Minor scuffle at Jantar Mantar as a group of suspected NSUI activists shout slogans against Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal
Responding to Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s statement that if Team Anna did not have faith in the apex court, it could approach the United Nations, Team Anna member Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said it was their right to get an effective Lokpal law. “The law will be made in the country. It is our right. There is no need to involve any international forum.” While Team Anna members reiterated their corruption charges against 15 Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Minister to press for an independent probe, Mr. Khurshid ridiculed the demand saying they were raising issues that had been rejected by the Supreme Court. Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Rai and Mr. Sisodia began their indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday.
Panel examining Bill
Refuting Team Anna’s charge that the government was not keen on getting the Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the proposed legislation was being examined by a Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha.
Lot of discussion: Soni
“The Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. It was brought to the Rajya Sabha, which is mandatory. There were over 185 amendments. There was so much discussion. It could not be passed,” she said, adding that the Bill was referred to a select committee as the government wanted it to be powerful and complete.
Meanwhile, Team Anna alleged that some members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) had tried to disrupt their meeting at Jantar Mantar and had to be removed.
“This is a decisive fight,” said activist Anna Hazare, addressing the gathering. He said he will join the fast after four days if the government fails to set up an independent Special Investigation Team to probe charges against 14 Ministers.
Mr. Kejriwal said it was “unfortunate” that the former Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, who was among the list of Ministers charged with misdemeanour, enjoys immunity from probes and investigations as President.
Keywords: Team Anna, Anna Hazare, India against corruption, Lokpal Bill
I am surprised with lot comments against Anna ( non democratic, hidden agenda, politically motivated, etc). I don't think anybody in India will disagree to the fact that Corruption is ruining our nation. This protest may be an in direct attack on the UPA govt ( if you view from a political angle). But one should not forget that the members who are elected in a democratic way also have to serve the people of India, not only serving for themselves.
For a long run, I am sure all the people in India will benefit from a strong Lokpal Bill. I believe it is each and everyone in India's responsibility to support his peaceful protest.
“Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed.”
(Albert Einstein).
Is the Indian middle class (i) afraid of drop in income if corruption
is reduced, but takes no account of the benefits, eg price reductions,
economic progress, better quality of life, preventing destruction of
society (ii) being duped by clever arguments to prevent curbing
corruption eg (a) that EVERYONE must be clean first BEFORE any action
to reduce corruption can be started (b) defaming anti-corruption
supporters’ character, motives, methods (c) openly supporting the
champions of the corrupt (as quid pro quo for favours received by
these individuals/groups)?
Can the middle class see no danger in eventually the pendulum swinging
back - when the society can bear it no more - but that unplanned,
unmanaged action/reaction, could tear the society apart with
unpredictable consequences for everyone - as world history records
repeatedly?
How can anything change without Indian middle class getting involved?
I am surprised with comments on finding faults with Team Anna, sure they do have some, but is not corruption the scourge of this great nation. Are we supposed to do something about it or not ? Lord Krishna will not descend upon our country to liberate us, each one of us have to find that small voice called conscience in ourselves and do the right thing. Desperate situations demand desperate measures and I fully support Team Anna, accept or not we are in the midst of a self made crisis. Politicians are gleefully watching our dithering and our tendency to argue everything to death, until we resign ourselves to status quo.
Before mudslinging Team Anna ask your conscience. What is your
contribution to eradicate corruption? have you ever turned a single
stone on that account, apart from writing comment ridiculing others? Let
them project themselves. What is wrong in that, if the result is good
for the country?
Nanda i dont see any political agenda in this and thousands of people are not blind or they ? as per ur opinion that they will support politically motivated persons? its is the problems of indian people and society that is taking a form via such agitiations and we should welcome such peaceful agititation that can bring change in india and moreover if political gain of someone can bring change in india then we should welcome such freshers in the politics why this much conservative thoughts ???
Team anna has evidence against 15 cabinet ministers and they are just demanding Investigation and nothing else.
