For close to two weeks, Team Anna has been facing the heat, with strong differences among its members and accusations of less than legal behaviour against its star campaigners hitting the headlines. For the ruling Congress, which was at the receiving end, this is good news but party leaders feel it's too early to see this as the start of the party regaining its credibility, especially among the vocal middle class.
“Team Anna has begun to crumble,” a senior party functionary told The Hindu,” but I am not sure whether that has yet begun to help us. We are where we were.”
Ever since India Against Corruption's campaign hit the streets, the government has experimented with a variety of strategies, the constant being a periodic reiteration of measures and actions it has taken — and is taking — to battle corruption. But it is clear that initially it failed to gauge the potential of the Hazare campaign — something Union Law Minister Salman Khursheed admitted recently — and was then forced to adopt the other extreme of agreeing to a joint drafting committee on the proposed Lokpal Bill.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has, from the start, taken a conciliatory line. Earlier this month, he wrote two letters to Mr. Hazare to keep him abreast of the state of the Lokpal Bill, even agreeing to examine a suggestion on the Right to Recall and other electoral reforms. Returning from South Africa, the Prime Minister told journalists that though he felt that Mr. Hazare's movement had run its course, he conceded that the debate on corruption had awakened the country to its harmful consequences.
Mr. Khursheed, on his part, sought to regain political ground lost to IAC by pushing for a constitutional status to strengthen the Lokpal Bill, while poking gentle fun at Team Anna. He said a party that had won freedom for this country did not need to take lessons from any other organisation on how to run a movement.
This low-key approach is in sharp contrast to the statements emanating from Congress general secretaries Digvijay Singh and B.K. Hariprasad: they have been frontally attacking Mr. Hazare, stressing that his campaign has the backing of the RSS-BJP combine. These sharp attacks have not always found favour with the Congress: party media chairperson and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi dismissed Mr. Singh's letter to Mr. Hazare, saying, “After the Prime Minister's letter to Mr. Hazare, any further communication with him is not required…”
Is this is a sign of confusion within the party on how to deal with Team Anna? Or is there a strategy, with these “different” voices — some sharp, some soft — an intrinsic part of the Congress' laissez-faire leadership?
In the initial days, too, different voices were heard: while Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari took a strong line on Team Anna and was then forced to retract, party MPs Sanjay Nirupam and Priya Dutt — both representing constituencies in metropolitan Mumbai — actually came out in support of Mr. Hazare, for fear of annoying their constituents.
But now Team Anna is on the back foot: the physical attack on lawyer Prashant Bhushan was followed by Mr. Hazare denouncing his teammate's views on Kashmir; then there was ex-cop Kiran Bedi's bizarre explanation for cooking up bills, and the trustee of her NGO quitting as the whole episode has “damaged” his credibility, and Swami Agnivesh's attack on Arvind Kejriwal for being less than transparent with IAC's funds. Finally, core team members Rajendra Singh and P.V. Rajagopal quit, upset at the entry into the electoral arena. Indeed, on Saturday, Mr Hazare's core team is meeting to review the situation following these setbacks.
For the Congress, all this clearly represents an opportunity: especially since the record of the BJP, principal Opposition, has also been tarnished, forcing it to dump its Chief Ministers in Karnataka and Uttarakhand. Can the Congress seize the moment?
Can its efforts to divide IAC — separating good guy Hazare from the baddies who also double as key strategists in his team — work? Or are those strategists now also playing divide and rule, inspiring Mr. Hazare to differentiate between the “gang of four” in the government from the “righteous people” — Dr. Singh and Mr Khursheed?
Keywords: Team Anna, anti-corruption movement, India Against Corruption, inflated travel bills issue, Kiran Bedi controversy, Arvind Kejriwal controversy, UPA government
It is time for the members of Team Anna to wake up from their Messianic delusions. How naive and simplistic to think that we can solve the problem of corruption through a legislation! Look, we are a people steeped in a culture of corruption. No one is free from it. The recent revelations regarding the financial transactions of the Team Anna members amply substantiate it. "Only other people's corruption is bad, I can acquire money and privileges through corrupt means": that is the mind-set of the whole bunch of the holier-than-thou moralists of the Anna Movement. Instead of campaigning for a legislation, it would do enormous good to the cause of removing corruption, if the Team were to work at educating people at the grass-root level about their rights and duties under the present constitution and legal system of India.
