna than Arundhati
http://clearvisor.wordpress.com/2011/08 ... arundhati/

[Patni]

READ: PM's letter to Anna Hazare

August 23, 2011 18:00 IST
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday wrote a letter to activist Anna Hazare on the Lokpal issue.

The text of the letter is as follows:

"Over the last few days, I have watched with increasing concern the state of your health. Despite the differences between the Government and your team, I do not think that anybody is or should be in any doubt about the deep and abiding concern which I and our Government share about your health, arising from your continuing fast. I have no hesitation in saying that we need your views and actions in the service of the nation, from a robust physical condition and not in the context of frail or failing health.

I have maintained that your and our object is identical viz. to reduce significantly, if not eliminate, the scourge of corruption from this country. At worst, our paths and methodologies may differ, though I do believe that even those differences have been exaggerated. The Government is committed to passing a constitutionally valid and the best possible Lok Pal legislation with inputs from Civil Society with the broadest possible consensus. We are ready to talk to anybody. However, we will have to keep in mind Parliamentary supremacy and constitutional obligations in matters of legislation. As a Government we respect and are responsible to the Will of the Indian People as represented by Parliament.

As you are aware, the Lok Pal bill is now before a Standing Committee of Parliament. I have made it clear earlier and would like to restate that all options are open before the Standing Committee. Undoubtedly, they would be entitled to consider, in detail and clause by clause, subject to their discretion, not only the Bill introduced by us but the Jan Lokpal Bill and other versions like those prepared by Ms. Aruna Roy. Equally, I do maintain that they are fully entitled to make any changes to the Bill introduced by the Govt. and referred to them. In that view of the matter, the formal non introduction of the Jan Lokpal Bill version by the government is irrelevant and would largely boil down to a semantic debate.

Nevertheless, in view of the concern repeatedly expressed by your team that the Jan Lokpal Bill version should be before Parliament, but more particularly and more importantly, in view of my deep and abiding concern for your health, our government is prepared to request the Speaker, Lok Sabha to formally refer the Jan Lokpal Bill also to the Standing Committee for their holistic consideration alongwith everything else. Furthermore, if you have any anxieties about time and speed, the Government can formally request the Standing Committee to try, subject to its discretion and the necessity to reflect deeply and spend adequate time on an important Bill, and fast track their deliberations to the extent reasonably feasible.

I would like to say that this letter and each suggestion herein is actuated solely by the twin considerations of deep and genuine concern about your health and the emergence of a strong and effective Lok Pal Act in accordance with established constitutional precept and practice.

I do hope that you will consider my suggestions and end your fast to regain full health and vitality."

[brihaspati]

Philip wrote
One unanswered Q.Is there any coincidence between the Indian uprising and those in the Arab world? Are we being manipulated or are outside elements making use of the opportnuity which the UPA has presented them with?

Actually the most interesting question would be as to why is there such organizing talents, media management, "voluntarily" coming forward suddenly now behind AH and his campaign - when such a reaction never, ever came up about 26/11. It shows what the priorities are for people who have been at the core of the movement.

The priority is about money and monetary issues over and above all others. Typically such a concern is more acute for those who have much more than those who have little. I would have found merit in all the organizational talent shown in managing web tech by yuppies for AH if they had shown this enthusiasm in mounting campaigns against the system that put such enormous number of lives at risk in events like 26/11 - and where pontiffs declared that such things happened normally - and that no retaliation or counter-measures should be taken for the sake of WKKism. Weren't the same yuppie brigade campaigning for "peace"?

Things move in India, when external network connections interests coincide with internal most loud voiced elite factional interests. As always Indian elite or mercantile mentality classes are often divided into factional classes - one of which feels being deprived by the other. Most of the time this division is a tie of strength. When external network connections to the same mercantile mentality elite factions also share the same interest as the "deprived" faction - things "happen". This was the story of 1977, and intermediate many less obvious stories. We are seeing just another of those phases.

Do keep the campaign going on from western big-biz circles for the last 3-4 years about corruption in India. A restructuring has been going on over the last 5 years in international big capital control/managerial groups [not ownership]. The cold war stage business controllers have been going out one by one, and another competing newer generation is coming up and taking over - one more flexible ideologically but equally aggressive. This section is coming up against older remnants of previous arrangements with client side economies in "ex-third-world".

