Govt likely to decide on Jan Lokpal Bill today

New Delhi: As Anna Hazare's fast enters the eighth day on Tuesday, a worried Government is likely to take a decision on placing the Jan Lokpal Bill before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. With no quick-fix formula in hand, the Government is weighing over various options.

Under pressure, the Congress Party's main troubleshooters Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and Ahmed Patel held a meeting at the Prime Minister's residence on Monday to discuss the party's strategy on the issue.

Sources tell CNN-IBN that the Government is thinking of placing the Jan Lokpal Bill as a corrigendum in Parliament.

Sources also say that there is no plan to withdraw the Government's version of the Lokpal Bill and that the Government will take the final decision on Tuesday.

Sources say that the Government is also considering bringing the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal.

Sources also said that the Government is exploring the option of getting the Opposition to support the idea that Anna Hazare cannot be allowed to bypass Parliament.

The Government is contemplating the option of requesting the Standing Committee to ensure that its proceedings are completed within two months, said the sources.

The Government's next option, say sources, is calling a special session of Parliament if needs be.

The Government may consider appointing political negotiators to directly talk to Team Anna as Anna Hazare has said he doesn't want to talk to non-political negotiators, but someone from the PMO or Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Team Anna on Tuesday reiterated that they are ready for direct talks.

"A solution can be found through dialogue and not through media," said Arvind Kejriwal.

"There are two options before the Government - either introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill or amend their version of the Bill," he said.

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India detains anti-graft activist ahead of fast

Indian social activist Anna Hazare greets supporters from a police vehicle in New Delhi on August 16, 2011, after his arrest by police authorities. — Photo by AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian police on Tuesday detained a veteran anti-corruption campaigner, Anna Hazare, as he prepared to push ahead with a banned hunger strike in New Delhi, witnesses said.

The police action came in front of hundreds of Hazare supporters who had gathered to back his “fast unto death” aimed at pressuring the government into strengthening a new anti-corruption law.

“Plainclothes police came to the apartment where he was staying and asked him to accompany them peacefully,” fellow activist Akhil Gogoi told AFP.

The 74-year-old devotee of independence hero Mahatma Gandhi was driven away in an unmarked car, Gogoi said.

Police sources said he had been picked up along with two other senior activists and taken to a police facility in north Delhi.

The supporters gathered at the apartment protested his detention, shouting anti-police and pro-Hazare slogans as he was taken away.

Gogoi said the remaining leaders of Hazare’s campaign would hold an emergency meeting “to decide on a future course of action”.

Hazare had staged a 98-hour hunger strike in April that led to the government allowing him and his supporters to help draft the new anti-corruption law, called the “Lokpal” bill.

The April protest caught the country’s attention and was widely supported by celebrities at a time of growing anger over corruption after a string of scandals affecting federal and state ministers.

The proposed Lokpal bill creates a new ombudsman tasked with investigating and prosecuting politicians and bureaucrats, but Hazare wants the prime minister and higher judiciary to come under scrutiny.

Under the draft law, the premier and top judicial figures will be excluded.

Arguing that the law had been watered down, Hazare had planned to begin a second hunger strike in a New Delhi park on Tuesday.

Police banned the protest, arguing that the park was available for only three days and that Hazare had not given an undertaking to limit his fast to that time-frame.

Police had also asked him to ensure that no more than 5,000 supporters would gather at the protest site.

US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said last week that Washington counted on India “to exercise appropriate democratic restraint” when handling of anti-graft protests.

India rejected the statement as “needless” and said its constitution guaranteed freedom of expression.

“Those who don’t agree with this bill can put forward their views to parliament, political parties and even the press,” premier Manmohan Singh said in his Independence Day speech on Monday.

“However, I also believe that they should not resort to hunger strikes and fasts unto death.”

During his April strike, Hazare called for corrupt ministers to be hanged, telling a cheering crowd that “sometimes you need to resort to violence”.

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Trisha, Madhavan protest arrest of Anna Hazare

The latest developments in New Delhi regarding the detention of civil society activists like Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have outraged Trisha and Madhavan, who have debunked the action of the police on the micro blogging site, Twitter.

