Team Anna may agree to have backwards, minorities in Lokpal

In a significant climbdown from its earlier stance, Team Anna is likely to concede to the demand to have representation for backward castes in the proposed Lokpal.

Sources said while Team Anna was opposed to quota within the Lokpal, the team has decided not to oppose the government if it chooses to make conditions for appointment of members that better reflect social reality. This could blunt criticism from backward caste leaders who have been vocal in their demand for representation within the proposed anti-corruption agency.

Leaders of Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Bahujan Samaj Party, RJD and LJP were vociferous in their demand for representation of SC/ST, OBCs and minorities in the proposed Lokpal during the all-party meeting convened by PM Manmohan Singh earlier this year.

All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations had demanded the inclusion of dalits and minorities in the anti-corruption law. The confederation also met the PM to press for its demand and had drafted a Bahujan Lokpal bill advocating representation of backward communities in the Lokpal bill.


Editor's View: well there is no problem at all in giving reservation, but there should be one thing taken care of that the competition for becoming a lokpal or a member of institute should not be compromised to such a low level that any one can become lokpal easily, as then there would become less professional and reliable!

Source:http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-29/india/30336425_1_lokpal-bill-team-anna-bahujan-lokpal

PUNISH US but don't pollute and loose movement's strength: Arvind

Defending himself and Kiran Bedi, who is under attack for inflating her travel bills, Kejriwal on Tuesday (Oct 25, 2011,)  said, "If someone paid the ticket examiner in Railway because he needed a ticket, so that person cannot question Suresh Kalmadi? Is this the message being given out?
"Do you mean to say that out of 120 crore people, only saints can question UPA's corruption and government will keep on robbing people? If anybody questions then that person will be asked to look into his case first," he said and warned that if the current smear campaign continues, the next movement will be 10 times bigger.


"Dont forgive us. Give us twice the punishment given to common people. But bring Lokpal and you will have to," he said.
He lamented that the whole attention is being shifted from corruption movement and Lokpal to core committe which has "no importance".


"Whether Kiran Bedi paid bills or not has become national issue. It will not benefit nation. It will be useful when Lokpal will come. Government should understand that their ways and methods are increasing the anger among people," he said.


"If Kiran bedi has committed a crime, hang her. Send her to jail but talk about Lokpal Bill. Whatever mistake she has done, investigate and punish her but we cannot decide it in a press conference whether the allegations are true or false," he said.
On Lokpal Bill, he said there was no other way than passing Lokpal Bill and they were ready for dialogue.

"When had we run away from dialogue. But on the other hand allegations were levelled against us everyday. They spoilt the atmosphere. Who is creating disturbance. If the government's intentions are honest, then the Bill can be passed in a day," he said.
Asked about the "Gang of Four" referred to by Hazare, Kejriwal said it was a guess and only Hazare knows about it. "I don't know," he said.


"Investigate us, put all the agencies in the country after us, punish us in the harshest way but you will have to bring the Lokpal Bill," he said.
Editor's view: Arvind is right in saying that LOKPAL should not loose strength because facts against them(Arvind and Kiran) maybe real but are presented to loose the strength of the movement. But I don't support Arvind's rail example(first para) as a corrupt is corrupt weather a rail briber or a national level corrupt, small corruption is the root of big one.


source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow1/10489397.cms

Corrupts in team Anna (politics behind Lokpal art-2 )

Kiran Bedi and Arvind Khejrival ,  are facing serious questions by nation,media and especially by politicians about their clean and corruption free character. Many records are intended to reveal some corrupt acts of these members.Kiran Bedi's records are saying that she got money to travel in first class but traveled in cheaper class to get rest of money . Khegrival is being accused of breaking  bond in which he said that he  work for the government for at least two years, but he worked for only one year. For this voilence  he is being asked to pay dues of 9 lakh to the government.

