Upset on draft by standing committee:Team Anna

Team Anna expressed unhappiness over the lokpal report by standing committee. (see this video conference of Arvind)



VIDEO CONFERENCE of Arvind Khegrival


Team Anna is upset with lokpal draft by standing committee due to following reasons

• They are unhappy because Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the lower bureaucracy was kept out of lokpal's ambit. "The draft, as I am being told, provides for the CBI to be kept under government control. If the CBI is under government control, then the Lokpal will remain an empty tin box," Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal told reporters 
• For not including the lower bureaucracy in the ambit of the Lokpal. 
  Khegrival said that most corruption around common man is done by lower bureaucracy so how such corruption can be dealt without bringing lower bureaucracy under lokpal
• Khegrival  insisted that if small NGOs are brought under lokpal then  all government funded NGOs should also be brought under the Lokpal as massive corruption was prevalent in NGOs. 

Claiming that the draft report on Lokpal Bill by Parliamentary Standing Committee is a "betrayal", Anna Hazare threatened to go on anindefinite fast in Delhi from December 27 if a strong anti- graft law is not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament. 
Hazare, who also announced that he will sit on a one-day fast in Delhi's Jantar Mantar on December 11 on the issue, sought to put Congress on notice saying he will tour the five poll-bound states and tell electorate how the government was betraying them on the issue. 


The Parliamentary Standing Committee on law and justice examining the Lokpal bill is expected to finalise its report Nov 30-Dec 1 and submit its recommendations to parliament in the first week of December. 


TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Standing committee's decisions on PM's and CBI inclusion click here


Sources:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Team-Anna-unhappy-over-final-Lokpal-bill-draft/articleshow/10916738.cms
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/draft-report-on-lokpal-a-betrayal-says-anna-hazare/articleshow/10920485.cms

Two more BJP states mull Lokpal akin to Anna version

After Uttarakhand, two BJP-led states, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, are closely examining the Jan Lokpal bill. Both states have a Lokayukta in place, but have shown interest in amending the existing legislation to bring it closer to the bill drafted by Team Anna. 

Chhattisgarh has put in place a committee under the chief secretary to examine the Jan Lokpal billand the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act. Sources said Chhattisgarh was looking at restructuring its existing Lokayukta Act to bring in an independent investigation wing under the ambit of the law, besides other changes. 

However, the Chhattisgarh government is likely to wait till the Centre passes the Lokpal bill and examine its provisions. The state assembly session is scheduled to start in December and unlike Uttarakhand there are no elections coming up in the state, and hence there is no immediate political compulsion to expedite the process. Sources said the state may wait a while before restructuring its legislation to fit the Jan Lokpal's provisions. ``We want it to be in tandem with the Centre's act,'' a source said. 

The activists have been in talks with several states after the early success with Uttarakhand that has adopted the Jan Lokpal bill in toto. The team, however, ran in to rough weather with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as Team Anna members criticized the state Lokayukta draft as ``weak''. Kumar hit back, saying he did not need a certificate of approval from anyone except the public. 


Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Two-more-BJP-states-mull-Lokpal-akin-to-Anna-version/articleshow/10886725.cms

'Lokpal Panel to Decide Next Week on Inclusion of PM'

The Parliamentary Panel going into the Lokpal Bill will take a call on the issue of inclusion of Prime Minister in the anti-corruption watchdog at its meeting this week, its chairman Abhishek Sighvi said today(november 27).

"We have to discuss the issue in the next meeting," Singhvi told PTI adding,"we are now at the stage of report adoption and we hope to complete the work within this week".

Singhvi said 25 issues including those concerning media, corporates, NGOs, lower bureaucracy and citizens grievances have been "comprehensively dealt with" in the substantive report.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel and Law and Justice scrutinising the Lokpal Bill had on November 24 ended its internal deliberations with "broad consensus" on most of the issues including giving constitutional status to Lokpal.

Asked whether the report will satisfy everyone, Singhvi said "we are not here to satisfy everyone or anyone. We are here to satisfy our conscience and the nation".

The panel has been asked to give its report by December 7.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kuman Bansal has already indicated that the government plans to bring the bill in the last week of the current session of Parliament which concludes on December 21.

The panel is preparing to circulate the draft report of its recommendations to the members in the next few days.

