'Jail bharo' from January 1 if no Lokpal bill: Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare on Thursday announced a 'jail bharo' agitation from January 1 2012, if the Lokpal bill was not passed in parliament.

Anna Hazare said that the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament should be extended to pass Lokpal Bill and threatened to go on a hunger strike if it is not introduced soon.

His remarks came a day after a consensus eluded political parties on Lokpal Bill.

The activist said he has confidence in Parliament that it will pass the bill as everybody in government has given his team the assurance that it will be done.

"(There will be a consensus) in Parliament if not at all-party meeting. All MPs are there, it will be passed there...yesterday people put forward right points, some pointed out the deficiencies.

"Everybody in the government is giving us assurances that we will get a Lokpal Bill. So we should have faith in them. But if they don't bring it, then we will have to agitate," he said ahead of the second day of Team Anna's Core Committee meeting.

Hazare was responding to questions on consensus eluding the all-party meeting on Lokpal Bill and apprehensions that the bill will not be passed in the ongoing Winter Session.

Repeating his demand for extension of the ongoing session to pass the bill, he said, "if there is no time for passing the bill (according to the present schedule), then extend it.

"It is important for the country. Earlier also, you have occasions when the Session was extended," he said.

Replying to questions on the all-party meeting, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said almost all the parties were unanimous on CBI getting autonomy.

When pointed out that some leaders have cautioned against rushing through the Bill, Bedi said, "Who are these parties? Not the BJP surely as Sushma Swaraj tweeted that they want it in this session. Are they managed voices, isolated voices?".

Is Anna Hazare the Gandhi of our times?

Is Anna Hazare the Gandhi of our times? This question pops up time and again, as now after his endorsement of the much-reviled slap on Sharad Pawar’s face.

There are many facets to Anna, most of which cannot fit into the convenient rave-or-rant formula drawn up by the media. He’s never called himself the second Gandhi but has in fact declared he does not deserve to ‘even sit at Gandhiji’s feet.’ He does follow Gandhiji but if required, he has said he can become a Shivaji or a Bhagat Singh.

So, while we cannot impose Gandhidom on him, much as we want to, Anna shares some qualities with Gandhiji. He is disciplined, patient, austere, stubborn, has simple food, is wholly into causes, plunging body and soul into them. He is simple, direct and honest.

Like his idol, Anna goes by his gut. His gut, unpredictable as it is, is what makes him swing radically at times, baffling his supporters. His take is: ‘If taking a step backward helps us to go forward, why let ego get in the way?’

Anna also trusts too easily. Unlike Gandhiji and for a man with such exposure to public life, he can be rather naive. But largely, he is focussed. Babus and ministers often hope to divert his attention in their meetings but Anna throws it at them after a point: ‘Yaancha kai?’ (What about this?) and insists on a timeline for all promises.

Most importantly, his heart is in the villages. His core organisation, Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan, which took a backseat during his national campaign against corruption, works at the grassroots level and runs primarily on member contributions. Only those with a visible presence in public work are eligible to become members.

This is, in fact, one of the friction points between Anna’s NGO and his new friends in Delhi, branded as Team Anna. Many in Maharashtra resent the Delhi activists’ domination on the ground that they don’t have rigorous exposure to public life and are quintessentially urban. But it is his Delhi friends who have catapulted him to the national stage and made him larger-than-life even as the media in his home state pours scorn on him.
Just as fears of the Congress limiting Gandhiji were voiced till the Mahatma smoothly took over the Congress, Anna’s supporters fear he is being used by Team Anna. But, though Anna can get carried away, he thinks independently. Sitting in the Sant Yadavbaba temple in Ralegan Siddhi, Anna listens to everyone patiently, and then makes his notes at night, sometimes for hours. That’s his me-time when the churning happens.

When Anna announced his campaign to oppose the Congress in UP, he did it without consulting ‘Team Anna’. It was a unilateral decision that they scurried to follow. Just as it was he who worked out the parliamentary resolution idea to break the impasse during his August fast.

Anna can put his foot down when required. He did that last week by telling Arvind Kejriwal to drop the idea of having a public meeting in Nashik. The BVJA, he was told, has a considerable presence in Maharashtra. Kejriwal was asked to take his campaign to other states where India Against Corruption needs to grow roots. He may be nowhere near the Mahatma as he says but he is among a few who come closest in our times.

Anna Hazare Vs Congress

Social activist Anna Hazare has said that the UPA government will have to bow to the will of the people reiterating that he will continue with his fight for a strong Lokpal Bill.

Addressing a huge gathering at Jantar Mantar, where he observed a token daylong fast, Anna Hazare said it is the duty of the law makers to work for the common man who elects them.

Thanking the youth for coming out in large numbers for the Lokpal agitation, Anna said he is confident that the youth power will usher the country into change.