 I will not demand support for Kiran or Arvind but I want to aware all of you that the quest of LOKPAL should not loose strength because these facts maybe real but are presented to loose the strength of the movement, Kiran and Arvind may have done corrupt deeds but these records are being used by even more corrupts to degrade the gravity on LOKPAL . I say if you don't want to believe then don't believe any member of that organisation but PLEASE don't loose you tries and will to bring that bill. Than bill matters a lot and this is proved by the tense actions and trials of businessman and politicians. 

Politics Behind Lokpal

what lokpal is without cbi?

According to recent steps by government it seems that Lokpal will behave just like a complaint filing institute. 

•  Lokpal will conduct preliminary(or initial)  investigation into a corruption complaint and refer it to CBI for investigation.
• CBI would investigate the same and then forward the case to the directorate of public prosecution to be created under the supervision of Lokpal. 
• Any suggestion by the Lokpal for prosecution should be accepted. A rejection, if any, should come either from the secretary of the department(lokpal) concerned or a higher authority.
• The committee outlined a structure that harmonises or coordinates the roles of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.

MAIN ARTICLE 
Problem is not that lokpal will undertake  initial  investigation but is that further investigation will be done by a institute which is promptly misused by any party in majority. If government does not want cbi under lokpal then its OK, but its is never good having government's control over cbi. So government should as a alternate solution to the situation at least take some steps to eradicate its own  control over cbi. Because if Cbi will be free from any political control then we also don't need it under lokpal.
However if opposite happens and government doesn't its own  control over cbi.  (which is actually happening) then all that will happen is that we will have same cbi(under political control) and a Lokpal without enough power for investigation, so I ask governmet how will the investigation be transparent and non-prejudiced ?and in that way how is this lokpal powerful.

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME AS ITS A DEBATE concerned articlehttps://twitter.com/#!/vinayaksharmav
http://www.facebook.com/vinayaksharma4 

Corrupts in team Anna (politics behind Lokpal art-2 )

Kiran Bedi and Arvind Khejrival ,  are facing serious questions by nation,media and especially by politicians about their clean and corruption free character. Many records are intended to reveal some corrupt acts of these members.Kiran Bedi's records are saying that she got money to travel in first class but traveled in cheaper class to get rest of money . Khegrival is being accused of breaking  bond in which he said that he  work for the government for at least two years, but he worked for only one year. For this voilence  he is being asked to pay dues of 9 lakh to the government.

 I will not demand support for Kiran or Arvind but I want to aware all of you that the quest of LOKPAL should not loose strength because these facts maybe real but are presented to loose the strength of the movement, Kiran and Arvind may have done corrupt deeds but these records are being used by even more corrupts to degrade the gravity on LOKPAL . I say if you don't want to believe then don't believe any member of that organisation but PLEASE don't loose you tries and will to bring that bill. Than bill matters a lot and this is proved by the tense actions and trials of businessman and politicians. 

 Anna’s Hisar Play 

Anna Hazera demanded that not to vote congress if it does not shows positive signs of bringing Lokpal. Later his campaign on this topic became a political issue , since congress lost Hisar election. So is Anna going political?
The first think that we must understand here is that during these campaigns Anna in press conferences declared that both BJP and Congress are not serious about corruption, and both are trying to disrupt his image. So if Anna would be a supporter of RSS or BJP or any party then he would not have openly broadcasted such statements.

However, there is another question , Why then he did Hisar campaign ?
Answer is actually not easy to digest, maybe he did it to manage pressure on congress. Last time , before Anna’s second anshan the government tried a boastful attitude, so maybe Team Anna is taking precaution this time by managing pressure on government. But to how much extent this pressure is correct ? Or Is it required?
Let us peep some facts and history, Janlokpal is in standing committee of parliament , But standing committee is not PARLIAMENT! It means that standing committee just suggests to parliament and parliament is free to make his own agreements and disagreements over committee’s suggestions ! It may even reject the progress the bill made in standing committee and made its own reserch. Moreover there are some MPs who are still not willing to bring bill in country like LALU PRASHAD.

So if bill suffers in parliament then will Anna do another lengthy Anshan ? The Hisar campaigns may help in  skipping such lengthy Anshan by managing continuous pressure over government .Maybe that’s why team anna adopted it.