Trisha (id: trishtrashers) has described August 16 as a sad and disillusioning day for India.  Some time back, via her Blackberry, she had questioned the wisdom behind the arresting of a man (Hazare) who only "wants peace for this nation."

R Madhavan (id: actormadhavan)has put forward an intellectual criticism.  He tweeted, "Is the Govt afraid, that like the right to Info bill, passing the Lok Pal too may come back to bite them in their posterior."  In another tweet, he said, "Why is the Supreme Court quiet on this blatant breach of Anna Hazare's right to peaceful protest?"

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City no stranger to section 144 of CrPC

VARANASI: Many city residents were surprised at Delhi police's 'overboard drive' to highlight the issue of enforcing prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in a specific area to restrict anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare from beginning his hunger strike at JP Park.

The district administration of Varanasi, which is a highly sensitive city, keeps such orders promulgating round the year.

When TOI tried to take stock of the records of the district administration of last the 12 months, it was found that the section 144 enforced in the district on July 16, 2010, continued till September 3, 2010. After it, the prohibitory orders were enforced again from September 4, 2010, to October 30, 2010.

Again on November 1, 2010, this order became effective in the district till December 26. On the very next day, the same order was made effective till February 21.
The prohibitory orders became effective again on February 22 and continued till April 15.
On April 16, the district administration promulgated section 144 and it continued till June 12. The same orders were made effective from June 13 till August 5, and against from August 6 till September 25.

In the latest prohibitory orders issued under section 144 by the ADM (city) M P Singh, it was mentioned, "In festivals like Janmashtami, Eid, Vishwakarma Puja, exams at different institutions, programmes by political and religious organisations, anti-social and mischievous elements could cause disturbance. To check the activities of such elements in order to maintain law and order and peace, enforcing prohibitory orders is a must."

As per this order, moving with arms and ammunition especially at public places, distribution of hand bills to cause disturbance, forcing closure of shops, use of loud speakers, storage of explosives and materials for destruction, gathering of five or more persons at a place, disturbing traffic, operating photocopy machines near any examination centre and some other activities are prohibited.

In case of violation of these orders, action under section 188 of the IPC was prescribed in the order issued by the city ADM.

The content in almost all the orders issued for promulgating section 144 in the district remains the same.

But this order is mainly followed by those organisations which hold any sit-in stir or demonstration or those who execute their plan after seeking permission from the district administration only.

However, the orders prohibiting people from carrying arms and ammunition at public places and use of loud speakers are often violated in the city.

When some police officials were contacted to know what action has been taken under section 188 in case of violation of the orders issued under section 144, no cop was able to give a proper reply.

The senior officials surely mentioned that initiating action under section 151 (breech of peace) was more convenient for the police in case of such violations due to typical technicalities of section 188.

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Police allow Anna 7 days protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan

The Delhi Police have given Anna Hazare seven days to protest at Ramlila ground. According to media reports, the police is also to extend time period to more than seven days later on.  Earlier on Wednesday, noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a member Anna Hazare's anti-coruption

campaign team, on Wednesday told the government that Anna will come out of jail only if allowed to fast without conditions.

Anna Hazare and his team were in discussions with government and police over the venue of his fast after he comes out of Tihar Jail. According to latest media reports, government may allow Ramlila Maidan as venue for Anna's protest after he comes out of jail.

Speaking to supporters after meeting Hazare, lawyer Prashant Bhushan told the crowd of supporters outside the jail that the Gandhian would come out only if he is allowed to fast without conditions.

Bhushan said government and police were discussing with Hazare and his aides options of fast venue -- JP Park or Ramlila Maidan -- where he could launch his fight for a strong lokpal.

He said if conditions are imposed, then Hazare will continue with his fast inside the jail. He also told the crowd that people of Delhi have been asked to come to India Gate for a march to Jantar Mantar in support of a strong lokpal and fight against corruption.

Hazare had earlier sought permission from Tihar Jail authorities for a meeting with some of his top associates to plan his strategy.

The meeting was attended by Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Medha Patkar, Manish Sisodia and Swami Agnivesh. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Chand was also present at the meeting.

Hazare also met Sri Sri Ravishankar and yoga guru Ramdev in the prison.

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Prison vigil for India's anti-corruption crusader

Delhi's Tihar Jail is a high security facility in which you will find drugs lords, militants and other prisoners including - over the past year - top government officials accused of corruption.