Anna should remove M/S Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan from the Team or should ask them to resign forthwith if he wants to give them safe exit! With them the Team will lose its appeal!
i thought HINDU was a pro-people paper, Whats the point of this author Just seems to be a congress-influenced-article
Today the Govt response is you cannot question our corruption since you have your corruption (how so ever small) in your backyard. So no citizen who bribed a TT for berth,Jumped traffic signal or managed sick leave or things of some nature,cannot question 2g. Govt aim is not JLP Bill but to weaken Anna's movement.
Sorry that your paper is giving voices to justify equivalent corruption.
I do not understand Team Anna's attitude of intolerance towards all who
disagree with them. When you preach something, you should be able to
practice it too. Has anybody given to this team any license to be
corrupt themselves while they point fingers on others.Kiran Bedi's
action of slapping inflated travel bills on sister NGOs is as
unpardonable as the anti national statement of Prasanth Bhushan on
Kashmir.
When JP started the massive movement against the attrocities of Emergency and the then PM,Indira,there were pin pricks to him and his followers too since the congress has masterminded the art of divide and rule.Situation has chnged now with the youth of this nation taking the centre stage and what ever efforts be made by the likes of Digvijay singh,Kapil sibal,Chidambaram and etc to derail Annaji's movement,it may be futile since this nation has been awakened already.
Whatever controversies TEAM ANNA and its members are facing is a
creation of CONGRESS and its govt is using all its different agencies to
digout all previous petty cases against the members of TEAM ANNA.It will
be very difficult task for CONGRESS to regain its lost ground because
the people of this nation can clearly see through the design of this age
old party and its modus operandi.Anger amongst the public is growing
very fast against CONGRESS.
Anna Hazare has only suggested that a strong law should be
enacted to curb corruption in govt and govt offices at all levels.
Strange it irritates the govt whose prime responsibility is to curb
corruption and create a congenial atmosphere for growth and well being
of our Nation. Instead all political parties have started making
political mileage out of it according to their positions of defaming
others. Anna Hazare and his team is not above Law. If they have
violated any law, they must be punished as per law. Is it first
necessary to prove them to prove them corrupt? If team Anna is
corrupt, can we afford to remain corrupt?
Indeed congress is the one party which also struggled for the ultimate
freedom of our country but the leader who were associated with it at
that time were really a great leaders. They had there interest in our
country not like today's embarrassing leader who only work for there
own selfish motives.If the leaders like A.RAJA would have been the
members of the congress at the time of struggle for freedom we would
not have experienced the fruits of freedom. So it will be best for
Salman Khursheed not to compare some of the present leaders with great
leaders we had in past
No, big No.!
Until strong LokPal is not passed in winter congress has no chance. And on top Chidu and Sheila should be removed soon to do damage control. Till then they cannot even think of gaining even a inch of lost ground else it will back fire. And same time if any of the existing 2G accused are released on bail then that's it Congress is dead. And along with congress Indian News Media that shows signs of softness towards congress will lose its credibility and market share. This time anti-corruption wave has spread all across India even in the remotest of remotest villages of the country. There is a ground swell of change that the ruling establishment hasn't understood well and not even in a position to so.
Anna has come as a savior for the Indians, rocked by scams & misgovernance. The ruling elites are powerful, with all machinery at their disposal, to fight any onslaught on their power. The media initially, for news, rallied for Anna & now is on the buttered side. The attack on the Anna team are by people who dont have any credibility.Kiran bedi is an impeccable personality, who never in her career, as a police officer has bowed to the will of the political master. She could have made a lot money, during her career, instead of joining Anna. Rather than concentrating on corruption & misgovernance, it's ridiculous, that the media is questioning the whistle blowers & the activists.
The problems that team Anna has...does it really mean that team Anna
is not really that much pure to point finger at corrupted politicians?
is it a ploy that is used by strong ruling party's propaganda to
make everyone look corrupt so that Congress party alone won't get
damaged by recent disclosures of corruption?
fair-minded people have to go to the root of the problem and make sure that nothing is used as an excuse for "not to pass lokpal bill
or delay in passing lokpal bill.
