Arvind Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party

Arvind Kejriwal today(Nov,26,2012) formally launched his "Aam Aadmi Party" with  a strong Rally at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, making a 3000-strong crowd chant a series of anti-graft and other vows that he said were at the core of his party. Kejrival has revealed the name and Constitution of the party few days ago in a press conference and has requested people to assemble at Jantar Mantar today for its Formal Launch.
 Former  commando Surendra Singh who revealed graft in pensions was also a part of rally.

Mr Kejriwal chose to launch his party on November 26 as the Constitution of India was adopted on this day in 1949.

The party has named 23 members to its national executive, including Manish Sisodia and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who are close associates of Mr Kejriwal.  Mr Kejriwal will be the national convenor, Pankaj Gupta the national secretary and Krishna Kanth the national treasurer, it was announced  .

India Against Corruption member Kumar Vishwas said 200 offices had been opened already. "It's an Aam Aadmi party... they (the aam aadmi) will run it," Mr Vishwas said, adding, with a smile, "The donations are coming to our party account and people are giving cheques, so they (other parties) need not to worry." he quipped.

The party's official website is www.aamaadmiparty.org, and accounts have been set up on social networking sites like Facebook (aamaadmiparty) and Twitter (@aamaadmiparty) to share information about the party and its functions.
(See vision of party here)

"We vow that we will neither give nor accept bribes. We vow to get voter identity cards made and go and cast our vote. We vow to not take money, alcohol or any other form of bribe to cast our vote. And we vow not to cast our vote based on caste or religion," the activist-turned-politician said from the stage; the crowd solemnly repeated the vows after him. ."This party is result of our struggle against corruption," Mr Kejriwal said, his team and he repeatedly stressing that this was a "people's party." The acronym AAP means "you" in Hindi.

Source:http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/arvind-kejriwal-formally-launches-aam-aadmi-party-297522

http://www.firstpost.com/politics/live-kejriwal-to-formally-launch-aam-aadmi-party-today-535378.html

Main Points /Vision of the AAM ADMI Party(AAP)

Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday launched his party naming it 'Aam Aadmi Party’ (Common Man's Party) with an aim to provide Gram Sabhas more say in law making and making higher judiciary accessible to common man. 


The party has named 23 members to its national executive, including Manish Sisodia and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who are close associates of Mr Kejriwal.  Mr Kejriwal will be the national convenor, Pankaj Gupta the national secretary and Krishna Kanth the national treasurer, it was announced  .
Main Points /Vision of the AAM ADMI Party(AAP)

•  Vision Document speaks of bringing self-rule in the country and demands that the preamble be implemented in letter and spirit. 
• It aims at bringing Janlokpal, Right to Reject and Judicial Reforms.
• It aims to provide Gram Sabhas more say in law making .Kejrival also widened the meaning of Gram Sabha here saying "The Panchayats have become corrupt. We are not talking about it. We want the Gram Sabhas, the mohalla sabhas in the cities to be actively involved in law making except for major issues like that on foreign policy and external security,"
• It opposes the selections in party on basis of relations/connections/money.For this purpose t if one becomes a member of the state executive or national executive councils, his or her relatives will not find place in any councils. 
• It will have its own  internal lokpal  at the Centre and Lokayuktas at every state and district.  i.e its own anti-corruption institute observing corruption in party.Any person can lodge a complaint against any party member and if the Lokpal or Lokayukta finds a prima facie case then the person will be probed.
• party will have the Right to Recall and it will be implemented in national executive council, state executive council and district executive council. 
• There will be a  national council of 320 members which will be expanded by bringing one member from every district committee, Kejriwal said, 23 members were elected to the National Executive. 
  He said the strength of the executive committee will be 30 and the remaining seats will be filled soon. "We have to see that there is proper representation for all sections in the committee. If backward people, minorities etc does not have proper representation, then we can have five more members," he said.
• Party will have two kinds of members -- ordinary and active members. Anyone can enroll himself as an ordinary member by paying Rs 10 as fee for three years and an ordinary member who works for the nation and party tirelessly for four months then he will be made active member. The decision on making one an active member will be taken by the committees. 
• when it comes to fighting elections and the party will give prominence to youth and women who are kept at fringes in other parties. Every college will have a party unit.Party is committed to provide at least 33 per cent seats to women for contesting elections. 
• The party's functioning will be transparent and donors list and expenses list will be uploaded on the website from time to time,

Controversy A member of the Tamil Nadu group said they were not against the party but their problem was with the way in which delegates from the state were selected. "There is an issue. We have objection to the manner in which people were selected for the meeting," the member said. 