Its latest inmate is Anna Hazare - the anti-corruption crusader with a Gandhi-like zeal who is thoroughly embarrassing the government.

Outside the prison's high walls, the narrow lanes are choked with people.

Hundreds of them have taken up every available space, chanting, singing and waving giant Indian flags.

These are Mr Hazare's supporters, angered at the government's move to send him to prison and determined to persuade the authorities to release him.

"Isn't it ironic that the man who is fighting corruption is put in the same prison as those very corrupt officials he is trying to bring to justice," one elderly man said. Several others around him nodded in agreement.

Many of the people here have spent the night outside the prison, holding a vigil in solidarity with the 74 year old who has apparently refused all food and camped in the office of the prison chief.

"Anna carry on with your struggle, we are with you," the crowds chanted outside.

'Showing support'

Within minutes, one section broke into an Indian rendition of the US civil rights song, We Shall Overcome.

“Start Quote

We will stay here as long as it takes for the government to let Anna Hazare go ”

Protester outside Tihar jail

A large number of the protesters were college students, dressed in jeans and T-shirts and passionate in their support.

"It is really, really important for us to come out and show our support for Anna," says Rupali, a social science major at Delhi University.

"The message must go out that as Indians, we will not tolerate corruption."

Others included office workers who had chosen to skip work.

"Every institution in this country is corrupted," says Manju, an airline employee.

"You have to bribe for the most basic things. I had to pay thousands of rupees just to get my passport. And all these government officials sit there and do nothing."

Passions are high, especially with conflicting reports that Mr Hazare may be released soon.

Cheers ring out every time someone emerges from the prison gates, the crowd straining impatiently.

"Let him out, let him out," roars one man and the cry is soon picked up by others.

On what is also an unbearably humid day, volunteers hand out water and bananas.

The heat gets to one older man and he falls to his knees. Three young men rush to his aid and help him to the side.

"We will stay here as long as it takes," another man who was standing next to him stays.

"As long as it takes for the government to let him go."

Round one, it appears, has been won by the Hazare camp

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What is the Jan Lokpal Bill, why Jan Lokpal Bill is 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 former 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, went on a fast-unto-death in April, demanding that this Bill, drafted by the civil society, be adopted. Four days into his fast, the government agreed to set up a joint committee with an equal number of members from the government and civil society side to draft the Lokpal Bill together. The two sides met several times but could not agree on fundamental elements like including the PM under the purview of the Lokpal. Eventually, both sides drafted their own version of the Bill.

The government has introduced its version in Parliament in this session. Team Anna is up in arms and calls the government version the "Joke Pal Bill." Anna Hazare declared that he would begin another fast in Delhi on August 16. Hours before he was to begin his hunger strike, the Delhi Police detained and later arrested him. There are widespread protests all over the country against his arrest.        

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.

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.

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Jan Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare should not demand for fast-unto-death, says government

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare is likely to be granted permission for holding his indefinite fast in Ramlila Maidan but with conditions that there will be no fast-unto-death and no use of loudspeakers beyond 10 pm.

Sources privy to the developments said indications of granting permission to hold the protest in Ramlila Maidan has already been given to Team Anna.

However, the government has suggested that they should be no demand for fast-unto-death and it will depute a team of doctors which will be continuously conduct medical examinations, sources said.

While there is no restriction on number of protesters or vehicles, the government has conveyed that no loudspeakers will be allowed beyond 10 pm.

The choice of Ramlila Maidan as an alternative venue was taken as it was bigger than the Jai Prakash Narain Park where Hazare proposed to sit on an indefinite fast.

Manish Sisodia a close aide of Anna Hazare addressing protesters outside Tihar Jail said that Anna wants a minimum one month permit for his fast to continue.

With a defiant Anna Hazare still inside the Tihar Jail over the proposed anti-corruption fast, Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid refuted charges that action against the veteran social activist was mismanaged by the government.

"Nothing has been mismanaged. It is the government, which will take a final decision in this regard, not an individual or a minister," Khurshid told mediapersons in Parliament House here.

Thousands of Hazare supporters are still present outside Tihar Jail and Chhatrasal Stadium in support of Hazare's crusade against corruption.