It doesnt matter whether Team Anna is on backfoot or frontfoot. One fact would never change - this Congress government has silently witnessed the sea of corruptions perpetuated by their ministers when the people of our country were dying due to hunger,poverty and unemployment.
Pls lets not trivialise the cause being fought by saying cong will gain, Being Part of
media you have responsibility towards greater society than making such grand
statements
Anna could have formed a 'party'instead of plying this kind of
game.especially being this a democratic country
Is congress celebrating? Really!
The congress of yester years of Nehru does not intend to celebrate.If you cannot rule honestly and give people the fruits of their hard work better quit than galore it.
Incompetence is not a virtue and worse if sleeps with corruption.
Like it or not Anna is respected by even opponents of his moral crusade. This is not because Anna is wrong but the devils are stronger.
The government could have found out the devils in the anna team long back and many welcome they should be prosecuted.So no one will worry about annas associates being wrong doers, but the swindling of crores of rupees. The impression that is gaining ground is that UPA government is witch hunting and why it should not hunt out its corrupt members. Imagine if Anna has 3 out of 4 members as wrong doers, how many politicians in power are. May be only 10 honest cabinet members. This is what Anna agitation is about. THIS IS THE COMMON MAN´s VIEW.
The parties raking up and giving prominence to news which tarnishes Team Anna is weakening the only hope this country had to cleanse itself of corruption. They want to suppress the voice which has come up against Corruption. Which side is The Hindu taking between Congress and Team Anna, people can easily see. Now to balance the coverage, The Hindu should dig and come up with the inner details of Congress Member.
Smita Gupta, I respect the Hindu, but some how can't come to understand you undermining team Anna. What lost ground of Congress are you referring to? The right to remain corrupt, and keeping on looting the nation? Congress deserves no sympathy. They are corrupt and downright vicious. They have destroyed this nation. Its time we put our house back in order by throwing out Congress.
Congress need not take any effort the true color of the Team got exposed . UPA should
proceed to get the Bills for Food Security, Land Acquisition and Compensation , Lok Pal and
various other Bills passed in the Winter Session . By use of the words " Gang of four " , "
Ruffian " Anna Hazare has lowered his image in the eyes of the civil society and now people
have realized how decent all other Activists of Civil Society who had contributed much to
bring the RTI Act 2005 into force without any publicity in the Electronic Media . Government
should not their views in respect of Lok Pal Bill . People will teach a lesson to self proclaimed
cruzeders of Anti- corruption If they again start any agitation 10 times bigger . Government
should go ahead for Constitutional Status for Lok Pal unmindful the Team Anna if they try to
dictate terms to the Democratically elected Government and Parliament . Their one and only
Agenda is to tarnish the image of the Government and defeat the congress .
I totally disagree with the views expressed by your correspondent in this article. Gone are the days when the contributors to such an esteemed Newspaper such as yours, would exercise greater sense of moderation and proportion to the happenings around , in their reporting.
Barring a few, like Praveen Swami and Siddharth Varadarajan, most of your second level reporters seem to have no sense of proportion at all in their reporting. It has become a fashion today to grossly exaggerate minor things and painting it as if the entire movement or incident has been rendered useless. Team Anna , no doubt, have differences of opinion ,on Kashmir and campagining against the Congress in elections, but that has never , in my humble view, reduced its mass appeal or its comittment to a noble cause of ridding this country of the menace of corruption.
It would be appropriate if THE HINDU , in the larger interest of this Nation, act on thoughtless and disproportinate reporting by its columnists.
Thank the ruling party for making the term "corruption" ubiquitous. No day passes without the statement of defence or other, against corruption and scams, articulated by the spin managers earning disgrace. BJP, the principal opposition party sadly is also seen on the same page, trying hard to refurbish the image dented equally through scam. Team Anna, with its indisputable role of focussing corruption to the centre stage, is limping now from one controversy to other. All do not seem well with Team Anna's explanation. Caeser's wife cannot be content with whining. Given the present political dispensation mired in one controversy or the other,the distant rays of hope of an alternate political front may not be ruled out.
