IB harassing my kin, not violated any rule: Arvind Kejriwal

Anna Hazare's aide Arvind Kejriwal, who has been issued an Income Tax notice to pay Rs 9 lakh as dues during his service in the government till 2006, on Friday said he had not violated any rules and the official claims were baseless.

"I have not violated any rule. In 2006, when I had resigned from the service, I had written to the government to deduct my dues from my general provident fund (GPF)," Kejriwal told reporters.

However, the government did not deduct the dues and instead served him a notice after four years and just before Hazare began his fast for a stronger Lokpal Bill, he said.

Kejriwal alleged that his uncle and other relatives in Siwani in Haryana were probed and harassed by officials of the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies. Officials were asking people to give information about any irregularity by him or relatives, he added.

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Jan Lokpal Bill: We are victims of Congress politics, says Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Team Anna is a "victim of Congress politics", said activist Arvind Kejriwal Thursday, a day after talks between the government and activist Anna Hazare's group ended in a deadlock.
"We have become victims of internal politics of Congress. How many rounds of talks we have had with senior leaders like Kapil Sibal and Chidambaram but nothing has happened till now. Whom will we talk to?" Kejriwal said, even as Hazare's fast entered its tenth day Thursday.
There was no breakthrough Wednesday night in the talks between the government and Hazare's team for an anti-corruption law.
"There were strong indications that Annaji could be evicted from Ramlila Maidan early morning today (Thursday). As the issue was publicised nothing was done," Kejriwal told reporters here.
Hazare has been on fast since Aug 16, the day he was arrested and taken to Tihar Jail. He was released the same day, but he refused to leave. He shifted to Ramlila ground Aug 19 where he has been continuing with his fast.

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End fast, will debate Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament: PM's offer

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saluted the idealism of fasting social activist Anna Hazare in a televised speech to Parliament on Thursday in which he urged him to end his hunger strike. Standing committee will consider all options including Jan Lokpal Bill, he said. "He has become the embodiment of our people's disgust and concern about tackling corruption," Singh said of the ailing 74-year-old, whose populist campaign has put intense pressure on the government.

"I respect his idealism. I respect him as an individual... I applaud him. I salute him."

But Singh asked all MPs to unite in requesting Hazare to halt his fast for stronger anti-corruption legislation.

"He has made his point," the prime minister said. "His life is much too precious."

Singh's public and emotional appeal came as talks between Hazare's aides and the government appeared deadlocked, and amid mounting concerns over the campaigner's health as he entered the tenth day of his fast.

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In pictures: Anna's journey from Tihar Jail to Ramlila Maidan

Civil society activist Anna Hazare said on Friday that he would not leave the Ramlila ground till the demand for a stronger anti-corruption Lokpal bill was met.

"We will not leave this place till the (stronger) Lokpal bill is passed," Hazare told crowds soon after reaching Ramlila ground in central Delhi where he will continue his fast.

Calling upon the youth to be the flag bearers of change, Hazare said they should carry forward the torch of revolution even if he were not there.

"The power of youth is the power of the nation, whether or not Anna Hazare is there or not. This torch of revolution should always remain lit," he said.

The activist reached the Ramlila ground around 2 p.m., after visiting Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat and India Gate. .

We bring to you latest pictures of the historic movement that has swept across the city and the nation and continues to grow unabated.

		Anna Hazare VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

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Anna Hazare's fast misleading, Delhi Police had no option: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday addressed the Lok Sabha and justified the police crackdown on the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.
"It's my painful duty to report to this house certain events that took place yesterday in New Delhi. After extensive consultations the government has introduced a bill in Lok Sabha, the bill has been referred to the Standing Committee. Anna Hazare wants his bill should be passed in Parliament. Government has introduced the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. Anna and supporters are persisting with the demand for the Jan Lokpal Bill," Singh said in his opening remark.
Dr Singh said that the path chosen by Anna Hazare to impose his bill is totally misconceived.
"All of us agree that Lokpal Bill should be passed by Parliament. The question is who drafts the law and who passes the law. Hazare wants to impose his Jan Lokpal Bill on Parliament," he added.
The Prime Minister also said, "It is the sole prerogative of Parliament to make laws and government has gone by well-settled principles. Team Anna must allow elected representatives of the people in Parliament to do their job."
Manmohan Singh said that Anna Hazare refused to abide by Delhi Police conditions and questioned the principle of Parliament.
Lokpal Bill should be passed as early as possible, the PM also stressed in his address.
Hazare was offered to go free last night after the Delhi Police issued warrants of release for him and seven of his associates, almost 13 hours after they were detained. However, Hazare made it clear that he would come out of the prison only if he is given permission to stage the indefinite fast at the Jai Prakash Narain Park, the original planned venue for the hunger strike.