Team Anna had earlier expressed surprise at the move to exclude Citizen's Charter and lower bureaucracy from the ambit of the ombudsman, saying it was contrary to a Parliament resolution.


Source:http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=742747

Standing committee's decisions on PM's and CBI inclusion

The standing committee in a meeting on 16 november recommend that the CBI's anti-corruption wing be given more autonomy and be placed under the Lokpal's supervision.(However there is a provision of collective participation of lokpal and CBI instead of complete control by Lokpal)

•  Lokpal will conduct preliminary 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.

While some members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law and Justice felt that the Prime Minister should be brought under the Lokpal, others were of the view that this should be avoided.The Parliamentary panel on Lokpal bill, is divided on the inclusion of prime minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

The committee got at least four suggestions on the matter of the PM's inclusion.

• There were demands for completely excluding the PM and his office, particularly from Congress members. Team Anna had told the panel it was for complete inclusion of the PM and PMO.
•  Certain members said the PM's post could be brought under the Lokpal's ambit after the completion of his/her tenure.
• Another argument was that since the PM was in charge of departments such as personnel, public grievances & pensions, planning, atomic energy and space, all these will be out of the Lokpal's purview if the PM was excluded. They argued that only the departments that deal with national security can be excluded. Sources said all suggestions would find a place in the report.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Lokpal-to-get-part-control-of-CBI/Article1-769721.aspx

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-16/news/30405853_1_civil-society-activists-lokpal-team-anna

Anna to send 34 'Jan Lokpal missionaries' across nation . NDTV reports

Anna Hazere is working towards spreading awareness in the country on the proposed legislation that will arm an ombudsman (lokpal ) with extensive powers to check corruption.

On Sunday, Hazare decided that all the 34 district heads working for his Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Aandolan Trust (BVJAT) should go to all the states in the country to create awareness on the importance of the Jan Lokpal bill and explain to the public why it is imperative that Parliament pass it during the Winter Session.

At a two-day annual convention in Hazare's village Ralegansiddhi that had all senior representatives from BVJAT in attendance, the activist decided it was time to nominate his people to spread the word on the strong version of the bill that he wants passed.

"Anna's main concern is to get the Jan Lokpal bill passed in Parliament," said K D Pawar, city president of BVJAT, who attended the meeting. "Hazare recently visited five states in the country to get the pulse of the people and know what they feel about the Jan Lokpal bill. Now he wants us to go and create awareness in all the states in our country."

Booklet on bill
Hazare has prepared a booklet on the Jan Lokpal bill detailing its intention and scope in Marathi, and is planning to translate it into Hindi for all citizens. "There will not be any need to go to these states if the government passes the Jan Lokpal bill in the Winter Session," said Pawar.

BVJAT coordinator Shankar Tadakhe said Hazare was skeptical about the Jan Lokpal bill getting approved. "The first RTI bill was approved in 2000 but was opposed by Hazare himself because it did not cover his demands. If the same thing happens with Jan Lokpal Bill, he may even restart his nationwide agitation," he said.

The missionaries
A first list of 17 people from Anna Hazare's trust who will be visiting 22 states to build support for the Jan Lokpal bill has been made. These people from various places are:
Advocate Ajit Deshmukh (Beed), Uddhav Bobade (Usmanabad), Vikas More (Parabhani), Suresh Durve (Gondia), Chandrashekhar Bandage (Gadchiroli), Anil Thamre (Amrawati), Gajanan Harne (Akola), Jaiprakash Khot (Buldhana), Sudhir Deshmukh (Latur), Gopalrao Bele (Nagpur), Ashok
Sappan (Ahmadnagar), Bhavesh Patel (Mumbai), K D Pawar (Pune City), Radheshyam Jagtap (Pune District), Narayan Powar (Solapur), Ramrao Gorde (Aurangabad) and Bhagwan Phirange (Jalna).



Anna also declared that nobody should use his name while campaigning for elections(like Bjp is doing). "Those who want to contest an election  should contest on their own responsibility. I shall raise my voice against it if somebody is misusing my name for his or her campaign," Hazare said.