PM agreed for considering Lokpal Bill only for Anna hazare and his Team to stop the peaceful agitation. Even today indications are neither UPA2 and other Political parties are committed to have a serious discussion for a strong Lokpal Bill against corruption and Money laundering.They are only buying time. Meanwhile Congress has started their ususal game of divide and rule nd they are bringing out silly charges against aome members of Anna Team and Media is also helping Congress. Compared to Scams of various political leaders,Anna team's irregularities are of minor nature.People in general are disgusted about the serious situation in the country and the behaviour of the Political parties and lack of seriousness on the part of top leaders of the country to solve this grave problem.No more Party Politics. PM must act boldly and Lokpal Bill is only a first step.
anna hazare should choose&admit only trust worthy people in his team and not people like p.v.rajagopal who keeps his hand on anything&everything he come across with multifarious interest.
one has to understand that this movement and the cause is no longer
limited to Anna or its team. This is the movement of every Indian who is
suffering from corruption. Any amount of character assasination by govt
along with media is going to hamper this movement now. With or without
Anna or its team, the people have now woken up. Media should understand
this and stop publishing unnecessary articles. This would only increase
the anger of the people against the establishment. Media should play a
more constructive role
There is nothing wrong in taking a back foot, in fact its time to think twice what they are doing. The allegations, so far the members are facing are not gross crimes or frauds, they are part and parcel when you run a small organization or project, but now they have to be sensible and think. If running a small organization or project it self involves so many complexities, how difficult it is to run a government that to representing millions of versatile people.At least it is not as easy as calling for satyagrahas when ever you feel like, assuming they will solve every problem of the country. Team anna is doing a great job in educating the indian public, but if they want to make it a wonderful job they have to limit their function, rather targeting UPA govt, which is doing its job. Other wise, poiosonous parties like BJP will take advantage of the scenario.
Can any one find a person who had never committed a sin, even Christ could not claim that. Why not to support someone who has openly started a campaign against the menace of corruption?
Anna and KB have made it clear that the team has no political ambitions nor would they join the Lokpal. The `exposures' are intended to weaken the movement. These could be factually correct but that does not make them right or even relevant.We know that most people are moral hypocrites and will cheat if they think they can get away with it. That does not disqualify them from seeking a strong Lokpal which will make corruption difficult. The desire for a strong Lokpal must be understood as a desire for creating an environment which makes it difficult to be corrupt. There is nothing wrong if a corrupt person strives to create such an environment. In fact, this should be recognised and appreciated as the innate goodness in man seeking perfection while being imperfect.
It is very unfortunate that "The Hindu" as a news paper which was supposed to fight for the cause of people who are striving very hard due to unending corruption is also seems to be doing the work of Congress. Whether Kiran Bedi had put the inflated bill or not is an issue with the Organizers who called her for the speech and her. It should not be a national issue. SMITHA GUPTA unfortunately failed to focus on the real issue of corruption and trying to analyze an irrelevant issue which is not useful for a common man.
You must know that people are still supporting Team Anna
Truth, so far as it remains truth will win, all that is untruth and
rhetoric in the campaign will be weeded out,
When did Bhushan think, he could make a comment adverse to the
constitution, which we/ he swear (s) by,
Kiran was too much rhetoric anyway, and now a hypocrite as well, worth
so much administrative experience, she worked in cross purposes, for
what benefit?
Arvind, was doing a great job, till he made an effort to make Anna Jee
his shadow. Just that the detractors of anti corruption thought he was
the lead, and needed to be crushed. We hope that the allegations on
him are proved to be wrong, he can be useful if he applies and
focuses, and of course maintains decorum
Whenever anyone from any Political party makes any statement.The
party decides later on whether the Particular statement should be
retracted or let it have its effect.It is sheer mockery of
democracy.The Job of issuing statements/contradictions should be given
to anyone who has credibility with the public.if you keep on
retracting three out of ten statements then it is no good for the
Party or the country.
When Iraq was invaded by USA Troops there was a foreign Minister or
spokesman of that Govt.who kept on denying that Baghdad has been
captured even when the forces had crossed the territory of Baghdad.You
simply cannot runaway from the facts .Diplomacy probably means more
than simply issuing statements.Everyone in India wants to,is ready to
work hard but wants the clutches to be removed and why not also.