Still, However I will not say that this campaign is not benefiting  BJP.
But it maybe not the intentions of team Anna to benefit BJP, it maybe just the reverse effect of having only two main parties for national level, and in such condition if one party suffers other automatically gets benefits, so why to blame team Anna here?

Copyright: VinayakSharma 

No deadline can be given for Lokpal report: Singhvi

The Parliamentary Committee looking into the Lokpal Bill may not be able to finish its work before the Winter Session of Parliament, which begins in the second half of next month, as it lost valuable one month’s time due to delay in its re-constitution.

An indication to this was given by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Personnel and Public Grievances chairperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi who said that no deadline or timeline can be given for submission of report. “We are trying, but no commitment has been made to submit the report before Parliament session.”

 Singhvi denied media reports that he was holding panel meetings late in the evening and on Saturday for his convenience which was causing a lot of inconvenience to members and claimed that many members who are also part of JPC and PAC prefer evening timings and Saturdays for the Lokpal panel's meeting.


Source: http://dailypioneer.com/nation/14705-no-deadline-can-be-given-for-lokpal-report-singhvi.html

Constitutional status of Lokpal, needed or not?

Constitutional status of lokpal, if given through well thought out amendment  will make this bill even more powerful, reliable and stable.But only adding lokpal to Constitution will not show these benefits, We need a 'well thought out amendment' which can smartly balance between existing Constitution and upcoming lokpal.Lokpal must be added to Constitution by taking care of all kinds of outcomes and conditions that institution may face. If added in such a manner that Lokpal Idea will bloom and our fight against corruption will get tripple strength

Making such good  amendment and thinking about all the possibilities will of course take time and it should take time otherwise we may regret.  Indian Constitution was made by extreme care by vast Constitution committee , so amending it in 2 or 3 days by just 3 or 4 persons will be a nonsense(which government is Doing under pressure of Anna). In such case I must say If we act in haste, we may regret in leisure. So we Anna must give some time to government for a more powerful lokpal
Following benefits , lokpal will get with a Constitutional status 

• Constitutional act is always above a parliamentary act , So any act by parliament will not be able to cross-cut Lokpal
• Being Constitutional mandatory lokpal will be COMPULSORY in each and every state.
• Under the umbrella of Constitution Lokpal will remain defended against any knid of economic or functional crisis
• Lokpal will be difficult to tamper or influence
• It would not be easy to remove Lokpal bill 

All these benefits will bloom in lokpal only if the amendment of Constitution is done with extreme care and by a large number of constructional and lokpal EXPERTS.
If done in haste then lokpal MAY RESULT IN EVEN WORSE.

Editor's view: Politicians which were opposing lokpal , saying it unconstitutional are now giving it Constitutional status. Such change in state of mind is strange , I am worrying that they are not playing politics even behind this .We really need Constitutional status but be careful of political tricks.!



Points from :http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_why-the-lokpal-must-be-a-constitutional-authority_1600250

Lokpal may get constitutional status.

The congress is planning to give constitutional status to lokpal. It appears good as it will vanish all the constitutional related flaws in the bill , but as per Team Anna and BJP this will make the bill's implementation late.

As per our Constitution if there is a 'want' of amendment in the constitution then there is a need  a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in favour of amendment.Team Anna and BJP are saying that this can't be achieved  as UPA does not have majority in either house: in the Rajya Sabha, it does not even have a simple majority.
But the flip side of this argument, Congress sources point out, is that surely the Opposition parties, who have put the government on the mat on the issue of corruption, would like to make the proposed law as strong as possible and cannot afford, therefore, to oppose giving the Lokpal constitutional status.


It appears to be idea of Rahul Gandhi which he introduced in August in a speech in Parliament. In his speech in August, “We speak of a statutory Lokpal but our discussions cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt. Madam Speaker, why not elevate the debate and fortify the Lokpal by making it a constitutional body accountable to Parliament like the Election Commission of India?”