Hosted From: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-to-send-34-jan-lokpal-missionaries-across-nation-152021

Judiciary out, Grp A-B staff included in Lokpal

As the Parliamentary standing committee examining the Lokpal Bill began finalising its report to be submitted in the Parliament, reports have said that 

• the panel has decided to keep the judiciary out of the anti-corruption ombudsman’s purview. 
• the panel has favoured the inclusion of Central government’s Group B staff as well in the Lokpal’s ambit, as against the original proposal of including just the 85,000-odd Group A staff. Group B services roughly included 1.7 lakh staff. 
•  the Committee is believed to have decided that the Lokpal Bill would also provide for Lokayuktas in states, as demanded by the Anna Hazare-led civil society group. 
• While the  Lokpal Bill seeks to have provision of imprisonment of not less than two years for persons filing false or frivolous complaints, it also seeks to impose a fine of Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh against such persons. But committee members were understood to have supported imprisonment of up to six months and a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakhon the lines of the contempt of court proceedings. 
• The same committee had recommendedreducing the punishment for the Whistleblowers Bill and the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill onfrivolous and false complaints. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the development Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal has expressed concern over keeping the judiciary out of Lokpal's ambit. 
He, however, welcomed the reported decision to bring Group B government staff under Lokpal's ambit. Group C and D staff should also be brought under Lokpal's purview as they are the ones with whom the common man deals on a daily basis, he demanded.

Editor's View: Keeping Judiciary out of Lokpal's is and bringing Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill  not a bad decision as it is important for Judiciary System to be not under any institute and to be independent, and Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill will do the work of anti-corruption watchdog in Judiciary without bringing judiciary under Lokpal 

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/judiciary-out-grp-a-b-staff-included-in-lokpal_741930.html 

Lokpal Bill on govt agenda for winter session

 The government on Wednesday (november 16 2011) said its legislative agenda for the winter session of parliament that includes the Lokpal Bill and Whistle Blower Protection Bill. 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the session, starting Nov 22, will have 21 sittings.He hoped the parliamentary standing committee examining the bill will be able to submit its report by Dec 1. 
 

The minister also gave a list of 31 bills that the government intends to pass during the winter session that ends Dec 21.  Bansal also met chief whips of all political parties to discuss the issues they wanted to take up during the session. 

"Political parties want to discuss issues like price rise, black money, division of states, energy security, corruption, situation in Afghanistan, earthquake in Sikkim and also issues concerning the farmers," he added.
Anna Hazare has threatened to go on a hunger strike again if the government does not pass the bill in the winter session. 
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lokpal-bill-on-govt-agenda-for-winter-session_742165.html

Lokpal can’t wipe out corruption completely: Hegde

Asserting that the Lokpal cannot completely wipe out corruption which is as old as the civilisation itself, Team Anna member Justice N Santosh Hegde on Tuesday said that if the menace could be contained up to 60-70 per cent, "we would be very strong".

"Let me be very frank. You can't eradicate corruption. Corruption is not born yesterday, last year, last century... Corruption was born with the birth of civilisation itself. Go through any scripture you will know corruption was there," he told a local television channel here.

However, he also said "Even if we have a strong door, robbery can still take place. Does it mean we will have no door at all,"
Hegde said, an institution like Lokpal could be created which could curb the growth of corruption and clean corruption to a certain extent. "Suppose, we are able to contain it up to 60 to 70 (per cent), I think economically, we would be very strong."

"An institution which is there to fight corruption will certainly create fear among the people who are not yet corrupt but likely to become corrupt," Hegde said.

Replying to a question on the government assurance that a strong Lokpal Bill would be brought in Parliament, Hegde said "One thing was certain that for 44 years they did not bring a Lokpal Bill and did not create a Lokpal institution. Now, that will come and that institution will be built,"

However, Hegde said, he did not think the government would bring a strong Lokpal Bill. "Against whom they will operate? Bill is against them, the Parliament members, the ministers, the bureaucrats... It will not be against you, me. 

On suggestions by Congress leaders that Lokpal would be a constitutional body, Hegde said though it was a good idea, "it is absolutely unnecessary". 

"If you want a constitutional body, you have to get two-third majority in Parliament which nobody as of today has," he said. 

Hegde also did not see any wrong in formulation of a law to right to recall or reject a member in the elections. 