Evidence comprises of CAG report m media reports etc.
The govt/Congress is far better prepared this time. They seem to
have fixed the press and the TV media either by threats or by
lure.Hence you don't find TV coverage in a substantive way. TV
anchors harp on Anna teams 'weaknesses' and ignore that the
Parliamentarians cheated the country on the 'sense of the house'
and how they made a farce out of this bill. You invite a BJP and
Congress member into any discussion panel and the whole discussion
is reduced to a cacophony with both targetting Anna's team member.
The anchors - are always available to steer the discussion in
favour of the govt. Why not even one TV anchor questions about the
politicians defrauding the country or evading the Lokpal bill
collectively? Congress does not want to let go of a lucrative
business model and BJP does not want to let go of a future
opportunity. This country is waiting for a 75 year old man to fast
and get them an anti-corruption bill, while the politicians
challenge him to stop their loot if he can.
Dear Editor, please cover this corruption movement more appropriately. Latest details about the movement is missing every where, even in your news paper. We are witnessing a kind of media blackout about the movement (no wonder who is behind this). No news about the fast from last 2 days.
We have high hopes from the unbiased news paper like "THE HINDU", please continue this reputation and provide us extensive and unbiased coverage about the movement.
i don't find any wrong if team anna enter in politics and making issues in this is really illlogical, bcoz if non educated people can rule india then why at least chance can't be gvn to team anna who all are atleast educated.so i would lik to request my india plz show ur support and the responsibility at sam time
I welcome any movement against Corruption. But, the movement should
not only be fair and just but also should be seen as fair and just.
When there is a deafening silence on the corruption of BJP ruled
States, the movement should be renamed as Anti Congress Campaign and
not as India Against Corruption.
I wholehaeartedly support this movement of Team Anna. It is a worthy cause that he & his Team represent. it appears ministers and public servants have taken it as birth right to indulge in corruption and make heaps of money andthey are those giving the country bad name all over the globe. This has to be stopped and my hats off to Anna Hazare to take the lead.
All adverse comments are by those who are either indulged in corrupt practices directly or indirectly or support same for their shortsighted selfish motive.
The lokpal like system is highly needed for pure democracy and for our future generation. We all should support this movement, which is only the ray of hope left for common people like me in India. At present, not all politicians are bad but 80-90% politicians are not clean. So, what they will deliver. They need to be made accountable and removed.
Sanjib
Team Anna, with all its good cause, should rethink their strategy, I feel, by attacking the President, they are not going to succeed, they should start from the ends, and then start hitting the main guys.
I must congratulate the parliament on successfully sowing the seeds of
doubt in the minds of the people.With the so called intellectuals
colluding with the government,the people should reject self-doubt and
seize the day .The latest barrage of government propaganda shouldn't
deter the will of the people.Even if Kejriwal harbors hidden political
motives, even if he wants to be to India what Napoleon was to
France!!,it has absolutely no bearing on the legitimacy of his
demands.If history has taught us anything its that freedom and justice
come at a price.There is nothing sacred about power.Its time we take
this movement to the next level .
1. Kejriwal,chief architect of the present agitation against UPA
Govt.has said that:"Two months back they submitted a memorandum to the
P.M.to cause a probe into their charges against 15 central ministers!
Their plea was "rejected"!Then what justification have they to launch
an agitation today?
2. He has also said that according to the Constitution the President
has "immunity"against any investigation" if so why is he qeering the
pitch against Pranab now?
3. Obviously they are playing a vindictive role on someone's behalf to
divert public attention from something hideous!
Thanks to "THE HINDU" for capturing this event unlike other media who have refrained from highlighting Anna's movement. People see a bright future in Anna's movement and want to know why democracy is not same for all.
Fight against corruption should go on and the corrupt people are to be
removed and punished suitably. They should be debarred permanently from
the positions of power.