The two former CJIs (whose draft is presented before standing commitee) explained that the proposed amendment could be passed in a single day. When members pointed out that the states would have to ratify the amendment, the retired CJIs reportedly explained that the proposed amendment would not need ratification of the states.

Editor's view:  Well its not a bad thing to give this bill a constitutional status but it appears to be a bad Idea when there is a risk of rejection of this amendment. We really need a middle way out
source http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2535276.ece

Anna hits back at Digvijaya, slams his ‘faulty thinking’

In his response  to Digvijay's Letter  Anna Hazare on Thursday said there is no difference between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in dealing with corruption and both are misleading the people on the issue. 
Anna Hazare responded to Digvijaya Singh’s recent criticisms  rejecting the suggestion that he had presidential ambitions, and denouncing the RSS’s claim of involvement with the Jan Lokpal movement, saying it an attempt to “defame” him.
‘Both parties do not speak on removing corruption,’ Hazare said in his letter

This Letter came in responce of Digvijay's Letter in which he had accused Hazare of never raising his voice against the BJP, . In this letter digvijay alleged that his(Anna's) aides were “using” him, and cited a statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as proof of RSS backing for his movement.
In reply to this Anna said ‘You have tried to link me with RSS and BJP. By showing the dispute between them (Congress and BJP), they are trying to mislead the people of this country,’

‘You think that by my anti-Congress campaign, the BJP will be benefited, but why is the Congress giving them (BJP) a chance?’ he asked.
‘If RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said his organisation supported my movement, I think they are trying to defame me,’ said Hazare.


In an eight-page letter written in Hindi, Hazare said that Singh should know that six ministers in Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena-BJP government had been forced to resign because of his protests. 


Stating that he had no wish to be president of India, Hazare said both the Congress and the BJP appeared to be flying kites on the issue.

Stating he will not join any party till his last breath, the activist said there was need for public pressure to strengthen democracy.‘The public is the owner of this country and sends legislators to assemblies and the Lok Sabha as its representatives,’ wrote Hazare.

Observing he had helped Digvijay Singh as Madhya Pradesh chief minister in social welfare projects, Anna said: ‘The centre should not take pride in stating it involved society for the first time in drafting the Lokpal bill.’

In fact, he demanded all welfare laws should be made with people’s involvement.

The activist rued allegations of corruption levelled against him, his aides Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal and his arrest ahead of the fast for a strong Jan Lokpal bill in August.

He also criticised the government for forcibly evicting Swami Ramdev’s hapless protesters earlier.

Referring to BJP leader L.K. Advani’s yatra for clean politics and governance, he said the BJP- and Congress-ruled states should create strong Lokayuktas to curb corruption.
Editor's view: I think Anna is now trying to make it clear that  CONGRESS as well as BJP are not as right as we think them for this country.

Source: http://www.inewsone.com/2011/10/13/no-difference-between-congress-and-bjp-anna-tells-digvijay-2/83208
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/anna-hits-back-at-digvijaya-slams-his-faulty-thinking/859655/

Full text: PM's letter to Anna Hazare

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday wrote a letter to anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, reiterating the commitment of the government to an effective Lokpal Bill.

Here is the full text of the letter:

Dear Mr Anna Hazare 

Thank you for your letter dated September 21, 2011. I am glad you made me aware of your thoughts on several important issues.

As you know, we are committed to an effective Lokpal law and we hope to succeed in it in near future. Our government is also working on a comprehensive agenda to eradicate corruption and improve the governance. Several legal, executive and technical aspects would be included in it. The establishment of Lokpal is a part of this comprehensive agenda itself.

Our government is also considering several recommendations concerning electoral reforms. Among the recommendations that are being considered, you have talked about the Right to Recall. In a democratic society, getting political consensus on some issues is a must. We want to discuss several recommendations concerning electoral reforms with other political parties and act on the ones that are broadly agreed upon.

I completely agree with you on the issue of empowering the Gram Sabha. We are committed to implement the 73rd and 74th amendment of the constitution. We are constantly striving to work along with state governments to fulfill the dream of empowering the Gram Sabhas in the real sense.