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Anna's attempts to impose Jan Lokpal Bill misconceived: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a strong statement in Lok Sabha on the Anna Hazare standoff on Wednesday morning, defending the Delhi Police's decision to arrest the Gandhian and calling the social activist's attempts to impose his Jan Lokpal Bill on Parliament as "totally misconceived".

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare, his team and their ever-swelling supporters dug their heels in and outside the Tihar Jail, demanding the government give in to all conditions for their fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park in central Delhi.

“All of us agree that the Lokpal Bill should be passed by Parliament. The question is who drafts the law and who passes the law,” Singh said.

“It is the sole prerogative of Parliament to make laws and government has gone by well-settled principles,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Team Anna must allow elected representatives of the people to do their job.

The Prime Minister detailed before members the sequence of events that led to Anna Hazare's arrest, saying his detention and that of his colleagues' was a “preventive measure” as they had rejected several key security suggestions by the Delhi Police.

Singh said the government “acknowledges” the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests, but reiterated Hazare refuses to come out “unless the government gives him an undertaking that he would be allowed to fast at Jai Prakash Narain park”.

Ignoring loud grumbles from the Opposition, Singh appealed to all political parties to ensure that Parliament functioned smoothly.

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Lokpal Bill and the Jan Lokpal Bill

The Jan Lokpal Bill (also referred to as the citizens’ ombudsman bill) is a proposed anti-corruption law in India. It is designed to effectively deter corruption, redress grievances and protect whistle-blowers. If passed and made into law, the bill seeks to create an ombudsman called the Lokpal (translation: protector of the people) – an independent body similar to the Election Commission of India with the power to investigate politicians and bureaucrats without prior government permission.

First introduced in 1969, the bill has failed to become law for nearly over four decades.

SGandhian rights activist Anna Hazare started a Satyagraha movement by commencing a fast unto death in New Delhi to demand the passing of the bill. The movement attracted attention in the media, and thousands of supporters. Following Hazare’s four day hunger strike, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that the bill would be re-introduced in the 2011 monsoon session of the Parliament.

Attempts to draft a compromise bill, merging the Government’s version and that of the civil group’s version (Jan Lokpal), by a committee of five Cabinet Ministers and five social activists failed. The Indian government introduced its own version of the bill in the parliament, which the activists consider to be too weak.

Draft Lokpal Bill (2010)	Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill)
Lokpal does not have powers to investigate the prime minister.	Lokpal will have the powers to investigate the prime minister.
Lokpal can only probe complaints approved by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.	Lokpal will have powers to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from any citizen if it deems it worthy.
Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body with a role limited to forwarding reports to a “Competent Authority”.	Lokpal will have the power to initiate prosecution of anyone found guilty.
Lokpal will have no police powers and no ability to register a First Information Report or proceed with criminal investigations.	Lokpal will have police powers as well as the ability to register FIRs.
The CBI and Lokpal will be unconnected.	Lokpal and the anti corruption wing of the CBI will be one independent body.
Punishment for corruption will be a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of up to 7 years.	Punishments will be a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of up to life imprisonment.

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Law students examine nuances of Jan Lokpal Bill

Law students from various city colleges presented nuanced and articulate views at a debate competition held to analyse the merits and demerits of the Jan Lokpal Bill on Monday in the high court auditorium. The competition was organised by Vidarbha Lady Lawyers Association (VLLA).

Budding lawyers put forth their viewpoints on possible outcomes of the Jan Lokpal Bill. As the Bill drew support of many, the need of another institution to tackle corruption was, on the other hand, dismissed by some.

Pranjali Madnani, a student of GH Raisoni Law School, said, "There is no dearth of anti-corruption acts. The solution lies in effective implementation. There can be amendments to the present law tackling corruption. It is better that we make the best use of what we have."

She added that if the highest executives and judicial officers are included in the purview of Jan Lokpal Bill, there will be 'total anarchy.'

Countering this view was the opinion of some students that existing laws had failed to rein in corruption. "We don't have a single corruption act that has come into force until today. Multitudes have turned in support for the passage of Jan Lokpal Bill. It introduces a foolproof system to make officials from the lowest to the highest grade accountable."