Every couch potato wants to give their piece of mind by criticising people who put physical and mental effort in highlighting corruption in our country.
i agree with mr nanda that Mr Kejriwal and his fellow advisers to Shri Hazare have personal
ambitions supported financially by some rich corporates and the media.there is no provision
under which the Govt can appoint aSIT. The allegations have to be filed in a Court of law and
it is the Court that can appoint a SIT. Secondly, they know the Lokpal Bill is in the Parliament
and the party supporting them passed the Bill in the Lok Saha but opposed it in the Rajya
Sabha on the issue of appointment of Lok auk the States. BJP ruled States like Gujarat
haven't appointed a Lok ayukth for 8 years and now even Karnataka are dragging their feet
on appointing a Lok ayukth. Why not have a hunger strike on this issue in Gujarat and
Karnataka? The whole purpose of these protests inDelhi is to get media support for their
personal ends. Perhaps Shri Hazare is unwittingly being roped in.
Effective LokPal would fall from moon..or from Jupiter..?? problem is with the people's mindset which includes whole society not only people in Govt. People in team anna are taking advantage of mistrust among the people for Govt. and politicians, and sometimes creating it (a kind of politics). They should fight for preventing corruption in the society not only for curing it by laws which often remains on paper.This corruption includes moral degeneration of people which is evident from Guwahati molestation episode.
While agitating for strong Lokpal Bill may be ag good idea, let us
remember that strong legislation alone is not going to help
eradicating Corruption in high places from this country, because this
bane of corruption has long been ingrained in our very psyche since
ages and unless this is seriously tackled at the grassroot level we
are not going to be rid of corruption in our public life. Corruption
is an important factor in our culture; we strongly believe that even
our Gods, whom we perceive in our own image, must be bribed before we
can expect any favours from Him. There are many an Indian, especially
from our business community, who think nothing wrong in offering a
bribe even before it is demanded!.Thus, rather than agitate for a
strong Lokpal, the Team Anna should strive to 'educate' the masses and
rid the Indian Society of its "corrupt" mindset. We should publicly
boycott all politicians and ministers having even just reputation(?)of
being corrupt from all public functions!
come on nanda, they are not asking for some political positions. Aravind
kejriwal was already an civil officer! What they are asking about a
system which have right magnitude of checks and balances to be put on
the place. is it wrong? do u want to live in this bad environment that
we have in our country now. Don't you want to have better future for
yourself, for your children n grand children.
I totally support this movement of Team Anna. It's a worthy cause that he & his Team represent.
There is no accountability for any minister of India and that’s why we
need Lokpal. If Team Anna has any hidden agent to come into politics
then what’s wrong in that? Politics does not need any education, anyone
can join it even criminals too so at least team anna has some educated
people. I think they should join the politics too.
even if Team Anna have a high ambition...let it be, why we should worry but let the lokpal bill pass, which promises a lot for the nation...why politicians are just not willing to pass this bill since 1960......
"We have given evidence against Mukherjee to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi two months ago. But there was no probe" . WOW! I am amazed who sonia gandhi is? Is she the law? Is she the Supreme Court? Why she would take action against Pranab? I think Team Anna does not know themselves what they are fighting for. This fight against corruption has become a laughing stock of everybody lately. The fuzz and enthusiasm they created had been torned off by themselves. Team Anna has just started sounding like any other party which is always alleging opposition on everything. I wish they would have sticken to their root cause and see that it get to an end but that did not happen at all.
Anna Hazare and his team are fighting against corruption in India.
Corruption in India is the greatest impediment to progress and leads to poverty and hunger.
As Mr Pranab Mukherjee has rightly pointed out hunger is an affront to civilisation.
As the first citizen of India, he should take bold steps to eliminate it, and raise above mundane existence.
Cynicism - The new gene of gen Y. Though we all know before any
economic reforms in this ill managed country we need to get corruption
out of the way. I do not see any other party/group advocating this
fact. So why not Anna!!
Why can't the ruling party hold all meetings in front of the media and
let us decide for ourselves who is the fox here..