A group from West Delhi's Tilak Nagar also voiced their disapproval about the way in which delegates were selected. 

Source:http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/arvind-kejriwal-names-political-outfit-aam-aadmi-party_812493.html

Graft in pensions: 26/11 Commando claims non-payment of benefits

Background  Surender Singh a former NSG commando, who fought terrorists in the 26/11 attack and was invalidated from service after he got  severely injured in the operation Black Tornado (code name of 26/11 anti-terror flush out) On Thursday(Nov,22/2012) he claimed in a press conference arranged by IAC that he has not got any financial benefits or pension and the money "gifted" to him and his colleagues. 

Allegations

             Surender Singh

• Singh said he received roughly around Rs. 4 lakh as rewards from various sources, including Rs. 1 lakh each from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. "In that money, I spent over Rs. 1 lakh on medical expenses. I have a family to run," he said.
• Singh said he was severely injured in the operation to flush out terrorists from the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai and was invalidated from service in October, 2011.
  
• Since last year, he alleged, he has not received "even a single paise" from the government.
  
• "I saw a file in which the photocopy of a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh each from Rohan Motors Pvt Ltd and another firm were received in my name. I never got the money. Not just me but none of my colleagues got the money which came in their name. I want to know who en-cashed them and where are they now?" he asked.
  
• "When I asked officials what happened to the money, they said the home ministry decided that no gifts or donations will be received by the NSG. But they did not show me the records to prove that those money have been returned," Singh said.
• He also distributed copies of an RTI reply which said he received around Rs. 2.5 lakh as financial benefits from the Government of India.

       Arvind Kejrival

• Presenting an order from the government which said Singh was not eligible to get pension as he has put in only 14 years and three months of service as against the mandatory 15 years, Kejriwal claimed there are several clauses in the law under which a commando can be given concessions so that he gets his pension.

Govt's response However, the government rejected his claim with Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari saying that the commando has been paid Rs. 31 lakh in the form of ex-gratia payment by the Governments of India and Maharashtra.

However, Singh rejected the claims and said he has not received any money from the government.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/26-11-Flanked-by-Kejriwal-NSG-commando-claims-he-hasn-t-got-financial-benefits/Article1-962748.aspx

Lokpal report by standing committee presented in Rajya Sabha:Short Update

 Report on Lokpal and Lokayukata created by standing committee of Rajya Sabha was presented in parliament  on November 23, 2012. (CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAIN POINTS OF REPORT)

 Report was tabled amidst din in the Upper House on Friday. The report was tabled even while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members created a ruckus, demanding reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled tribes in job promotion.

short points OF REPORT((CLICK HERE TO SEE complete POINTS OF REPORT)

Among its recommendations, the select committee has suggested  that the prime minister should be under the Lokpal's purview, except for matters related to external affairs, internal security, atomic energy, and international relations.

It also suggests delinking of state Lokayuktas from the Lokpal bill, giving only "direction" to states.

The recommendations would, however, not be binding on the government, which would decide the final version of the bill to be presented in parliament.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Lokpal-report-tabled-in-RS-Parliament-paralysed-for-second-day/Article1-963192.aspx

Parliamentary Update for Lokpal

Rajya Sabha selected Parliamentary committee on Monday (November 19,2012)  adopted draft report on the Lokpal Bill.