Needless to say how Hinduism a traditional divided house by caste,language and it did happen in so called Journalism too and divisons of families mostly do occur on various causes but we fail to accept the basic reason that is EGO which ultimately infects everyone in human life.
The team Anna is projected as a brand itself a sign of collapse......
I am so happy that people fell on their own where there is no strong root or any meaning.
Let Team Anna come forward to launch a agitation to ignore Gold and tobacco first if at all they want to be the crusadors of corruption?
Law makers and Team Anna except Anna are in pool of corruption.Any way
pushing too much to the wall by team Anna and team Anna also reached
near the wall.We want a strong Lok pal Bill.Let it come as early as
possible.
The 2 Ks (Kiran & Kejri) are completely misguiding the people. The crazy people believe them blindly without knowing their hidden agenda. They are cleverly using the Anna as their puppet. Anna only can save himself. I hope Kiran is a prospective candidate of 2014 lok sabha elections on BJP ticket. Why are they shying away from politics and indirectly helping the BJP? Let both join BJP staightaway. Who stops them?
If anything all these baseless allegations and mean political tactics have increased the popularity of Team Anna. From 100% backing they now have our support 1000%. Anna and his team should ignore the TV media.I attended a computer class and asked the young people if they watch TV. The response was "OH NO AUNTY TV IS SOOOO BORING! I'm semi-retired and I rely on the Hindu enews, or Japanese NHK or Russia Today, (ads free TV channels for the news. Most of us have no time to watch the ADS channels IBN/CNN or TIMES NOW AND NDTV which to me should get the prize for the MOST BORING CHANNELS IN THE WORLD). Cyrus however is quite hilarious and Arnab Goswami does shine, but these come in too rarely.
So who watches TV? Old people who can't make it to the voting booth? Or kids who are busy with cartoons? We have come out in millions in support of Anna and we aint gonna disappear no matter what tactics the present set-up uses! GO FOR IT TEAM ANNA WHILE WE PRAY FOR YOUR SAFETY
If this is true, this is loss of every true Indian, this is loss of
battle of against corruption and victory for Cong to do what-ever they
want. It will greatest lost of our future and win for corrupt people to
become more powerful. We will never bring back our money back from
foreign banks and it will continue to grow.
The main issue of corruption & confiscation of assets of crooks who earned black money is most vital.
nobody is a vivekananda.
Any attempt to disintegrate Team Anna is going to fail as the movement spearheaded by Anna has the total backing of educated class, none of whom will vote for a party trying to scuttle the movements unlike the earlier voters who were mostly influenced by other causes to vote for it.
well ..lets see in next election .... the party which won on us freedom was based on ideals to do good for society ..this party is based on ideals to do good for own people ... well MR kurshid you need a lesson ...CONG will crumble ...just a matter of time ..enjoy the money till you can
Quite often arguments divide and distract people from the core issue of
corruption. We must not forget that the movement against corruption will not
only benefit Anna and team but also all Indians, even including corrupted( in
the long run for them..) So let us not be sidelined from the prime issue by
too many arguments and noises. Congress men have appeared to defend themselves
from the movement naturally as it is proving to be against top layers of their
leaders.
There are many good honest politicians among congress too but handicapped by
the top coterie in the party. Opposing congress directly is just apolitical in
this context as they are the hindrance in the upfront to be eliminated.
TEAM ANNA IS ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAD BORN,BROUGHT UP IN A SOCIETY MIRED MY
CORRUPTION.We did not expect them to be Gods.But they were fighting
against loot while in power.How can ordinary Politician become so filthy
rich if they were honest?Team Anna was fighting against that and we were
supporting them for that,it was stinking corruption for the last 4-5
years.
Ruling politicians are repeatedly accusing Anna and team, creating dissension among the team members. Some allegations of politicians are below their dignity.Such allegations are impairing party's image in public.Ruling UPA is already in trouble of corruptions scandles and rising inflation in country.Let Sonia Gandhi come forward in the scene and tackle the anna movement intelligently and tactfully in favour of country and her party image ,in view of next general election.
Quite often arguments divide and distract people from the core issue
of corruption. We must not forget that the movement against corruption
will not only benefit Anna and team but also all Indians, even
including corrupted( in the long run for them..) So let us not be
sidelined from the prime issue by too many arguments and noise.