Hazare and key aide Arvind Kejriwal spent Tuesday night in the conference room of the Director General (Prisons) of Tihar Jail and reportedly slept barely for about four hours.

The Delhi Police arrested Hazare on Tuesday along with many of his supporters, hours before he was due to begin an indefinite hunger strike to demand tough laws against corruption.

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Defiant Anna rejects freedom offer, sticks to his demands

New Delhi Refusing to come out of Tihar Jail, Anna Hazare today continued his fast for the second consecutive day as the government was caught in a cleft as to how to deal with the embarrassing stand-off.

The 73-year-old Gandhian, who was ordered to be released yesterday after being remanded in 7-day judicial custody, spent the night in the administrative block of the jail along with his associate Arvind Kejriwal.

Hundreds of people continued their vigil outside the jail premises as 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.

Hazare, who was picked up by Delhi Police from a flat in Mayur Vihar in east Delhi yesterday morning, got up at around 5 am and was involved in a discussion with Kejriwal and his other associates, sources said.

Hazare was offered released last night after the Delhi Police issued warrants of release for him and seven of his associates, almost 13 hours after they were detained.

Hazare's aide Manish Sisodia, who came out of the jail last night, said though the Gandhian was given bail he did not agree to the terms and conditions imposed by authorities.

"He does not want them (police) to arrest him the moment he begins his fast at a location of his choice," he told reporters outside the jail this morning.

"We don't have any information on when he will come out," he said.

The activist said other members of Team Anna – Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh – will assemble outside Tihar Jail at 11 am and hold a protest.

"What we wanted to do in JP Park, we have decided to do here only. Tihar Jail main gate will be the main centre for our movement," he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress Core Group is meeting at 10 am to discuss the government strategy on the issue.

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Crowds outside Tihar Jail wait for Anna’s appearance

 

PTISupporters of social activist Anna Hazare protest at the gate of Tihar Jail in New Delhi on Wednesday. )

There was a sense of anticipation outside Tihar Central Jail here on Wednesday afternoon where hundreds of Anna Hazare’s supporters had gathered early, waiting for the anti-corruption crusader and his associates to come out.

The crowds gathered outside the gate of the Director General (Prisons) office shouted slogans, waved the national flag and demanded the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Several banners conveyed the anger felt by the supporters of Mr. Hazare, especially towards the manner in which he was picked up from Mayur Vihar on Tuesday morning.

Members of civil society including Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh and Akhil Gogoi besides Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar visited Tihar Jail to rally support for Anna.

Prashant Bhushan said Anna will continue his sit-in protest inside the jail premises until he was allowed to “sit on a fast unconditionally” at Jayaprakash Park or at some other venue. “Thereafter, we are ready for any discussion with the Government. But before that it is not possible,” Mr. Bhushan said.

Meanwhile, indications of some understanding being reached with the authorities gave hope to people. In the afternoon, Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also reached the venue to express solidarity with Mr. Hazare’s cause even as his fast entered the second day on Wednesday.

Mr. Hazare’s aide Manish Sisodia told mediapersons on Tuesday night following his release from jail that the Ghandian had been fasting since the time of his arrest from Mayur Vihar.

Several sections of the protestors including auto-rickshaw drivers and lawyers have struck work to express their solidarity with Mr. Hazare.

Lawyers have reportedly abstained from appearing in all six district courts in the capital protesting against the non-inclusion of the judiciary in the Lok Pal Bill and the “illegal” arrest of Mr. Hazare.

A large crowd also gathered outside Chhathrasal Stadium near Model Town on Wednesday afternoon.

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Kapil Sibal faces black flags at Jan Lokpal Bill seminar

On a day when the Delhi Police arrested Gandhian Anna Hazare, telecom minister Kapil Sibal was greeted with black flags and booed by a group of students at a seminar on the Jan Lokpal bill.

A group of about 20 youth from the Left-wing All India Students Association (AISA) waved black flags and chanted slogans against Sibal before they were evicted from the hall on Tuesday evening.

Sibal has been under tremendous fire for the government's inability to tackle the issue. Later, addressing the gathering, Sibal said, "The issue today is about an unelected person who is demanding outside Parliament that if there would be any law (against corruption) then it would be mine or else I will go on fast. This is not the way of making a law."