Main Points of report/changes that may come in bill

• On strong resistance from opposition and allies( BJP,  CPM  and Trinamool ) committee has suggested delinking creation of Lokayuktas(state version of lokpal) from the Lokpal Bill.They however said  the state governments will have to set up their own ombudsman through enactment of law by the state legislatures within one year of commencement of this law.|This decision wrong as it will make Lokayukta different in every state as well as will make it vulnerable to become a state based weak bill leading to difficult usage of bill in multi-state corruption cases|(see report in this federal structure issue)
• The Select Committee is learnt to have not recommend any changes in the original controversial  provision relating to “reservation”.
  The original provision said ‘not less than 50 per cent of the members of Lokpal would be from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.Sushma Swaraj(BJP)  opposed this provision as this is against the constructional fact that reservation can't be given on basis of religion (on basis of minorities) 

• The Committee’s report defending itself on reservation policy said that “these provisions merely aim at providing representation to the diverse sections of the society in the institution of Lokpal...”and only indicates “the quantum of representation and not reservation”.
• According to TV reports, the panel has sought that the Prime Minister be brought under the purview of Lokpal barring departments like Intelligence, Atomic Energy which are RTI exempted.

CBI-LOKPAL relation

• Partially accepting suggestions made by parties like BJP and JD (U) on making CBI independent of government control, the Select Committee is learnt to have recommended that its chief be appointed by a collegium comprising of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.
• It also recommended that CBI should have a separate Directorate of Prosecution under a Director who should function under the agency chief. It said the Director of Prosecution should be appointed by the CVC.And also  that  recommended   CBI chief and the head of prosecution should have a fixed tenure.
• It said for cases referred by Lokpal, CBI may appoint a panel of advocates, “other than government advocates”, with the consent of the ombudsman.
• CBI officers investigating cases referred by Lokpal will only be transferrede by the aproval of the anti-corruption watchdog.
• The Committee said the poweer of superintendence and direction of CBI in relation to Lokpal referred cases must vest in Lokpal.
• On the issue of suspension of Chairman or member of Lokpal, government was of the view that since President is the appointing authority, he should have the power to remove.
• The panel also recommended that NGOs getting direct support in form of funds from the government be only covered by Lokpal or the proposed institution will be flooded by complaints

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panel-for-delinking-lokayuktas-from-lokpal/article4111928.ece
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Bring-Prime-Minister-under-Lokpal-House-panel-recommends/articleshow/17279083.cms
http://janlokpalbillcenter.blogspot.in/2011/12/lokpal-bill-passed-in-lok-sabha.html
http://janlokpalbillcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/federal-structure-issue-shadowed.html

New Team Anna:Complete Report on New members and ideologies

Background 
Nearly two months Anna Hazare parted his ways from Arvind Kejrival. Because Anna wanted non-political campaigns while Kejirival decided to form a political alternative a new party other than BJP or congress). Later Anna announced that he has no problem with Kejrival and his ways as both ways ends at lokpal, he parted only because he didn't wanted to be a part of political organisation.

Main Story
Anna Hazare today(Sat,Nov 13) announced that his anti-corruption movement had never been called off, but it would now be led by a new 13-member team that will rigorously tour the country from January next year.

Hazare announced the 15-member Coordination Committee, which has erstwhile Team Anna’s members Justice (Retd) Santosh Hegde, Kiran Bedi, Medha Patkar, Akhil Gogoi, Sunita Godara, Arvind Gaur, Shivendra Singh Chauhan and Rakesh Rafiq.

The new faces in the committee are former DGP (Punjab) Shashikant, former IAS officer Avinash Dharmadhikari, Lt Col Brijendra Khokhar, Ran Singh Arya, activist Akshay Kumar and agri expert Vishambhar Chaudhary.

The first list of members does not have names like that of the former Army chief or activists P V Rajagopal and ‘Waterman’ Rajinder Singh and agriculture expert Devender Sharma.

Updated AIMS/schedules/Ideologies 

• From January 30 next year, we will start a tour across the country for the next year and a half.
• The government will have to enact Jan Lokpal before 2014.
• Foreign companies must be stopped from entering the country.(Anti FDI philosophy)
• Farmers are facing the brunt - lathicharge and police firing - as the government gives out land to foreign companies.
• Gram sabhas should be given more powers and the right to decide on land acquisition.
• Privatisation of water and electricity cannot be allowed.
• Team will have one or two members from our team in every state. Fifty volunteers will receive training from these members in each state. 
• Team's outfit will function at the state, district and taluka levels. It will have its headquarters at Ralegan Siddhi.
• No differences with Arvind Kejriwal.