Congress men have appeared to defend themselves from the movement
naturally as it is proving to be against top layers of their leaders.
There are many good honest politicians among congress too but
handicapped by the top coterie in the party. Opposing congress
directly is just apolitical in this context.
Corrupt govt is trying its level best to defame & demoralise Anna team who have done a nice job for waging a battle against corruption.let us hope & pray that good will prevail over evil & the demon of corruption will be annihilated
On a personal fault finding mission by the UPA, Can this government with so many exposed skeletons with how many more to come, are trying their BEST to move away from the main issue of the Lokpal bill.
The people of this country are not fools
Congress party machinery should be congratulated for their skill in maligning team anna personally and making it look like they dont have any relation to it. Realbpolitics at its best. RIP anti-corruption movement.
The core issue is that of fighting against corruption in high places. The politicians and Babus will not bring in a Janlokpal bill which will put them behind bars. Whether the battle agianst corruption is being waged by corrupt persons or honest persons, is immaterial. Print and Electronic media have made it a battle between those trying to bring in a bill which will curb corruption and who will derail the process by all means at their command including bribing the media. Looks like the media is lost in word games rather than exposing those who are against prevention of corruption. It is time that the fourth estate becomes guardian of the weak people being squeezed of the last drops of their blood by Babus and Netas. Media should not a be prop for the corrupt. Prices are at an all time high because of corruption.
There is nothing like that and Team Anna is not at backfoot at all. Congress is trying hard to hide its bad deeds but this time they will not be able to escape. Anyways next election will show the mirror to Congress.
The reporter is building castles in the air on behalf of Congress. Ex-
cop Kiran Bedi's explanation is neither bizarre nor cooked up, Indians
trust her 1000 times more than any congress leader,Mr. Hazare denouncing
his teammate's views on Kashmir has in no way weakened the IAC movement. Indian are smarter than what your reporter thinks.
Why should congress claim the morally high ground after so many scams ? just because team anna has a few hiccups does not absolve them of the crimes they have been perpetrating for long. the middle class and the poor and aam admi in general will get even more incensed if congress does not admit its mistakes. congress is vitiating the atmosphere by throwing in trolls like digvijay singh, kapil sibbal, chidumbaram etc. They are intentionally playing with fire, which hopefully will consume them!
I do not know about any such strategy. But as a common man, I can say that it is for the good of the nation and it's society that the disclosures, which are coming out almost every day about these self styled and self appointed social 'reformers'. The people have right to know the background and the ethical standard of such people. I have always manitained that Hazare, a good man, perhaps a clean man too, has limited educational level restricting his vision and understanding of the complexed problems at the national level.
The people surrounding Hazare are ambitious, politically inclined and publicity hungry. They have their own personal agenda and ambitions. They jumped on the band wagon of Hazare as his was a image of a clean social worker. But these fellows must be exposed so that people know their real faces.
The congress as usual, never takes a stand. Even during
independence, if observed carefully. For them its staying in power
is primary aim. If there is a administration that has to be theirs,
irrespective of what that admin has to do. And they cannot talk
about BJP CMs because then what about Delhi,AP and Goa. Its totally
non-committed to telangana, they just want to delay things, so that
ppl may either get tired and forget or they are out of power and
they can make their issue. Even thieves and dacoits have higher
ethics. About team Anna, in-spite of all this, everybody has iterated
the need for Jan Lokpal, besides the ppl of the country have taken
up the issue and their insistence is not so important now.
It feels like the ruling party has asked all its members to do just
one thing viz divide IAC & throw mud on whoever is associated with
team Anna. They are also influencing the Media, where was Indian
Express when all the bills were being wrongly charged. Moreover, which
party has been in power during this period.
One thing should be clear to Media that its not a fight between Team
Anna & Congress.
Its INDIA against corruption.
Even if there have been mistakes by likes of Ms Bedi, Kejriwal &
Prashant. At least they are taking the problem in hand and doing their
best for this. What has congress and for that matter BJP has done
other than talks & bills hanging since years. Even if a bill is passed
then how effectively is it implemented.
This is efforts on part of Congress to digress the public mind after
what happened in Hisar Elections.
