New Delhi: Social activist Anna Hazare's hunger strike in New Delhi demanding changes in the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill entered the second day on Wednesday. The anti-corruption campaign began has now been joined by thousands of people with more than 150 people joining Hazare’s fast-onto-death at the Jantar Mantar.
Almost 5,000 people from all walks of life have gathered at Jantar Mantar to show their support for Hazare. Social activists and people in 400 cities all across India and foreign countries have come out in support of Hazare.In Bhopal thousands of people signed on a postcard addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi demanding introduction of Lokpal Bill in Parliament.
There have been massive protests in Maharashtra too with people coming out in support of Hazare in large numbers in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik and several other cities.
Hazare has been especially critical of Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar's presence in the Group of Minister, saying there is no place for corrupt politicians on the panel.
"The committee won't be able to do anything. Ministers have no will to fight corruption. One of the ministers in the committee is himself corrupt. I am talking about Sharad Pawar. Till Pawar is there there's no point the committee. I don't even want to meet them. I will continue my fast until death. I don't even mind dying for the nation," Hazare said.
The social activist and former Army jawan also took on the Congress and slammed that party for "misleading" the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.
"The party's (Congress) statement is misleading people. Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? For 42 years the nation has been in need of such a bill. Why can't the government enact it?" asked Hazare.
Hazare made the statement after the Congress hit back at the social activist claiming his hunger strike was just to blackmail the Government.
"Each and everyone of those activists bear far greater responsibility for this state of affairs. It is they who will lose face, it is they who have to be asked the question. What prevents them to coming to the talking table please answer? We are putting a very low threshold. How can you justify not talking without preconditions at the prior and threshold stage," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Another Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that the party wanted Hazare to break his fast and join the Government for talks. But Hazare said he was yet to get an invite.
Making it clear that his agitation was non-political, Hazare said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has also launched an anti-corruption campaign, was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.
BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi, Prakash Javadekar and Janata Dal (United) chief chief Sharad Yadav visited Hazare's protest site at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Yadav also sat on the dais with Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Hazare later said he would not allow any politician to sit with him on the dais.
We asked for more time, says govt to Anna Hazare
New Delhi: In Delhi, veteran activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare is continuing with his hunger fast - he launched it on Tuesday, and says he will not eat or drink till the government proves its commitment to fighting corruption with a powerful new law - the Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's Ombudsman Bill). (Read: What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important)
"My blood pressure is ok," said the 72-year-old. "A little weakness is there...and I think there will be some weight loss." (Watch)
Mr Hazare's call to action - along with a group called India Against Corruption, he is asking people to hold rallies, or fast for as long as they can - is resonating across hundreds of cities, a somber reflection of a country's disenchantment with the government over corruption. "Let people fill the streets like they did after India won the World Cup," said one young demonstrator. (Watch: Anna's crusaders - Students, housewives)
What Mr Hazare and other prominent activists want is for the government to ensure that those appointed to investigate corruption charges are free of political influence. They want an institution called the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in each state. On the group's official website, indiaagainstcorrpution.org, they state that these offices, "Like Supreme Court and Election Commission... will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations." (Read: Why Hazare, Others oppose Lokpal Bill 2010)
"My blood pressure is ok," said the 72-year-old. "A little weakness is there...and I think there will be some weight loss." (Watch)
Mr Hazare's call to action - along with a group called India Against Corruption, he is asking people to hold rallies, or fast for as long as they can - is resonating across hundreds of cities, a somber reflection of a country's disenchantment with the government over corruption. "Let people fill the streets like they did after India won the World Cup," said one young demonstrator. (Watch: Anna's crusaders - Students, housewives)
What Mr Hazare and other prominent activists want is for the government to ensure that those appointed to investigate corruption charges are free of political influence. They want an institution called the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in each state. On the group's official website, indiaagainstcorrpution.org, they state that these offices, "Like Supreme Court and Election Commission... will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations." (Read: Why Hazare, Others oppose Lokpal Bill 2010)
Mr Hazare says from how these officials would be selected, to their ability to accept complaints directly from the public, and then lodge police cases, the Lokpal and Lokayukta must be empowered much more than what the government has offered.
To ensure this, Mr Hazare wants civil society to be represented on the committee that drafts the Lokpal Bill. The government has said that while it values Mr Hazare's commitment and suggestions, legislation is the business of Parliament. The Prime Minister's Office tried unsuccessfully on Monday night to persuade Mr Hazare to cancel his fast. On Tuesday, as he launched his strike, spin-off demonstrations pulled in big crowds in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. (See Pictures | Comment: What should India do to fight corruption?)