He said the youth should be ready to fill the jails of the country if the government did not listen to the voice of the masses.

Clarifying on Rahul Gandhi, Anna Hazare said he had no personal vendetta against the Congress general secretary. He said Rahul is being projected as the future Prime Minister, but to get there he will have to sacrifice a lot.

He took a dig at home minister P Chidambaram citing the govt action on Baba Ramdev's protest.

Earlier, several opposition leaders joined the Lokpal debate at Jantar Mantar and outlined their party's views on Lokpal bill.

Leaders of BJP, CPI(M), CPI, JD(U), Akali Dal, TDP and BJD participated in the public debate on Lokpal Bill at Jantar Mantar.

All opposition parties agreed on including the Prime Minister and the lower bureaucracy under the ambit of Lokpal.

Some counselled Team Anna to be flexible and not expect every point raised by it to be accepted.

CPI general secretary AB Bardhan warned Team Anna against branding as "corrupt" those people who disagree with its views and asked the activists to "listen to others".

Anna Hazare appealed to opposition parties to join his agitation for a strong Lokpal if they do not have the numbers to correct the government in Parliament.

"If government hesitates in passing a strong Lokpal Bill or rejects your suggestions and if you (opposition) fall short of numbers, we can do one thing. The people are here with us.

"You can join us with all your parties and partymen and come to the streets for a larger campaign. Let us see how the government does not do it. We will ensure that no jail in the country remains empty, such will be our campaign," Hazare said after political leaders put their views on the issue.

He said the government will have to bring a strong Lokpal Bill and for that, the parties should fight inside Parliament and if the government does not agree, they should join the campaign against corruption.

Congress did not send its representative for the debate.

Anna Hazare says Government lacks will to remove graft

Alleging that the Central Government is delaying the passage of the Lokpal Bill, veteran social activist Anna Hazare has said the former lacks will to remove graft.

Addressing mediapersons here, Hazare said that the government was delaying the passage of the Ombudsman bill purposely.

"Normally the government only talks about the parliament and its importance, and when the resolution of these three issues (Citizen's charter, state Ombudsman, and inclusion of lower bureaucracy) came up and got passed in the Parliament, they want more discussions on it. This is an insult to the Parliament. We want to humbly tell the Parliament and the lawmakers that this government does not have the will to remove corruption," he added.

Anna Hazare said that the high inflation rates were solely caused by corruption and the remedy was tough Ombudsman bill.

"Today the inflation and rising prices are because of corruption. The common man is in pain and is struggling to survive, because of this. Poor people are seen making futile rounds of government offices only because of corruption. That is why we want to get a strong Lokpal bill. This is what we want and we believe that the parliament will not disappoint us," added Hazare.

He also took a dig at Home Minister P. Chidambaram over his alleged involvement in the multi-billion dollar 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"I had said this earlier as well that if the Janlokpal bill was passed, Chidambaram would have been in jail today," said Hazare.

He had earlier said that he would tour the five poll-bound states to enlighten the people as to how the government is not at all serious in eradicating corruption in government and from public life.

He also suggested that the current Winter Session of parliament should be extended if there is a shortage of time in passing the Lokpal Bill.

"If the time is less then increase it. The Constitution says it. If discussion on important issues takes time and the parliament session is getting over then one can extend it. But that is only if they really want it to, it is not impossible. If they want to get the Lokpal Bill in this session of Parliament then they can extend the session, what is the problem? It is such an important and national issue," Hazare added.

The Jan Lokpal Bill is seen as a weapon to root out corruption and nepotism from the government machinery and in public life.

The proposed Bill envisages the setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog to check financial mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded several democratic and civic institutions of India.

Pawar says Anna Hazare instigates violence

The face-off between NCP president Sharad Pawar and social worker Anna Hazare escalated on Wednesday with charges of corruption flying from both ends.

Breaking his silence, Pawar said, “When the Justice Sawant commission held three of our ministers guilty, I ordered that they be sacked. And I would like to remind Hazare that it was the same commission which held Hazare guilty after investigating some matter related to administrative lapses and corruption.”

In a sharp rejoinder to Hazare’s allegations, the union agriculture minister said, “Hazare has every right to justify the attack against me, and I have no reasons to complain. But next time there is an attack, people will know whom to hold responsible. There will be no need for investigations to ascertain the facts. The people will know who and what led to such a physical attack.”

Pawar urged his followers to show restraint at the mindless needling by Hazare, and to question the Gandhian’s justification towards violence.

Highly placed sources in Mantralaya indicated to DNA, “Preliminary findings by the home department have indicated that Team Hazare has taken a conscious decision to revive its graft campaign against Pawar. The reasons cited are that a sustained campaign against Pawar helps Hazare occupy centrestage in Maharashtra; leaders of the opposition are also covertly supporting and waging a battle against the ruling Congress and NCP, in the wake of the local body elections.”