Source:

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/team-anna-2-0-announced-will-tour-country-from-jan-30-highlights-291088
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/team-anna-2-0-announced-will-tour-country-from-january-30-291098

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anna-hazare-announces-his-new-team/article4085371.ece

Kejrival revealed Black Swiss Money:Full report

 Arvind Kejriwal on Friday revealed politicians and industrialists who have stashed black money in a foreign bank. This is his fifth revelation. 

He alleged Mukesh and Anil Ambani, Congress MP from Unnao Annu Tandon, the Dabur family and Naresh Goyal,founder of Jet Airways, of  having accounts in HSBC Bank’s Geneva branch.

• He even accused the HSBC Bank of being involved in money laundering and demanded strict action against it for encouraging kidnapping, corruption and terrorism in the country.
• Kejriwal also raised questions about president Pranab Mukherjee, who, as Union finance minister, planned amnesty for all 700 Swiss account holders.
• The records(/proofs) were of December 2006 when details of these accounts were reportedly leaked by an insider to the French and German governments.
• According to Kejrival the government did not touch any of the “big names” on the list and only about 100-150 were raided, he alleged. “Why weren’t the others raided by the IT department and why didn’t the government seek all their accounts?” Kejriwal questioned.
• Kejirval also alleged that Annu Tandon(Congress MP), whose husband Sandeep Tandon worked closely with the Reliance Group before he passed away, had accounts in HSBC’s Geneva branch. Sandeep was a former IRS officer who raided the Reliance Group for alleged tax evasion in the 1980s. He however, himself joined the reliance group after resigning from service and rose through the ranks rapidly to become a trusted lieutenant of Dhirubhai Ambani.
•  Annu Tandon's affidavit filed with the Election Commission(EC) of India before the 2009 general elections does not show any such account(i.e account is hidden from EC) .

All the alleged personalities and companies have rejected the Kejrival's claims.

Editor's VIEW:
Kejrival's allegation's or replies(/defense) of alleged personalities is not going to give any conclusion to these issues. We cannot erase corruption by verbal fights. Without investigation allegations lose their grace, so we request Supreme Court to interfere and give order for investigation| 

Source:http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_arvind-kejriwal-is-on-a-swiss-hunt-now_1762838

Kejrival's Farrukhabad Rally

IAC as announced earlier held a rally at Farrukhabad (Khurshid's constituency ) against Khurshid and protested against the alleged irregularities done by the Khurshid’s NGO,( Zakir Hussain Trust) in distribution of equipment to physically challenged people[ Click here ( REPORT 1 n 2 .)to know more about this] on November 1.

Rally and protest were strong and successful as more that 8,000 people participated in it. Interestingly people  came in rally from all over the nation on their own expanses of transportation.

 Youth and elderly persons and some women were part of the rally. Gulabo Gang was present in rally. There was a large group of ex servicemen (both officers and other ranks) and farmers.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal asked Farrukhabad voters: “Tell me had you known that Khurshid would say that he would even lay his life for Sonia Gandhi (the Congress president) instead of laying it for the country, would you have voted for him.” The crowd shouted a big ‘No’.

• The rally was named ‘Chalo Farrukhabad’ and the theme was ‘Farrukhabad Kiska (who does Farrukhabad belong to?).
• People were carrying tricolours all over the venue and a giant double-bedsheet sized tricolour fluttered across the venue all through the event.
• “We have two objectives -one to expose the corrupt and make people aware, and second, make people come out of their fear against such people,” said Kejriwal.
• The event began with ‘Vande Matram’ and concluded with ‘Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak Jai Hey’.
• The speakers termed all political parties the same “helping each other secretly.”
• Kejriwal asked people of Farrukhabad to not vote for Salman Khurshid in the 2014 assembly elections.

Khurshid's Resistance

Its not that nobody opposed/resisted this violence free rally. In fact  Khurshid's supporters and congress workers smashed the windows of rally cars.There were reports of clashes between India Against Corruption activists and Congress workers at the venue.