Editor's view: Well constitutional status is necessary at all. They are looking at time but not looking how lokpal will bloom with a Constitutional status. Following benefits we will get  

Sourcehttp://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/lokpal-can-t-wipe-out-corruption-completely-hegde_741803.html

Govt wants to split Jan Lokpal with laws: Anna

Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday said the government should not split the jan lokpal (its essence) in parts by bringing different laws to control corruption. “Why is government bringing separate laws when the jan lokpal is in progress?”

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said the government had plans to bring in three-four laws to make the jan lokpal an “empty pot”. “Those include the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Public Grievance and Redressal Bill and the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill their intention is clear.”

Editor's View: All the other bill may be useless but Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill is necessary to be with the Janlokpal to prevent corruption in judicial system without bringing Judiciary system under lokpal. As its important for Judiciary System to be not under any institute and to be independent.
Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Maharashtra/Govt-wants-to-split-Jan-Lokpal-with-laws-Anna/Article1-768750.aspx 

Over 90% people in 14 Lok Sabha segments support Anna's Lokpal

Team Anna on Saturday claimed over 90 per cent of the people surveyed in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies, including that of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, support the Jan Lokpal Bill.

According to Team Anna, an overwhelming 96.5 per cent of people said they shall not vote for their representative in the next elections if he or she does not support Jan Lokpal within the Standing Committee as well as Parliament.

The civil society members claimed that 99.5 per cent of the one lakh people surveyed in Rae Bareily, Sonia Gandhi's constituency, supported the Jan Lokpal Bill while 98.3 per cent people of Rahul Gandhi's constituency Amethi supported the proposed law.

In Ghaziabad, constituency of BJP leader Rajnath Singh, 94.4 per cent people said they shall not vote him again if he does not support Jan Lokpal in Parliament.

Similarly, 91.8 per cent of people of Mulayam Singh's constituency supported Jan Lokpal while 97 per cent people of Ambedkar Nagar, Rakesh Pandey's (BSP) constituency, supported it.

In Bihar's Chhapra, Team Anna claimed, 94.3 per cent people said they will not vote for RJD chief Lalu Yadav again if he does not support the Jan Lokpal in Standing Committee and Parliament.

As also in Manish Tiwari's constituency, Ludhiana, 95.8 per cent people said that they want their MP to support Jan Lokpal.

Source

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_over-90pct-people-in-14-lok-sabha-segments-support-anna-s-lokpal_1611587

Team Anna not against any political party: Kiran Bedi

Kiran Bedi  claimed that Team Anna was not against any political party, but wanted the Jan Lokpal Bill passed in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament.

Without naming the Congress, she said that the party which did not support the Jan Lokpal Bill was defeated in the recently held Hissar by-election.

"We will be forced to launch an agitation if the government fails to keep its word," the Team Anna member said delivering a lecture at 'Idea Summit' organized by XLRI school of Business and Human Resources here.

Justifying the demand for the Lokpal Bill, she said if it came into being, even the prime minister would come under its purview and there would be no need to seek permission of the government to start investigations.

She also said that corruption was not possible without the connivance of the bureaucracy.

"No corruption is possible without the connivance of the IAS, IPS and others," she said referring to former Jharkhand chief Minister Madhu Koda who is behind bars in the a money laundering scam.

"I am sure that no money can be withdrawn from the state treasury without the approval or noting of the bureaucrats concerned," Bedi said.

Claiming that CBI was not independent and was controlled by the government, she said non-existence of an independent investigative agency was one of the reasons for corruption.

Bedi said that the Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement was turning into one like the Wall Street movement in US as people were now more aware.

Source:http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_team-anna-not-against-any-political-party-kiran-bedi_1611573

Team Anna against Bihar Lokayukta Bill

Disappointed by Bihar's Lokayukta bill, Team Anna has described it as a "copy" of the Centre's Lokpal draft.

Activist Arvind Kejriwal said the team hoped that chief minister Nitish Kumar, who had on June 30 promised Team Anna that he would enact a strong Lokayukta law, brings a strong bill on the lines of the one passed by Uttarakhand assembly. "Bihar government's proposed Lokayukta bill is a copy of the much-criticised Centre's draft against which Anna sat on a fast," Kejriwal said.
Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said the proposed Lokayukta bill of Bihar was a "replica" of the Centre's Lokpal against which they had all agitated. "Jan Lokpal bill is an absolute necessity for standardization," she said.