We all know it wouldn't be easy to get corruption out of our
system...we all are a little corrupt. These changes always follw a top
down phenomenon and therefore has to start with the dirtiest of us all
- Politicians and Cops.
Isn't this precisely (I may be wrong) what Anna & Co are asking for -
Immunity from politicians and an independent investigating team.
It is high time that exposure which team Anna is receiving in the media
should come under media self imposed regulation. Because of media
exposure a common man thinks what the team is saying might be correct.
Media also needs to be responsible and give weightage to these points.
Stability of our country is uppermost.
In general people think that team Anna is not genuine. They have hidden
agenda to destabilize the country. Every one is corrupt in the eyes of
Team Anna. It is high time that people should realize it. There is need
to make people aware of it. How can we allow the stability of our
country to be compromised.
I fully reinforce the views of Pankaj Singh. Well said Pankaj. This scourage of corruption in India is unsustainable and can only lead to economic chaos in the next 15-20 years. Its better we start this fight early. Younger generations i.e my kids will suffer the most because of the corrupt practices of the Government of India. Shame on these Ministers.
With the current political climate, corrupt politicians, police, judges and the attitude of vast majority of the poorly educated people towards corruption, I do not think Anna is going to win. Only something like the French revolution can get rid of the curse to our beloved country.
team anna are against the democracy.they believe in my way or high
way.they dont listen to others,they think that they have the best brain
to run this country.as per my concern they should first know what the
democracy means.
To Dream that Lokpal bill is the magic wand that will cure India of
its corrupt is mere foolishness, we have seen that any institution
held by humans can be corrupted. we have seen accusations on village
peons to Supreme Court Judges.In Common Sense how are we to believe
that LokPal will solve our problem?
Team Anna had long lost its credibility, they have made accusations
after accusations, but where is the proof. The other day My Kejariwal
had made a statement that he had proof on the corruption done by
Pranab Mukherjee. Personally I am fed up by these claims.SHOW SOME
PROOF FOR GODS SAKE
This is not a a revolution.Revolution is not a handful of people
trying to push their personnel agenda
This is just a mere political drama run at the expense of peoples
emotion against corruption.IF they really want a change, go contest
the election come to power punish the corrupt.
Its easy for anyone criticize Prime Minister.You need to sit in his
chair to see the sword of damocles
@Pankaj Singh Excellent point. People ask why team Anna does not take the conventional route. Team Anna does not go for it because the accused are likes of PM himself. He can very easily influence all the investigation. This situation demands an unconventional handling.
Team Anna is doing a fabulous job. They are the true pioneers of the common people of the nation. Other leaders are actually misnomers only. At a time when there is boundless corruption in India and when the P.M. is not concerned with the anger of people but has the greatest of his sympathy with Mr. Sharad Pawar about whom the people of India know how innocent he is! Congress has tried everything to stop this protest and they have been employing all the tricks that Shakuni seemed to use in Mahabharata. Let's see what happens in this fight for country. I am with you Anna ji.
People of India are inherently law abiding. They have firm believe in democracy and democratic processes.
So why this movement? as many intellectuals say on TV and in print media.
The answer to that questions have already been given by Team Anna. However I will again put the answer.
Movement because the democratic process, though should be held in high regards, are twisted and followed not for the service of nation but to hiding corrupt people. People of this country are fed up with the decade running cases and scanty prosecutions of corrupt politicians & beaurocrats. In last 60 yrs CBI could find only 3-4 politicans who were causing corruption and otherwise everything is all well!! NO! is the answer and that is why this revolutionary movement is aimed at removing the potentially corrupt senir rank ministers who are believed to be causing impedence for a strong & effective Lokpal Bill.
Team Anna has a hidden political agenda and except Anna and justice
Hegde others seem to be having self motivations and cling like
children for publicity and future political ambitions In this country
it is not the best but the best advertised that gets the respect I
have very strange feeling that they may be able to damage the govt and
and the political party but time will tell they are highly ambitious
and are working for their self ambition andtaking advantage of the
peoples reverence for ANNA
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