Whatever the Govt is saying appears to be fabricated and designed to malign the name of Anna and his team. We have been watching on TV also that the Govt is targeting Anna for petty issues while letting go and honoring the real big corrupts. If Congress has to win, this Govt has to ensure that the Jan Lok Pal as asked by Anna(without any amendment) becomes a reality before the next elections. Otherwise Congress fate is already sealed. All those analysts who are saying other things probably don't roam around in the markets talking to people and groups. It is also a misnomer that the middle class alone is supporting Anna. In fact, support for Anna stems from the poor and the rural class. It is they who have suffered the most at the hand of corrupt Govt officials, plus even the most stupid of villagers understands that this Govt and its corruption has a very big hand in the rising costs all around the country.
These squabbles reflect the true state of affairs in which we in modern India are living in. Bad roads, polluted water, contaminated air and trash everywhere.Yet, Congress has tremendous potential to continue in power despite criticism by opposition and civil society on many issues including corruption. If congress rationalises its thinking and give priority to youth power in next elections by replacing most of the non-performers and old fogies, still it has a future. A national government with all parties is best bet in times ahead as we cannot afford to confront on each and every issue.
Forget about inflated bills which may not be more than a few lakhs. What about lakhs of crores of rupees swindled by the congress cronies. I would say that this is the single most corrupt political party in the world. We indians are shameless, spineless and are rallying behind a semi literate italian woman who cares a hoot for India and its well being.
This team has disappointed everybody after initially creating the
hope. Their continuous verbal antics, insatiable appetite for media
coverage and Hisar fiasco has turned that hope into a 'hype'. They
have not only lost focus but also managed to alienate a lot many fans
due to irresponsible statements by some of its team members. Congress
may have been trying to dis-unite team anna but most of the events are
result of their own inept management of sensitive issues. The latest
episode involving fudged bills is most bizarre where they are
justifying a clear case of fraud. To many, this 'holier than thou'
attitude, double standards on corruption, sticking to only their
version of bill and clear political alignment with BJP, has bred
doubts on their intentions. By accusing Congress for everything,
perhaps they are living in self-denial. They are making the same
mistake which congress made a few months back and all of us know, how
events unfolded in august!!
The way Dr. Kiran Lokpal Bedi is twisting her statements everday does not reflect the
truth. The resignation of her colleague and co-founder Mr. Anil Bal says a lot and it clearly
puts Dr. Bedi on wrong side of the morality. The letter of one of the N.G.O.'s from Mumbai
further dents into her reputation. Dr Kiran Lokpal Bedi is going the same way as another
member of Team Anna had gone by his anti-national statement on Kashmir.
As far as the aam aadmi is concerned whether the key members of Team Anna are pure or
impure. His life, daily bread and butter are not dependent on them in any way. He
identifies himself not with any individual or a handful of persons in IAC but with IAC and he
knows clearly what the moment is for and what it is against. If forces inimical to IAC's
objectives miscalculate that in the ongoing nasty game of one upmanship, the aam aadmi
will lose his focus, they are sadly mistaken. Anna Hazare has just become a rallying point
to millions who remained hopeless in an era marked by unimaginable levels of looting of
public wealth by vested interests in the government. He is in an unforgiving mood and will
see that the government either mends its ways by creating the most powerful anti-
corruption body or ends its life. The government has to decide its preference in the two as
there is no third alternative.
If the rulers at the top are genuine and had no skeletons in their
cupboard, they should encourage and support team Anna. It seems they
wish for Anna's Team's crumble. Anna's team is not so naive. People
have woken up to realities. Even if Anna's team falls a new team would
come very soon with lessons learnt. The most honourabe course open to
the corrupt is to own up their mistakes and submit to the law rather
than getting exposed one day with great humiliation. If the they own
up their mistakes they would be treated with some respect and lenience. But that is most unlikely. If they had been wise enough to
be able to understand the wisdom of this philosophy they would not
have resorted corruption in the first place.
Team Anna is not a team of 4 or 5 members only.It has an army of millions of members dedicated to the cause to fight against corruption,so no chance for Congress to retrieve the lost ground without passing Janlokpal Bill.The allegations made against some top members of Team Anna have no significance as compared to the charges different political leaders facing currently.Many of them are in Jail and many facing such charges in various civil and criminal courts. People know to distinguish between the charges,their nature and the time and purpose of allegations.