I thank you again for your suggestions.

With good wishes, 

Yours,

Manmohan Singh

Source
http://www.scribd.com/doc/68347932/PM-to-Annaji (real letter)

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/full-text-pms-letter-to-anna-hazare/192145-53.html 

http://twitter.com/#!/janlokpal

RTI effect: Govt to release Lokpal tapes

In a concession to Team Anna, the government on Sunday agreed to make the audio recordings of proceedings of the Joint Committee public(The Joint Drafting Committee, comprising five members of Team Anna and an equal number of Cabinet ministers, was formed to finalise the draft of the Lokpal Bill. for more information click here)  
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had earlier refused to bring out the deliberations of the Committee in public domain, saying it would need the Law Ministry's nod. The new position was revealed when an RTI activist was told he could get access to the audio recordings.

What is also important is the government will not be releasing all the details in these audio tapes, there will be some kind of selective release and this has come essentially because of the RTI application that was filed by Subhash Agarwal, who wanted all the details, particularly the audio clippings of the closed door meeting that happened between Team Anna and the 5 members of the cabinet be released and made public.

But it's clear that the government will be cautious in not releasing anything that can affect the draft of the Lokpal Bill and it has made it clear that this has been done only after the law ministry gave its nod to the DoPT that it can go ahead and release these audiotapes

However team Anna member and former Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is skeptical about the Government move to release the audio tapes of joint Lokpal panel's meetings, expressing fears that the CDs could be "edited". 

However, Anna Hazare has welcomed the government's decision and said the public had the right to know the truth.

Sources: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govt-concedes-to-rti-query-releases-lokpal-tapes/191510-3.html http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Santosh-Hegde-fears-Lokpal-audio-clips-may-be-edited/articleshow/10293142.cms

Lokpal Bill by winter session of Parliament: Khurshid

REPORTER pradip kumar maitra(hindustan times)
Union law and judiciary minister Salman Khurshid on Saturday asserted that the Lokpal Bill would be tabled in the ensuing winter session of the Parliament for debate and consideration.When asked about Anna Hazare’s call for renewed agitation and his proposed move to campaign against the Congress in states going to elections, the union minister said he had no idea why Hazare was doing all that. "The government is keeping its word given to Anna when he broke the fast -- that the Lok Pal Bill be re-drafted. The standing committee is holding deliberations to make the Bill a comprehensive piece of legislation. His two other demands of Lokayuktas for each state and Citizen’s charter are also under consideration,” he said.


Commenting on Hazare’s demand for right to recall(ie a right where citizens has right to reject their existing political representative), Khurshid said it was as impractical as holding elections all over the country on one day.  “Conducting free and fair elections takes too much time and effort, the recall facility would only complicate the matters”, he opined. On the Gandhian crusader’s campaign against the Congress in the ensuing state elections, he quipped, “Anna should leave politics to us. He should better concentrate more on social issues.”


According to him, it’s unfair to blame the Congress for the delay of 42 years in enactment of Lok Pal Bill. No other party gave it priority. Even the movement started by socialist icon Jai Prakash Narayan was silent on Lok Pal. “So it was only a matter of fixing priorities and the Congress-led UPA gave more importance to RTI Act, food security bill and now the communal violence Bill," explained Khurshid.
He said by December the government would bring a slew of legislations including Bill on transparency in public procurements, citizens charter, electoral reforms, protection to whistleblowers, strengthening the CVC --all this will change the public perception against the UPA government and make governance more effective.


Answering a question, the union minister said that the right to information (RTI) Act that the government brought in to enhance transparency was now becoming a hurdle in its working. "We have no regrets to have brought in the RTI Act. But then too much of RTI work is hitting the working of government department. It is slowing down the development work. Time has come to have a clean discussion on its pros and cons. There is no question of retreating. We all have to think how we can make it more effective and hassle-free,” he said denying that he or the government has reservations against the RTI provisions.


Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/Lokpal-Bill-by-winter-session-of-Parliament-Khurshid/Article1-754953.aspx

ANALYSIS on "Do not vote for Congress" appeal of Anna Hazare

Background information: "I appeal to the people of Hisar not to vote for the Congress party and their candidate should be defeated as the party is not committed to passing the Jan Lokpal Bill," Anna Hazare said in a video message posted on You Tube
"Most of the parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), replied to me affirming their support but I have not received any communication from the Congress," he said. Hazare said he would call off his anti-Congress campaign if the party commits to passing the Jan Lokpal Bill in the winter session of parliament.


ANALYSIS:  Hazare  is demanding the defeat of congress and maybe he is right in demanding so as congress is hesitating in passing the bill. BUT to which extent this demand is not prejudiced? He is also saying that BJP supports bill and will provide help. So this way it appears that he is supporting one party through his statement and opposing other. It also suggest that Anna is corrupt, which is of course not true. So what is happening here ? The thing happening here is black and white politics. In this politics the majority party is always in black color ie always shows unfair acts and gains hatred on the other hand opposition party always intend to be white and true.This black and white colors rises and falls from one party as it looses or win majority. So problem is not with Anna to support BJP but with lack of multicolored politics ie the politics where there are more choices and personalities other than that of only evil and virgin! 

Lokpal Bill not at gunpoint, says government

A day after the government got an ultimatum from Anna Hazare - pass the Lokpal Bill in Parliament or face an anti-Congress campaign by activists in poll bound states - the government retaliated saying that parliamentary processes are not carried out by "putting a pistol on someone's neck."
 Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal, responded to the latest stand of Anna, saying that "You cannot get something done by putting a pistol on someone's neck," 


The parliamentary affairs minister said efforts are on to take up the bill in the winter session of Parliament. "It will be a sincere endeavour to see that the Bill is taken up during the next winter session. But it depends upon the work the committee is able to do. The committee has members from all the parties and they are getting inputs from different people who want to come before it," Bansal said.  
He said that there should not be any problem in taking up the Bill in the next session if the committee is able to give its report in due time. 


Law Minister Salman Khurshid, too, said that "Our intention and endeavor is to try and bring it in the winter session... Bring a very effective and very powerful Lokpal with Constitutional status." He, too, refused to set a timeline for the passage of the bill. "I cannot fix the time line because it has to be fixed by the parliamentary affairs minister and the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee looking into it."  


 On his part, Anna rejected the charge that he was indulging in brinkmanship with his ultimatums to the government. "If I had not served ultimatums, we would not have seen seven different legislations in Maharashtra and also the sacking of six cor-rupt state ministers," he said. Anna also defended his call to vote against Congress in the Hisar by-polls.  


Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/lokpal-bill-not-at-gunpoint-says-government/articleshow/10249933.cms

Team Anna launches referendum on Jan Lokpal Bill ( Oct 2, 2011)

Team Anna Hazare on Sunday(Oct 2, 2011) kickstarted a nationwide referendum on Jan Lokpal Bill in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies, including those of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, to drum up support for their version of the bill. The beginning of the nationwide referendum coincided with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and is being carried out in 12 constituencies -- nine from UP, two from Bihar and one from Orissa. 


Besides Sonia's Rae Bareli and Rahul's Amethi in UP, the activists were also conducting referendum in Mainpuri (Mulayam Singh Yadav), Varanasi (Murli Manohar Joshi), Ghaziabad (Rajnath Singh), Kaushambi (Shailendra Kumar) and Hamirpur (V B Singh). In UP, the referendum is being carried out in Lucknow and Ambedkar Nagar constituencies also. 


In Bihar, Lalu Prasad's Saran and Kirti Azad's Darbanga constituencies face Team Anna's referendum while in Orissa it is Puri constituency from where Pinaki Mishra is the MP. 
Out of the 12, five MPs -- Prasad, Azad, Mishra, Kumar and Singh -- are members of the Standing Committee looking into the Lokpal Bill.


Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Team-Anna-launches-referendum-on-Jan-Lokpal-Bill/articleshow/10210759.cms