This attitude will otherwise create unrest in society, warns the anti-corruption crusader
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Sunday said the Union government was “vindictive” and warned that this attitude would create “unrest in society.”
He was upset at the government targeting his team members — Arvind Kejriwal has been slapped with Income Tax notice, while Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan have been served breach of privilege notices.
Talking to journalists at his village, Ralegan Siddhi, he urged the government to create trust and give up “vindictive approach.” “This will otherwise create unrest in society,” Mr. Hazare said, say agency reports.
The social activist said power was corrupting those in the government. “No amount of intelligence works when a person is in power.”
Reiterating his remarks, he said those in the government were “liars.”
Two days ago, while being felicitated by villagers, Mr. Hazare called Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram “mischievous and liar.”
Mr. Hazare expressed concern over the way the government was behaving. He said: “Given the current conditions, I am worried what is happening to this country.”
At the core committee meeting to be held at Ralegan Siddhi on September 10 and 11, Mr. Hazare and his teammates will discuss the recent notices issued by the Centre.
Refuses security
Mr. Hazare has refused the ‘Z' category security provided to him by the Maharashtra government. He said there was no threat to him, and that he would write to State Home Minister R.R. Patil on the issue.
But, Mr. Patil said the government would request Mr. Hazare to accept the security cover. “I myself will talk to Anna Hazare,” he said in Mumbai.
Mr. Hazare said he did not want the State's resources to be spent on him. “A person can die of heart attack. What can protect against that,” he asked.
“Not a burden”
However, Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Krishna Prakash said the security for Mr. Hazare would not be a burden on the State.
“We are not recruiting extra personnel for this. We feel that after his nationwide success, Anna Hazare needs to be protected,” he said.
Mr. Prakash denied having received any orders to take back the security cover. “Z category security is being provided to Mr. Hazare since Friday. It entails eight commandos and two protection officers,” he said.
Mr. Hazare had accepted the security cover on the condition that the police officers should be in plain clothes, as he did not want to distance himself from people.
Its good that the civil society is becoming more politically active in the affairs of the state.. There is a long way to go,I believe the timing of the IT notice can be questioned but if Arvind owes dues, he should not be exempted because of the reason that he is making most amount if noise against corruption. Rather the approach should be one of being doubly sure that your conscience is clear and try to abide by the rules if there has been a violation.
These advices and comments may not reach the corrupt. We do not know what news papers are doing collecting these comments.They should transmit sensible comments to all political parties and Govt for the welfare of the people.
The coalitions partners like TMC and NCP must be inspired to withdraw support at least Ms Mamta who has fallen out with the UPA presently. This Govt must go immediately and this is the only way otherwise they will play havoc. MMS has worked with Narshima Rao and now indulging in the same practice of suppressing opponents although he will pose innocence.
When the elected representatives doesn't function upto the expectations from the people who elected them, its an utter failure of the democratic ssystem in the country. It is never late to bring a watch-dog and tough means of law to bring the system into order.
If the Govt. is really against corruption why should it be afraid of accepting to enact all the proposals of Anna Hazare. If the ruling Govt. MPs are individually honest to the core of their conscience and are courageous enough they should support the peoples' demand through Anna Hazare and should not simply bow to their party's flag.
Vindictive or not, history will vindicate itself. A stitch in time saves nine. Ball is in the court of the Government now. If nothing happens, 2014 is there for sure! In India things do take their own sweet time, but things will sure work out for the good, if Indians are positively pro-active!!! We have wonderful democracy at work, though some We Elected ave fallen short of expectation.
Why government is doing like that of digging past issues of insignificant that time. After success of his 12 day fasting put government under immense pressure of accepting the jan lokpal bill discussion and three condition of Anna's to end fast. Would hurt its image in irrepairable stage and want to get back its nail that too in this way of sending notices, previlage motion and using key agencies to investigate against Anna team to get some substantive mistake to spread smear campaign. But government succeeds in that to wait for coming time which decides.
I think hatred emerged among pepople is basically due to corruption and this thing is taken as advantage by the opposition to misguide people.However without this lokpal one of the biggest corporate of countries are under investigation and even punished.BJP who want to take the advantage are basiclally hiding there scams and there corrupt ministers like yeddyurappa. Reddy brothers are already found corrupt.
I think government is working against corruption but there must be some more ammendments in the constitution against corruption ,adulteration and smuggling so that we can fought better against these evils.
I agree that anna hazare has been doing this movement and i see that the same person is going by flight to his home and he has spent rupees two lakhs on his own birthday, what is the use of this person doing the agitation at first place. secondly what if i sit for the agitation will Mr agnivesh and Dr kiran bedi etc will support the movement, and i see that there is still plenty of money left with the politicians in and around him, Mr manmohan singh himself has the wealth, finance minister as the wealth why did anna hazare did this movement and what was the end result? did we get a solution out of it?
then on what basis public is applauding anna hazare who has done this act on purely political motive. In case anna hazare has to fight against the curruption, why did he travel by flight and go to his hometown. Infact i would really say it was political drama which anna hazare played for ten days
This kind of act does not suit the people elected by people. Why are they responding after so many days/months. They are feeling irritated by success of campaign. Actually Govt does not want to enact Jan Lokpal, so they are playing such a dirty game. Actually all this should happen in their election year. It may tarnish their image in coming LS election.
Anna team should face the scrutiny & prove themselves clean. There is nothing wrong in it. Why are they scared of this. Team Anna should realise that they cannot paint all by one brush as corrupt.
I am waiting for Kapil Sibal's zero loss theory that came during 2G scam.