On Wednesday, Kapil Sibal, a minister who is part of a "sub-group of ministers dealing with the Lokpal bill, said that Mr Hazare had been reassured that his request would be given the government's full attention. "We are open to all suggestions...but we were asked to commit that in principal, a joint committee will function. We were told that this must be done before April 5," he said. "We said we are a subgroup and we are not empowered to commit to this...so we need more time...and we will present this to a Group of Ministers (GoM) who will take a decision. So we requested that some time be given to the government to deal with these issues. Civil society should have confidence in the government. We are deeply concerned with the issue of corruption."
Mr Hazare doesn't accept these explanations. He said on Wednesday morning that "If the government were serious about fighting corruption, why are there so many delays in getting to work on it?"
To ensure this, Mr Hazare wants civil society to be represented on the committee that drafts the Lokpal Bill. The government has said that while it values Mr Hazare's commitment and suggestions, legislation is the business of Parliament. The Prime Minister's Office tried unsuccessfully on Monday night to persuade Mr Hazare to cancel his fast. On Tuesday, as he launched his strike, spin-off demonstrations pulled in big crowds in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore. (See Pictures | Comment: What should India do to fight corruption?)
On Wednesday, Kapil Sibal, a minister who is part of a "sub-group of ministers dealing with the Lokpal bill, said that Mr Hazare had been reassured that his request would be given the government's full attention. "We are open to all suggestions...but we were asked to commit that in principal, a joint committee will function. We were told that this must be done before April 5," he said. "We said we are a subgroup and we are not empowered to commit to this...so we need more time...and we will present this to a Group of Ministers (GoM) who will take a decision. So we requested that some time be given to the government to deal with these issues. Civil society should have confidence in the government. We are deeply concerned with the issue of corruption."
Mr Hazare doesn't accept these explanations. He said on Wednesday morning that "If the government were serious about fighting corruption, why are there so many delays in getting to work on it?"
What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why it's important
Source: http://indiaagainstcorruption.org/
The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.
Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption."
The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen's ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by prominent civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde (former Supreme Court Judge and present Lokayukta of Karnataka), Prashant Bhushan (Supreme Court Lawyer) and Arvind Kejriwal (RTI activist), the draft Bill envisages a system where a corrupt person found guilty would go to jail within two years of the complaint being made and his ill-gotten wealth being confiscated. It also seeks power to the Jan Lokpal to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without government permission.
Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi and other known people like Swami Agnivesh, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Anna Hazare and Mallika Sarabhai are also part of the movement, called India Against Corruption. Its website describes the movement as "an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurize the Government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption."
Anna Hazare, anti-corruption crusader, began a fast-unto-death today, demanding that this bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. The website of the India Against Corruption movement calls the Lokpal Bill of the government an "eyewash" and has on it a critique of that government Bill. It also lists the difference between the Bills drafted by the government and civil society.
A look at the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:
1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up
2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.
3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.
4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.
5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.
6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.
7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.
8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.
9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.
A look at the salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill:
1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up
2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission, they will be completely independent of the governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence their investigations.
3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore: Investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.
4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.
5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work of any citizen is not done in prescribed time in any government office, Lokpal will impose financial penalty on guilty officers, which will be given as compensation to the complainant.
6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration card or passport or voter card is not being made or if police is not registering your case or any other work is not being done in prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it done in a month's time. You could also report any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration being siphoned off, poor quality roads been constructed or panchayat funds being siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete its investigations in a year, trial will be over in next one year and the guilty will go to jail within two years.
7. But won't the government appoint corrupt and weak people as Lokpal members? That won't be possible because its members will be selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.
8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/ Lokayukta will be completely transparent. Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal shall be investigated and the officer dismissed within two months.
9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of CBI will be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have complete powers and machinery to independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician.
10. It will be the duty of the Lokpal to provide protection to those who are being victimized for raising their voice against corruption.
Hazare continues fast, slams Congress for misleading people
72-year-old Hazare is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman
Social activist Anna Hazare, who entered the second day of his indefinite fast, today slammed the Congress for “misleading” the people by dubbing his agitation as unnecessary and premature.
72-year-old Hazare, who is demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman, said, “The party’s (Congress) statement is misleading people.
Why is this agitation unnecessary and how is it premature? 42 years the nation has been in need of such a bill. Why can’t the government enact it?”
He asserted that he would not end his fast unto death till the government agrees to have citizens’ participation in the drafting of the legislation.