In some cases - as in Libya - the side-effects are not bad for overall march of democracy and people diluting their ties to tribal Islamism. In India, on the other hand, the issues are chosen carefully - 26/11 channeled towards WKKism - while LokPal Bill is activated.

[brihaspati]

Left knows where this is headed. They are bullnecked but not that much of idiots. Their calculations lies ahead in future alliances with the "pseudo-centre" position of the political spectrum - hence they will not directly get involved in spearheading AH. moreover their political methods do not fit into this.

[ManjaM]

Actually the most interesting question would be as to why is there such organizing talents, media management, "voluntarily" coming forward suddenly now behind AH and his campaign - when such a reaction never, ever came up about 26/11. It shows what the priorities are for people who have been at the core of the movement.

Saheb, an argument can be made that the current wave of scams is the last straw that broke the camels back and AFAIK that is what is being said. I get what you are saying and in fact I have told the same thing to others, but the feeling I am getting is that AH campaign has the appropriate dose of secularism, WKKism, anarchism, teenage angst, glamour and ideology to be attractive to a large section of population.

[IndraD]

there are various forces that are trying to make the best of the situation.

The RSS and a section of the BJP want to use the agitation to navigate the middle classes to return to the Saffron fold.

A section within the Congress wants to get rid of Manmohan Singh .

Another section wants to point out at the youth and student support, which Anna is getting to dump Rahul Gandhi

Many non-Congress and BJP parties see for themselves an opportunity to once again rule this country, something what happened during Deva Gowda and Gujral’s time.

There are a few in Team Anna who could also have their objectives. What they are only time will tell.

the Congress cadres are demoralized and some of them also want the government to collapse. They have been sidelined since many others who came from other parties have become more important.

In the end, Anna’s agitation has a lesson for the entire political class. He has galvanized forces, which will not be satisfied with status quo.

[vishvak]

An example of behavior by Delhi police

from Terms for fast set by police, says Manmohan

In his reply to Mr. Hazare's letter, the Prime Minister categorically stated that his office was in no way involved in the decision-making process on such matters.

from Anna Hazare refuses to leave Tihar Jail

ources have told NDTV that the decision to release Anna Hazare was taken after Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's intervention.

So how is it that the Delhi Police and the PMO are independent as Annaji's application for venue are to be treated completely as law and order issue, and are independent.

On the other hand, his release is political and here both the institutions - the Delhi police & the PMO - work together on the advice of RG.

RG ate into credibility of both Delhi Police & the PMO.

This is corruption then it is indeed alarming that PMO & Delhi Police are so corrupt, RG is anyways now openly corrupt to influence the Delhi Police & PMO & eat away their independence bit by bit.

[shiv]

I have heard (mainly from Government sources) th argument that this fast is "undemocratic" - blah blah blah

In a discussion elsewhere I made this post - which is as relevant here - so I am cross posting.

The sentiment I am hearing is "I support Anna Hazare's cause, but not his method"

I tried to make a list of protests that could be accused of "subverting
democratic process" by borderline legal or illegal acts or acts designed to
attract attention.

1. Slut-walk in which women demonstrate wearing as little clothing as possible
for the ostensibly "good cause" of changing attitudes/laws about womens' safety
and "modesty"

I agree with the cause. Do I agree with the method? Women in underwear with
cleavage lusciously visible? I am not sure. I certainly looked at all
available photographs with greater attention than I have paid to photos of
Anna Hazare lately.

These women are "expressing themselves" and exercising their right to
demonstrate and air their views in addition to airing normally under-
ventilated anatomy. But is this democratic process? Surely these women should
approach their local goons er local corporators or politicians and ask for help
in a more democratic process? No?

2. Tying oneself to a tree trunk to prevent cutting of trees and wanton
destruction of tree cover.

I agree with the cause. But do I agree with the method? Again I am less sure.
I would not personally do that. Surely democratic process should be followed?

3. The iconic Tiananmen protestor who lay in front of a tank.

In this case it i easy for us "democracy-nazis" to say "Hey that guy was
offering himself to be martyred for democracy. It is OK for him to lie in the
path of a tank because he was doing the most noble thing on earth - asking for
democracy. t is NOT OK for Anna Hazare to fast because it is undemocratic.