Remaining unfazed despite the protests, the minister said that if Hazare is true in his intentions, then he must win elections and raise his voice in Parliament for enactment of such laws.

"Vindicate your rights before the people of India. Win the election, come to Parliament and raise your voice and have that courage to come," he said.

He said that they had accommodated 34 of the recommendations of Hazare's team in the Jan Lokpal Bill while rejecting the inclusion of the Prime Minister and the judiciary under the Lokpal. "Judiciary will lose its independence if it is brought under the purview of Lokpal," he said.

He said the Anna Hazare team was trying to create a separate institution "which would neither be accountable to Parliament nor judiciary". He said, "We will neither allow them to change the structure of our Constitution nor will we allow that to happen."

He also sought to know the sources of funding for Hazare's campaign claiming that crores of rupees have been spent in booking space on television channels and distributing posters and merchandise.

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Manmohan Singh attacks Anna Hazare; protests swell

The 74-year-old Hazare fasted in Tihar jail on Wednesday as thousands of his followers gathered outside in a whirlwind crisis that saw him arrested on Tuesday, before then refusing to leave jail after the government ordered his releases.

Hazare, who is demanding tougher laws against rampant corruption in India, insists he wants the right to return to the city park where he had originally planned to publicly fast before he leaves jail.

But Singh was uncompromising in a speech to parliament as opposition lawmakers often tried to shout him down.

"I acknowledge that Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals," a stern-looking Singh said. "However, the path that he has chosen to impose a draft of the bill on parliament is totally misconceived."

The crackdown on the activist and the arrest of more than thousands of his followers met with outrage from the opposition, sparking parliament's adjournment on Tuesday and protests, from candle-light vigils to the burning of effigies of government figures, in cities across India.

The arrest and sudden about-turn appeared to confirm a widespread feeling the 78-year-old Singh was out of touch and that his government was clumsy and too riddled with corruption scandals to govern Asia's third-largest economy effectively.

"Corrupt, repressive and stupid," was the verdict of the Hindu newspaper. "Anna has the government fumbling," was the headline of the Mail Today.

More protests were planned across India on Wednesday. There were calls for civil servants to take leave and rickshaw drivers to strike.

The ruling Congress party held an emergency meeting early on Wednesday to discuss the crisis.

Opposition parties plan to protest against the arrest in Wednesday's parliament session.

Dressed in his trademark white shirt, white cap and spectacles in the style of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, Hazare has won support from many Indians across all walks of life and sick of endemic corruption as their economy booms.

The arrest played into Hazare's hands. Many parties were sceptical about the fast and there has been criticism the activist was holding Indian democracy hostage. But any doubts about the protest were overshadowed by the arrest.

A weak political opposition means that the government should still survive the crisis, but it could further dim the prospect for economic reforms that have already been held back by policy paralysis and a raft of corruption scandals.

RESTIVE MIDDLE CLASS

The arrests shocked many in a country with strong memories of Gandhi's independence battles against colonial rule with fasts and non-violent protests.

Opposition figures likened the crackdown to the 1975 "Emergency" when then-prime minister Indira Gandhi arrested thousands of opposition members to stay in power.

Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram justified the arrest, saying governments had a right to impose conditions on protests.

The question for many is whether Hazare's movement will grow in the fast-urbanising nation of 1.2 billion people whose increasingly assertive middle class is fed up with constant bribes, poor services and unaccountable leaders.

The scandals, including a telecoms bribery scam that may have cost the government $39 billion, have not only stymied Singh's reform agenda, they have dented investor confidence and distracted parliament just as the $1.6 trillion economy is being hit by inflation and higher interest rates.

Hazare rose to fame for lifting his village in the western state of Maharashtra out of grinding poverty. His social activism has forced out senior government officials and helped create a right-to-information act for citizens.

Hazare became the unlikely thorn in the side of the Congress-led coalition when he first went on a hunger strike in April and won concessions from the government. He called off that fast after the government promised to introduce the Lokpal bill creating a special ombudsman to bring crooked politicians, bureaucrats and judges to book.

The legislation was presented in early August, but activists slammed the draft version as toothless because the prime minister and judges were exempt from probes.