Anna Hazare and his team awakened the public to the rampant
corruption and the necessity of Lokpal bill. The uttering of the team
Anna after the fast are not good.
Anna Hazare and his team's campaign in Hissar is a blunder. The recent comments of Anna about 'gang of four' and 'ruffians' are not in good
state. His backing of Kiran Bedi in the inflated bills is also not
good.
Kejriwal is probably over reacting while saying that the Government
is attacking them to stall the Lokpal bill. If he has any grouse,it
should be against the congress party but not the Government. The
Government is about to bring the Lokpal bill in the Winter session of
the Parliament, it is better they remain calm.
The inflated bills of Kiran Bedi and the way she is trying to defend,
are really bad. It creates a doubt in the minds of the people about
the credibility of the person.
It is correct no humanbeing can be dry honest,but Atleast Anna team is much better and honest than the cong.leaders.
congress wants to get rid of team Anna this time by demoralising them
by smear campaign which they managed for Swami Ramdeo by using
force.They should try to get rid of corruption,while they are doing
it for those who are fighting corruption.
Smita Gupta is propagating a view that the Congress party and the UPA givernment it leads are seen to be corrupt by the people only because of the initially successful campaign of the Anna Panel supported by the BJP and now that the orchestrated smear campaign against the Anna Panel and the jailing of BJP's former Karnataka Chief Minister have laid the accusers low, the Congress party and its government are out of danger. This is partisan journalism at its worst!
There can be only one loser in the battle between Anna and 'The Gang'. India will show these lowly politicians their true place very soon. Anna's movement has awakened the nation. Politicians' comments like - 'we were caught unaware by this movement' beggars belief!!
It is almost idiotic to make us believe that there is something between Anna & Co.,
and the Congress Govt. The media should pay attention to the cause and not the
personalities. The imperfections of Anna Team does not enhance the credibility of
neither the Congress nor the Central Govt. Media must be dense not to see the
difference.
I would rather say that the hindu paper by giving prominence to such news item as above is not doing anything positive. Actually the main task before this team is to make out a write up of the steps to be taken in detail as how to tackle the various corrupt practices now prevailing at central and state govts level and in their departments prior to piloting their Lokpal Bill with the help of the Govts in power by shri Anna Hazare and his team members. It is unfortunate that time is wasted both by the Press and the Team members in fighting like the above! We are very sorry to note this.
Is it possaible to consider Dr. Singh one of the "goodies" when he is guilty of abetting corruption? He was kept informed of every step Raja took in 2G spectrum business. Singh, however, seem to have played a clever game by writing a letter advising Raja to adopt a certain modality while deliberately closing his eyes to what Raja had been doing of which he knew and which was contrary to his suggestion given in his letter to the minister. When he had given a suggestion, is it not his duty as the leader of the team, to see that is implemented? Obviously, his action in allowing Raja to do what he did implies that he too agreed with it. Parodying Shakespeare, I would say, "But Manmohan is an honest man."
The photo accompanying the news item is pretty representative. But how come Hazare is not in the mug shot? That would have completed the 4 members of the Gang.
If Anna team members have done anything wrong,let law of land deal with them. It is not a
fight against any political party but a fight against corruption. Let laws be brought to bring to
book anyone who breaks the law. Let no body be left out as possibly most of the Indians
has lost faith in any one in any political party or any Government official.
Audited' accounts of Kejriwal's NGO - PCRF, is a sad apology for processes of audit, transparency and accountability!
Two days after Kiran Bedi was exposed for flying on discounted air tickets but taking full fare from sponsors, another prominent Team Anna member, Arvind Kejriwal, now faces charges of diverting huge funds from anti-graft front India against Corruption (IAC) to his own NGO. Swami Agnivesh, a former Anna Team member alleged that Kejriwal deposited between Rs 70 lakh and Rs 80 lakh from donations to IAC to his trust, Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF).
Team Anna on the other hand responded that they will place all details regarding their accounts on the website of Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF), by this month-end after a special audit.
Such an offer by Team Anna however may not be by itself sufficient to assuage public misgivings and in all probability, may even end up fanning the fires of criticism of Team Anna further.
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