Raman / Shanthi: Ofcourse Team Anna members can fight legalities which will go on years, but that is the strategy of Govt. If Team Anna were to earn thru corruption, they could have done in a decent way in current India. They also have 24 hrs and they are also human being. They involve in defending / proving THEMSELVES, and we the public will be BIG loser. By the way, they are asking for a law/ rule which is effective...Let's support them to implement those...Later you also can file an RTI to know and sue them if they are found guilty...
Of his last 5 of a total of 11 years in the Income Tax Department, Kejriwal was on leave for 4 years! At first he claimed "why now?" but then accepted that he was first served noticed in 2007; he also vehemently denied breaking the conditions of the bond, but now reluctantly accepts that he did break his contract. And he will lead our fight against corruption???
Yes, Govt. will not realise. These people are to be thrown out in total by a total revolution.
Anna Hazare is blaming the govt to be vindictive. Wondering which approach/ideology motivated Anna to back Raj Thackeray for kicking non-marathis out of Mumbai.
I think the government has still not realized that such vindictive actions will only create hatred towards the government among the common people of the country, the repercussions of which the government will have to face in the next general election.
I entirely agree with Anna. However this vindictive approach maybe the blessing in disguise, as then we can at least get rid of this Government. Non-performing, & thoroughly corrupt Government. Also regarding Z security, please remove this concept. Ministers must be well rooted, to connect with the people. Also the Beacon atop the vehicles of Politicos/Police Chiefs/IAS/et al are just ways of them differentiating (rather making them arrogant), and aloof from crowds, thereby making them disconnect with the masses. I don't talk about exceptions. It's time, and we want our Politicians to connect, and do the right things, for once, for their constituents, who vote them into power, and on whose strength, these folks count. Last but certainly not the least, Anna will never want a Z security, as he has nothing to hide, as he is selfless. A trait we want to see in our politicians, for a change. Then and only then we will get the Leaders, India has been wanting/pleading for long.
Congress govt. is behaving like feudal lords and British colonialists. Its members are hell-bent on revenge. We, the people, have to assert our right as citizens to pressure the govt. to desisit from witch-hunt against Anna team or any other Indian citizen who dares to unmask the ugly face of politicians.
If your collegues are not corrupt,why are you upset? Let Arvind Kejriwal prove he has not done anything wrong, as an answer to the Income Tax notice.Public is waiting.
I am glad there is someone out there to 'call a spade a spade'!! 'Hot war' is better when you fight an enemy who is more powerful than you are. Let the people of India decide who's side they want to be in this struggle. I have no doubt that it won't be the Government they would be with!! India has woken up from the state of a 'subject' to a 'citizen'!! Politicians could not demand reverence without earning it, anymore!
Do the members of Team Anna get immunity from prosecution. If they are clean they can fight it thru legal means. These people have just tasted power and they don't seem to have any humility to face scrutiny.
Ours is a democracy and therefore in our country the legislators and the ministers are servants of the people and not their masters. The powers that the constitution and laws of the country gives them have to be used only to serve the people's interests and not their personal interests and ego. Peaceful demonstrations, protests and public raising of demands by the people are essential and well-accepted features of a democracy. Our law makers and rulers should respect these dimensions of a democratic polity.
Why should the Government adopt double standard in issuing breach of privilege notice to three members of Anna team, while keeping tight-lipped even after Anna has openly said that those in the government were liars? When it is said that no person is above law, the persons responsible should also know that segregating and treating people differently is also corruption. We should plead them to shun discrimination and concentrate on drafting a powerful Lokpal Bill.
Perhaps the UPA thinks that once the agitation supporting Anna is now over,do they think can retaliate in any manner, and this may lead to another agitation by the people at large.
Yes, the Government must stop the vindictive approach towards the active Anna Hazare Team. Now since the people are aware of the situation/ background, any such action would go against the Govt by the mass people. Secondly, there won't be any need for security for Anna Hazare since he is one among the people. The normal security provided to any common man is enough for him. Security is required for the scary ministers!
Annaji thussi great ho!. Teach the politicians that if you are good to others no harm can come to you. If it does have the courage to face it and in the process save millions of tax payers' money.
The success of Anna Hazare campaign against corruption was based on support against lack of ethical standards in politics. This includes not only officials, but also wealthy individuals who have painstakingly built a state within a state with black money. Unless this problem is tackled head on, there is no escape from corruption. In fact, it is this black money that facilitates the biggest corruption cases. If members of the Anna team are not involved in black money or corruption, there is little reason for them to fear the new government campaign. If they they have something to hide, they will have to be accountable. Anna can not now say that he wants protection for his team because they participated in the ant-corruption campaign. It will of course be foolish for the government to go after the Anna team merely for revenge. But I am afraid that the BJP support for Anna Team against government agency corruption inquiry smacks of collusion between the two to discredit the government.
Thanks to Mr. hazare that he has exposed to the people of this country that all the politicians irrespective of their political affiliation are highly corrupted and that is the reason for his not getting expected support from the various non congress political parties. If in 64 years the country could not punish a single politician as corrupt, i am sure that in next 100 years the country will not be able to punish any highly placed politician, industrialist or a bureaucrat even if the lokpal bill is passed as per mr. hazare's draft. Presently i am in London and have travelled to various european countries. i am sorry to say that the mind set of the political parties as well as the mindset of the general public are not conducive to provide good governance.
As such, i strongly feel a revolution is needed to reduce or eliminate corruption from our country. however mr. hazare has taken a small step in the right direction. I pray all success to him and his team.
In theory, Anna Hazare is a threat to democracy, but in practice the champions of democracy are not committed either.
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