When pointed out that the BJP too had embarked on an anti-corruption campaign today, the reformist said the party was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.
“But, they are a political party and are free to do as they wish. In the past too, when I agitated against corruption in the BJP government, the Congress party supported me. Now, it’s the other way around”, Mr. Hazare said.
Yesterday, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar visited Hazare’s protest site at Jantar Mantar but did not make any speeches.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav too sat on the dais with Mr. Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill and even said he was ready to take it up in Parliament.
Mr. Hazare said he would not allow politicians to sit with him on the dais anymore.
The anti-corruption champion began his fast yesterday and has been joined by thousands of people.
Hazare said he did not have faith in the government or any political party and decided to take things in his own hands.
“How can they say I am using pressure tactics. Just as we sought an audience with the Prime Minister for the Jan Lokpal bill, we also tried to meet Sonia Gandhi. She did not even reply”, Mr. Hazare claimed.
On the response from the Prime Minister, the social activist said, “He (Prime Minister) should not turn a blind eye towards corruption in his government and should muster the courage to not succumb to the pressures of coalition politics“.
He said this protest was different from his previous ones as he saw a national uprising against corruption.
-The Hindu
Gandhi-Anna battle for the aam aadmi
In the symbolic fight to appropriate the common man, Anna Hazare seems to be ahead. For now
-Lakshmi Iyer
While Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were in the aam aadmi stands at Mohali and Wankhede during the world cup, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and his group of supporters were sending a blitzkrieg of smses requesting people to give them a missed call to join the fight for a more robust anti-corruption bill.
Between the Gandhis' glamorous appearance in janata seats and Kejriwal's tech-savvy tactic, the battle to appropriate the common man had never been more fiercely fought. Kejriwal and his team received seven lakh missed calls for their propaganda.
On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar was forced to step down from the Group of Ministers following corruption allegations, and massive rallies across the country in support of Anna Hazare's fast unto death, had the UPA on the back-foot.
Political observers say that the UPA government has ceded vital ground first by alleging that Anna Hazare is a front for the RSS and also by sidelining the once high profile National Advisory Council that comprises public-spirited individuals like Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze, Harsh Mander, MS Swaminathan and Anu Agha among others.
As clueless Congress stumbles with strategy to counter the Anna march, the 73-year-old's campaign is just taking off.
On Thursday, hundreds of young protestors will be criss-crossing Mumbai in Anna Hazare masks.
The message is simple: Everyman's an Anna. While the Gandhis found a place in spotlight even when surrounded by thousands of common cricket supporters in Mohali and Mumbai, it's strange that when it came to letting the same people have a say in framing the anti-corruption bill, they went on the back foot.
The cricket euphoria that the Gandhis cashed in on is waning and unfortunately for them the tide against corruption is just cresting.
-Mumbai Mirror
Gandhi-Anna battle for the aam aadmi
In the symbolic fight to appropriate the common man, Anna Hazare seems to be ahead. For now
-Lakshmi Iyer
While Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were in the aam aadmi stands at Mohali and Wankhede during the world cup, RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal and his group of supporters were sending a blitzkrieg of smses requesting people to give them a missed call to join the fight for a more robust anti-corruption bill.
Between the Gandhis' glamorous appearance in janata seats and Kejriwal's tech-savvy tactic, the battle to appropriate the common man had never been more fiercely fought. Kejriwal and his team received seven lakh missed calls for their propaganda.
 |
| Anna Hazare fasting unto death for a more robust Lokpal Bill . |
On Wednesday, Sharad Pawar was forced to step down from the Group of Ministers following corruption allegations, and massive rallies across the country in support of Anna Hazare's fast unto death, had the UPA on the back-foot.
Political observers say that the UPA government has ceded vital ground first by alleging that Anna Hazare is a front for the RSS and also by sidelining the once high profile National Advisory Council that comprises public-spirited individuals like Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze, Harsh Mander, MS Swaminathan and Anu Agha among others.
As clueless Congress stumbles with strategy to counter the Anna march, the 73-year-old's campaign is just taking off.
On Thursday, hundreds of young protestors will be criss-crossing Mumbai in Anna Hazare masks.
The message is simple: Everyman's an Anna. While the Gandhis found a place in spotlight even when surrounded by thousands of common cricket supporters in Mohali and Mumbai, it's strange that when it came to letting the same people have a say in framing the anti-corruption bill, they went on the back foot.
The cricket euphoria that the Gandhis cashed in on is waning and unfortunately for them the tide against corruption is just cresting.
 |
| The Gandhis during the WC sitting in the general stand |
-Mumbai Mirror
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