A senior Congress cabinet minister said, “The ugly incident of Harvinder Singh slapping Pawar may have evoked mixed reactions from people and politicians. But that episode is over, after both Hazare and Pawar expressed their reactions. The big question is, what was the reason for Hazare to revive the same episode, and justify it again in the name of Gandhian principles? This is anybody’s guess.”

The NCP core committee has discussed the Hazare campaign. But they have decided not to take to the streets against Hazare, since he still enjoys massive public support. An NCP general secretary said, “If our workers take to the streets again in anger, it will unnecessarily trigger ugly violence. We don’t want any law and order problems.”

The NCP is, however, extremely distressed by Hazare’s charge that Pawar has always protected and promoted corruption.

Anna Hazare accused says Rahul Gandhi of diluting the Lokpal bill draft

Social crusader Anna Hazare on Friday accused Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi of diluting the Lokpal bill draft.

He also said he would start an eightday fast at Ramlila maidan from December 27 if the Lokpal bill was not passed in the winter session of Parliament or if a weak Lokpal bill was passed.

Addressing a news conference at his native village Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare said he strongly suspected Rahul Gandhi of “interfering” in the making of the Lokpal draft so that it became weak.

“Gandhi said he wanted the Lokpal to be a constitutional body, but he does not say that there will be no government interference in its functioning. The law about Lokpal must have a provision to rule out such interference,” he said.

Hazare said that after his fast gets over, he would tour Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, which face assembly elections next year.

“I will stage a three-day agitation in each state and tell the people that the government is cheating them. I am aware that the government will not allow me to continue my fast beyond eight days,” he said.

The Gandhian reiterated that the government’s intention about Lokpal was “not right”.

“The Prime Minister gave me a written assurance in August about including lower-ranking government officials within the ambit of Lokpal, having a citizen’s charter and setting up a strong Lokayukta in every state on the lines of the Lokpal. Parliament gave a letter to this effect to the standing committee. Still, the promises were not kept. Isn’t this cheating?” he asked.

Referring to a statement made by a politician in Delhi that the government will not dance to Hazare’s tune, he said, “If anything happens to me during my agitation, the people should hold the government responsible. Even if I die, people will say there was a ‘mad man’ who always fought for people’s causes.”

Hazare also reiterated that he wanted the CBI and the Prime Minister within the purview of the Lokpal and also pressed for the right to recall. “The chief election commission had said 10 years ago that there should be a right to recall. I am not raising any new issue”, he said.

Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare rejects the draft report, threatens agitation

The prospect of a third round of confrontation between the Manmohan Singh government and Team Anna loomed large on Tuesday with the Opposition set to reject the draft report of the parliamentary standing committee on Lokpal bill and civil society up in arms against the proposal to include NGOs and media and exclude lower bureaucracy, citizen's charter and CBI's anti-corruption wing from the proposed anti-graft body.

Copies of the draft Lokpal bill, circulated among members of the parliamentary panel on Monday, did not enthuse the Opposition or civil society spearheading the campaign for a strong Lokpal.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, when asked for her party's reaction to the document, said BJP members on the standing committee would air their views at its last two rounds of meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. Party leaders, however, trashed the draft report, arguing that its recommendations, if accepted, would render Lokpal without much muscle. With the standing committee unable to take a call on including the office of the prime minister under Lokpal's purview, BJP and Left parties were set to oppose the relevant clauses in the draft document.

Team Anna, which has been warning the government against going back on its promise to set up a strong Lokpal, is now bracing to launch the third chapter of its movement. Anna Hazare, the anti-graft crusader, has already announced that he would sit on a day-long dharna at Jantar Mantar on December 11, and also sought MCD's permission to hold a protest at the Ramlila Maidan from December 27.

"The Standing Committee report is out, we may have to restart agitation. We will fast on December 11 at Jantar Mantar,'' Anna told newspersons in his village, Ralegan Siddhi on Tuesday evening.

Expressing disappointment over the recommendations contained in the standing committee's draft report, Hazare's colleague Arvind Kejriwal sought to remind the government of the parliamentary resolution that had prompted the activist to end his fast on August 28, and said he hoped it would be respected.

"When Anna ended his fast, Parliament agreed to a resolution that stated clearly on lower bureaucracy and Citizen's Charter. We just hope that resolution is respected,'' he said.

Civil society members, including Team Anna, were upset over what they felt was part of a project undertaken by the government to rein in NGOs, and bring them under Lokpal lens. The draft report penciled by the standing committee has recommended that all NGOs, media firm or companies wholly or partly financed by the government will come under Lokpal scrutiny.