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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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Anna Hazaare vs corruption

The Delhi police on Monday, Independence Day, refused permission to him to sit on fast at Jaiprakash Narain Park in central Delhi. But Kisan Baburao ‘Anna’ Hazare is in no mood to give up. He told to  start his fast later today, unless the police had already picked him up late on Monday night or in the wee hours of Tuesday.
Hazare and some of his supporters were arrested on Tuesday morning just a few hours before he was to launch his fast for a strong anti-corruption legislation.
Hazare was first detained and then arrested with the Government claiming that there was an apprehension of "breach of peace" if he was allowed to undertake his fast demanding that Team Anna's version of the anti-corruption legislation called the Jan Lokpal Bill be introduced in Parliament.

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Is it justified to restrain Anna Hazare ahead of fast?

THE BATTLE between Anna Hazare civil society team and the government is taken now an ugly turn. Ahead of the proposed fast against corruption by the 74-year-old Gandhian, Delhi Police prevented him from going to JP Park for protest. Other prominent activists Arvind Kejriwal alone Kiran Bedi were also taken in custody. People across the country have highly criticized the police action against civil society.

“It is very undemoccartic way of functioning government, is it still British rule or other?” said young supporter of Anna. “I will continous protest alongwith civil society until government come up with strong Lokpall Bill,” added another supporter.

There is wide gap between activists and the government due to failure of numerous talks and both sides are not ready to give up, which has forced Anna Hazare to take up this firm step of fasting. How is it justified in a democratic country like India to detain social activists to detain ahead of fast? Government should not be hampering the rights of people to express their opinion and opposing it in general manner.

On other hand raising the voice against corruption is correct but it does not mean civil society adopts an unauthorized way. When government is ready for various conventions of negotiations to resolve the issue on strong Lokpall Bill then it is a wrong way to protest at this point. This is an age of reforming and globalization, one or two talks may fail but both sides should keep patience to come up with a positive solution. There are not only issues of corruption in the country; every second thing overlaps with it - for instance take the dowry system. Why doesn't anyone go on a fast on our dowry system, which is also a social evil and reservation issue?

Everything including Lokpall Bill is welcome but in a constitutional frame work. There is lots of reforming in progress may be it is on a low phase - but fasting and intimidating the government is not the right way to protest - it only shows weakness. It is visible that this UPA government will be voted out of power in the next elections; and there's no gurantee that the next government will be non-corrupt. It is best that people should put pressure on the government to bring about a systematic change in a democratic approach.

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Government strategy to falsify the data during Anna protest

THERE ARE more than 20,000 (almost the maximum capacity) inside the stadium and more than 1,00,000 on the road outside the stadium. But the government is suppressing media persons to show the correct figure. The governemnt is using its power and keeping the media from broadcasting. 

And more than this the government is, according to its new strategy, arresting people without proper paperwork and then just dropping them off here and there - so that it can be proven that the number of people gathered there were very few.

But everybody knows the truth. You can stop the camera but you cannot stop an open eye. Now the public of India have awakened. We know the truth. Anna has awakened the sleeping crowed of India and India is with Anna.

 

You go on the road and you will listen “Anna tum sanghars karo humtumhare sath hain."(Anna you fight, we all are with you.) Rather that you can hear VANDE MAATRAM, BHARAT MATA KI JAI and INQLAAB JINDAABAAD. You will feel like you are in rally of Gandhi ji in 1930.

I’ll be back with some more news. Till then jai hind.

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Anna's detention: Gagging democracy

DETAINING ANNA prior to his fast reminds us of the Quit India movement call by Gandhiji. His arrest did not stop the movement but resulted in even unwilling people joining the movement as a mark of protest. Precisely the same thing is going to happen. 

The arrest has been widely published by media. People who are not very keen on it feel that it is gagging. So Congress government will see another version of quit India movement. More and more cities and villages will now come out and protest some knowing the reason and some out of sympathy for Anna. 

Had congress been clever a proper propaganda could have defused the situation? No political party was ready to come to the street and meet people because they are also a part yto the conflict, and will not be able to answer if questioned in public.

 

So now it has become a people's movement. Either the government has to manufacture more bullets in ammunition factory or surrender to the peoples' demands. It is a second version of Quit India movement. That time it was the British now it is turn for unscrupulous people to quit their posts. Let us see who wins?

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