Congress workers wearing  'Main hoon Salman Khurshid' caps showed black flags at the rally

In reply
Kejirval said "I want to tell Khurshid that we have come to Farrukhabad and will be returning tonight. If he can do anything then let him do. Who is he trying to threaten?" 

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/UttarPradesh/Kejriwal-rally-Young-old-came-from-far-and-wide/Article1-953672.aspx
 http://www.dnaindia.com/india/commentary_as-it-happened-kejriwal-s-rally-in-farrukhabad_1758852(SEE FOR TIMELINE STYLE DETAILS_)

Kejrival's 4th expose: Mukesh Ambani(Reliance)

Complete REPORT
Arvind Kejrival, Manish Sisodia,Prashant Bhushan and other IAC activists today(Oct 31,2012) at a press conference in New Delhi exposed their third target, Mukesh Ambani(chairman,Reliance Industries) . Basically they alleged(/exposed) the corrupt link between Government{considering both NDA(bjp's alliance) and UPA(congress's alliance) }and Petroleum sector of Reliance Business group   

Point-Wise exploration:-

• According to Kejriwal, the KG basin was awarded to Reliance in 2000 by the NDA government when the company agreed to supply gas to the NTPC for the next 17 years at $2.34 per unit.
• Reliance which earlier promised to provide Gas at $2.34 per unit demand an unnecessary  increase in the price to $4.2 per unit in 2006. which then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee agreed to as the head of an empowered group of ministers. 
• When Manishankar Aiyar (then petroleum minister) refused to increase the price to $4.2 per unit , he was removed from the ministry and Murli Deora was brought in his place who cleared the files within one and half months. 
• This unnecessary increase in price of gas provided a benefit of Rs.10,000 crore to Reliance.
• Later the company wanted the rate to be further hiked to $14.25 per unit this time Jaipal Reddy did not agree to this proposal due to which Jaipal Reddy has been removed and Moily brought in to further increase gas prices from $ 4.2 per unit to $ 14.2 per unit. 
• IAC also played Nira Radiia tapes in which Ranjan Bhattacharya (Vajpayee’s son in law) is heard telling Nira that Mukesh Ambani told him –“Congress to ab apni dukaan hai”(Hear Audio clips(1 and 2)
• IAC also alleged that RIL (Reliance Infrastructure Ltd.)also blackmailed Government to increase the price by lowering its gas production. According to agreement, RIL was supposed to produce 80mmscmd (more than 50% of the total demand) from 2009 but it just produced  27 mmscmd after 12 years.
• 31 oil wells should have been in production till now. Out of them, just 13 are functional.
• IAC also alleged Reliance of hoarding of natural Gas.
• Kejriwal said it is always said that the Prime Minister is not involved in corruption but he comes under the purview of Prevention of Corruption Act for certain decisions taken by his government in various matters like 2G and coal block allocations.
• Due to irrelevant increase in gas prices by reliance, many of the power industries which rely upon natural gas for power generation are deserted.
• Such increase in prices pressurised by coporates also explanes the extremeness of deary in the courtry.

Chaos at press conference

A man was stopped by members of IAC when he wanted to raise a personal question to Kejriwal. Finally, he got hold of the mike and said, "I am from no political party."The man questioned why Kejriwal and his wife were not transferred for 30 years. He can be seen being forced out of the room.

The man then shouted out loudly that "Kejriwal and company are fooling the country"

Reliance's Reply

Reliance in its defence said that the KG D6 basin has best technology and that the project has added great economic value to the country.

"Allegations made by IAC are at the behest of vested interests," it said.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Arvind-Kejriwal-targets-Mukhesh-Ambani-says-crony-capitalism-ruining-country/Article1-952832.aspx

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kejriwals-latest-Reliance-blackmailing-govt-Mukesh-Ambani-running-India/articleshow/17037955.cms

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/commentary_live-kejriwal-s-3rd-expose-big-drama-at-press-conference_1758487

http://www.indiaagainstcorruption.org/index.php/kya-congress-mukesh-ambani-ki-dukaan-hai