Shyamali Naidu said that the Bill was a revolution and that the government has gone to great lengths to oppose it. "The government does not want to land in soup after being caught red-handed. The establishment of Lokayukta will tackle state-level corruption and will serve as a helping hand to the Supreme Court as probing in every case of CBI is not possible."

Some held that bypassing the whole system was not an effective solution to curb corruption. However, students said the Bill would definitely bring transparency into the system. Rohini Jaiswal said, "If the law for curbing corruption leaves out bureaucrats and higher officials, they would be awarded with immunity against corruption. It will not safeguard anybody if all are not included in its ambit."

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BJP rejects Anna's demand on Jan Lokpal Bill

Citizens have a right to protest but last word on any Bill is that of Parliament

The Bharatiya Janata Party is fully supporting the Anna Hazare team on its right to protest peacefully, but has categorically rejected its main demand that the team's Jan Lokpal Bill be introduced in Parliament rather than the government's Lokpal Bill.

Simultaneously, the BJP launched its own agitations country-wide to make the most of the interest generated in Mr. Hazare's campaign.

Mr. Jaitley said “dissent was the essence of democracy” and the BJP was supporting Mr. Hazare on this limited point. But, “the last word on any Bill is that of Parliament [not civil society]. However, citizens have a right to protest” and express their different views.

A similar stand was taken by BJP president Nitin Gadkari who, at a separate news conference, categorically stated that he did not agree with Team Anna on its demand that their Jan Lokpal Bill should have been presented to Parliament by the government rather than the Cabinet-approved Bill.

“It is the constitutional right of the ruling party to place its Bill before Parliament and then it is the right of all political parties to give their views and for Parliament to pass the bill,” Mr. Gadkari said.

Earlier, BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Mr. Jaitley did not reply when asked why the BJP's Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh refused permission to the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, to go to Ayodhya to protest against the BJP's ‘mandir wahin banayenge' (we will build the ram temple at the disputed site) plank. On October 29, 1991, V.P. Singh was arrested at Ram Snehi Ghat and prevented from reaching Ayodhya to protest against acquisition of land near the disputed site by the Kalyan Singh government and the flattening of some temples by Vishwa Hindu Parishad bulldozers.

Mr. Gadkari announced a series of agitations and protest marches that would be organised by his party at various places “beginning today [Tuesday].” The party slogan adopted is: “Loktantra bachao, bhrashtachar hatao” (Save democracy, end corruption). He compared the situation to the Emergency of 1975 when “democratic rights were trampled upon” by the Indira Gandhi government.

Party sources disclosed that the BJP would now make an attempt to ride the wave of public anger against corruption and prevent Mr. Hazare and his team from “hijacking” the plank from the main Opposition party.

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Hundreds gather outside Tihar jail as Anna refuses to leave

Despite being offered release, Anna Hazare spent the night in Tihar Jail refusing to come out insisting on an unconditional release and permission to launch his fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park.

The Gandhian’s aide Manoj Sisodia came out of the jail last night and said Mr. Hazare told the authorities that he will come out of the prison only after a written unconditional permission is given to continue his fast at J.P. Park, where he was to launch his hunger strike on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, sources said, Mr. Hazare got up at around 5.00 a.m. and was involved in a discussion with Mr. Kejriwal and his other associates who are in prison along with him.

Mr. Sisodia on Wednesday said, “We don’t have any information on when he will come out.”

Outside the jail premises, hundreds of people stayed through the night and expressed solidarity with Mr. Hazare and his campaign against corruption.

R.K. Saxena, a school teacher, said: “I am here to support this great cause. Government must accept Anna’s demand for the welfare of the country.”

Shouting anti-corruption slogans and holding the national tricolour, people from all walks of life started coming in large numbers from early hours of the day and joined others who were standing outside the jail premises through the night.

Ashwaq, a 38-year-old businessman, said: “I am fasting with Anna and other supporters since yesterday. I will continue my fast till Anna is freed from the jail and all his demands are accepted by the government.”

Morning walkers also joined the supporters demanding that the government release Mr. Hazare and his supporters.

Rakesh, a student, said “I am fasting with Anna for the bill and to uproot corruption from the country“.

“It is inhuman to punish Anna and others like this. He is fighting for the people and for the country. Government must pass Jan Lokpal bill,” Rekha Lalwani, a student of Delhi University, said.

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