Clearly such calls for "democracy" and "democratic process" are hogwash. A
diversion - a strawman. Whether it is democracy or the Chicoms a protest is a
protest. A protest seeks to highlight what the political system disallows.

That also brings me to the hollowness of the arguments made by Indian
government mouthpieces and their minions.

I agree with Anna Hazare's cause. I don't give a damn about how he expresses
his protest. If he wants to fast - that is his business. I am not fasting, but
I support his right to protest any way he likes as much as I support his
cause. The cause does not get any weaker by pointing out that the method of
protest of one man or a few people is not liked or undemocratic. Millions
support that fast and millions more support the cause. Arguing about the
method used and this business of "democratic process" is in my view completely
irrelevant.

[asdharia]

Has anyone heard any of the Political Elites etc or the PM, mention the Rights of the People towards clean governance. They keep saying that it is the right of the Parliament to make the law, but who game them that right. I remember that scene from Wednesday where Nasiruddin Shah says to Anupan Kher that "Now that you know I am a common man, even arrogance has gone up, now you think you can nail me". This somehow sounds similar. If Anna were Taliban and had high-jacked some plan to Kandahar, or kidnapped some MP's daughter, the govt, would have agreed to all his demands without question.

[subodh]

Dr Shiv

Your point is absolutely correct - as long as there is no threat to anyone's life or limb, and no destruction of property, the method is completely democratic.

Also, the cause too is democratic.

The point is - is the demanded end result democratic? An ombudsman, not answerable to elected representatives - appears outside of the ambit of the constitution and sets up the stage for further creation of unanswerable bodies - from what i understand.

[sanjeevpunj]

How can fasting even be seen as "democratic" or "undemocratic"? These congress netas have not understood the term democracy. Practices like fasting were performed long before any system of democracy or any theocracy came into existence. Fasting is excellent for maintaining the body, though not in excess. Anna has a mission, and is doing this for the entire country.

In Anna's case, perhaps the only way he could find most suitable was the tested and tried methodology of fasting, as passed down by Gandhi ji. I see no reason to classify this as "un-democratic" or whatever. It is simply a fast for a great purpose. As long as Anna's intentions are well founded in truth, he will suceed.

[gakakkad]

There should be no cognitive dissonance on this topic.(whether democratic or not bla...bla...bla) I am happy that congis are getting a non lubricated GUBO. Even if it was "undemocratic" why care? Don't we all break laws to meet our ends?

I had my doubts initially.. (mainly due to fear of the lokpal being corrupt and some people like scami agnives doing liaison work).... but when dhoti inc. , commies et al started attacking anna I realised which sides to chose.

[Muppalla]

If fasting wrong, congress is going full circle.
(1) Bharat mata ki jai and Vandemataram used in independence movement by congress - Now they are communal
(2) Fasting and satyagraha used in independence movement - now they are undemocratic

[sumishi]

Anna adamant. Makes an emotional appeal to the crowd, and requests them to prevent (peacefully) the govt. from taking him to hospital if it tries to.

[ManjaM]

Muppalla saheb, I think BRaman had articulated this as well in one of his blogs that its a peculiar situation where the law collides with morality. Legal aspect is that suicide is illegal and moral aspect is that the exact same method was used by Gandhiji. To say that what Gandhiji did is illegal puts Congies in an enormously bad situation and in the same pedestal as the British.

[Muppalla]

Anna adamant. Makes an emotional appeal to the crowd, and requests them to prevent (peacefully) the govt. from taking him to hospital if it tries to.

Is it going to be Rang-de-basanti finale?

[SwamyG]

In the recent Devil's Advocate, Karan Thapar was owned by Arvind Khejriwal. I still do not know fully about the man, his intentions, his domestic or foreign affiliations. But one thing was sure, he handled Karan very well. He not only was calm and measured, he answered in brief and to the point. And with a smile counter punched Karan, by asking him good questions. Karan was forced to answer them, and Karan obviously went for an easier target Prashant Bhushan who was sitting next to Arvind. Prashant was getting more agitated and annoyed with Karan. At one point Arvind asked Karan to not get excited The look on Karan's face was priceless. Also once Arvind rattled a weird stats of how last time Karan had uttered more words than Arvind in the interview. Prashant quipped, "we have not come here to listen to you" (paraphrase).