Following points are flaws 

• Bihar lokayukta bill  include government control over selection, suspension and removal of Lokayukta.
• The draft also says the Lokayukta needs permission from government to investigate and prosecute any government officer and punishment to a complainant if he files a frivolous complaint and punishment for a corrupt officer is the same, six months to five years.
• As per the draft, corrupt officers will also get free legal assistance provided by government against the complainant

Source:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-10/india/30381545_1_lokayukta-bill-team-anna-lokpal-bill

Core committee will be reconstituted: Anna

Anna on  Friday, November 04, 2011, announced that his core committee will be dissolved and reformed.The committee currently has 26 members; they decide policy and plans of action for the India Against Corruption campaign.
“I have told my fellow activists that Core committee should not be disbanded at this juncture, we have good people with us now, but in the future we will have a bigger committee which will include people of all regions, religions, caste and creed,” he said.

Team Anna said that there was no question of the group being revamped, as present core committee was for temporary purpose.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/core-committee-will-be-reconstituted-anna_739830.html
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-says-core-group-committee-will-be-revamped-after-all-147573

Anna ends his maun vrat, calls BJP=Congress

Anna Hazere ended his 19 days vow today(friday nov 4) . He went to Rajghat where he broke his maun vrat 

In press conference Anna said he is extremly impressed with the Lokayukata Bill passed in Uttrakhand this week and appealed to the government to follow the model of the Uttarakhand Lokayukta.. However he again threatened  to campaign against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the five election-bound states if a strong Lokpal Bill was not passed in the winter session of parliament.After the winter session, he would travel across the country campaigning for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

 Asked if he would support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the assembly elections, he said: "There is no difference between the Congress and the BJP. One is a graduate, the other postgraduate."

"During the assembly elections in five states, we will hold sit-in protests in each and campaign against the Congress. We will categorically ask people not to vote for the party that is not serious about a strong anti-corruption law." he said

Team Anna also held discussions on the provisions of the bill ahead of their meeting Friday with the Parliamentary Standing Committee that is examining the Lokpal bill.

After breaking his 'maun vrat' Friday morning, Hazare said he had observed to regain power to fight for a strong Lokpal bill and against corruption.

"My health has become absolutely fine... I now have more inspiration to fight for Lokpal. I have got the energy again to fight for the Lokpal bill and I don't care what people say," he added.

During his maun vrat, he had been putting forward his views through his writings that were then read out by his aides or through his blog.

Editor's view:"One is a graduate, the other postgraduate." using these words collectively for BJP and congress made it clear that he thinks that both BJP and congress are same and he is not directly supporting any. But we can't ignore the fact that BJP is still getting the opportunity.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anna-Hazare-ends-maun-vrat-says-fight-for-Janlokpal-Bill-will-continue/articleshow/10604111.cms
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/follow-uttarakhand-example-says-anna-after-ending-maun-vrat-146779

Uttarakhand Assembly passed Lokayukta Bill

BACKGROUND: Passing of Lokayukat bill in a state means that an anti-corruption ombudsman organization known as Lokayukat will be there in that state headed by the Lokpal at Center level.


NEWS: Lokayukta Bill has been passed by thr Uttarakhand Assembly. Team Anna  said that the passed by Uttarakhand Assembly is "in full spirit of Jan Lokpal Bill".
This  Lokayukta Bill passed by Uttarakhand Assembly have a provision of life imprisonment for those found guilty of corruption. It will also bring the lower judiciary under the ambit of the Lokayukta.
It also provides sweeping powers to the proposed five-member Lokayukta, including separate investigation and prosecution wings. All public servants, including the chief minister, have been brought under its purview.

 "Congratulations. Uttrakhand is the first state which has passed a Lokayukta Bill unanimously in the Assembly. It's in full spirit of Jan Lokpal Bill," Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said.

Three other non-Congress ruled states — Bihar, Orissa and Punjab — are in touch with Team Anna for overhauling their Lokayukta institutions.


Sources: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/uttarakhands-lokayukta-bill-in-full-spirit-of-jan-lokpal/883484.html
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/3-more-BJP-states-going-Jan-Lokpal-way/Article1-762978.aspx