Kejriwal threatens nationwide movement if Lokpal Bill not passed by May 22

Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday(may,12, 2012)  said If the Union government does not bring a strong Lokpal Bill by May 22 when the ongoing Parliament session ends,India Against Corruption (IAC) will launch another nationwide movement.


In Bhubaneswar to interact with India Against Corruption (IAC) volunteers here, Kejriwal said the biggest ever campaign will demand three things:

•  The Jan Lokpal Bill should be passed. 
• Any bill introduced in the Parliament and assemblies should first be referred to the gram sabhas and maholla sabhas for taking people's opinion.  The members of Parliament and assemblies should make their case based on the will of the people.
• Thirdly, the looting of land of poor farmers by corporate should stop. Land can be transferred only after written agreements by farmers elaborating the conditions thereof. 

There should be strong Lokayuktas in every state, he said further.He also said Members of Parliament have cheated people of the country by breaking their promise made in Parliament on August 27 last year. "To break Anna's fast they made tall promises. Now, the government is bringing a weak Lokpal, which will increase corruption. We totally reject it," Kejriwal said.


He said in the current central cabinet, 16 ministers have serious charges against them and if Jan Lokpal Bill is passed at least 12 ministers will be behind bars. This may be the reason why the current establishment does not want Jan Lokpal. There is a need for cleansing the political system, Kejriwal reiterated.He said that Odisha government has a very weak Lokpal, "I am told that 26 out of 30 reports of the Lokpal have not even been presented before the state assembly, let alone any action taken against the corrupt. Investigation report against Vedanta is one such report." (see toothless condition of Lokayuktas in sates )Kejriwal said after Lokpal, Team Anna will have focus on electoral reforms, including right to reject and right to recall. Besides law making can't be left to Parliament and assembly alone. "People should be consulted while making law. Our fight will be for direct democracy," he said.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Kejriwal-threatens-nationwide-stir-if-Lokpal-Bill-not-passed-by-May-22/articleshow/13114600.cms

Team Anna begins campaign in UP

Team Anna begin its campaign in poll bound Uttar Pradesh. awaring voters of their rights and power and contribution of vote in bringing strong lokpal.

Team Anna's campaign in the state began on February 5 in Ghazipur and Balia districts. They are demanding voters not to vote politicians that don't support a strong lokpal.

Team had already campaigned in Uttrakhand (bjp ruled) and Punjab (bjp ruled).

"Members of Team Anna have been asking people to take a vow that they will not back candidates making false promises but support those who are answerable to them in future," said the statement.
Manish Sisodia, Kiran Bedi, Kumar Vishwas and other members of India Against Corruption will campaign in the state. 

SCHEDULE

• According to Team Anna's campaign schedule shared with reporters, volunteers of India Against Corruption have so far addressed five big public meetings in areas including former prime minister Chandrashekhar's Balia constituency. They have also covered constituencies of Basti, Gonda, Faizabad and Barabanki in the first phase.
• While a public rally is scheduled be held in Azamgarh on February 8, Team Anna will campaign in Chanduali and Varansi on February 9.
• Team Anna will address a rally on February 10 in Allahabad where as it will reach Rai Bareli on February 13.
• The team will visit Kanauj on February 14 and proceed to Farrukhabad on the same day to address people.
• The team will also visit Mainpuri and Etwah on February 15 and Jhnasi on February 16.
  

Source:http://ibnlive.in.com/news/team-anna-begins-antigraft-campaign-in-up/228144-3.html

Lokpal Bill to come in Rajaya Sabha in Budged Season

Lokpal Bill is expected to be brought again for consideration in the Rajya Sabha during the second phase of the Budget session of Parliament. "The bill is on the live register of the Rajya Sabha and it will now be taken up only in the second phase of the Budget session," an official said.

Budged season will begin on March 12 and its second part will  be held from April 24 to May 22.
Season will begin with joint sitting of President Parthiba Patil and members of both the Houses of Parliament.

Lokpal Bill was passed in Lokshabha on December 27, 2012 where government had a majority. Moreover many parties walked out of parliament during voice vote which made passage easier.

However Lokpal was chocked in Rajaya Shaba on december 30 where opposition parties had majority.

SOME BACKGROUND

1. The opposition had charged the government with running away from a vote because of lack of majority in the House.
   
2. The government had then stated that the bill was "alive" and would be taken up in the Budget session for passage.   
3. By May this year, the strength of the Congress and its allies is expected to rise slightly in the Upper House after biennial elections in several seats. The UPA does not have a majority in the House earlier when lokpal was discussed.
4. SEE MORE about incident ON   http://janlokpalbillcenter.blogspot.in/2011/12/lokpal-chocked-in-rajaya-sabha.html
   

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Lokpal-Bill-to-come-up-in-Rajya-Sabha-during-Budget-session/articleshow/11797195.cms

Anna is still more popular than any other political figure: Survey shows

Those who thinks that Anna has lost the political and popularity grip will bite the dust, because latest survey ‘The Mood of Nation’ conducted by India Today reveals that Anna is n Top in people’s mind.

This survey is conducted across 19 states and 98 randomly selected parliamentary constituencies  with 12,648 voters/responders.

1. During survey 63% agreed that Lokpal presented by Government is weak and supported Anna’s Janlokpal version. 
2. When asked who will they vote for if both Anna and Rahul Gandhi were to contest election then 60% favoured Anna and only 24% took Rahul 
3. When asked who is their role mode then Anna  got the highest percentage(14%) beating Sachin Tendulkar(6%), Rajiv Gandhi(4%) , Amithab Bacchan(3%) Virender Shevag (3%), Narendra Modi(2%), MS Dhoni(2%)

Apart form this this survey also showed that next parliament election could see a PM from neither Congress nor BJP, parties other than these have better chance to form majority in parliament.
It showed that public's support for Congress has declined and now Bjp and Congress have support that is almost equal to each other but smaller than other parties.
SOURCE: INDIA TODAY ( February 6,2012 edition of magazine )
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/gallery/india-today-poll-mood-of-the-nation-2012/1/6443.html#photo10

Supreme Court justified Lokpal's concept during 2G case

In its verdict 2G case Supreme Court has set a limit of three months for deciding on sanction for prosecution of corrupt public servants. Court said  there should be a set time frame, and added that all matters of sanction should be decided within three months. 
The SC also slammed the Prime Minister’s Office but gave Manmohan Singh a clean chit for the delay in deciding on the prosecution of then telecom minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum case. 

Commenting on verdict Kiran Bedi (member of Team Anna) said that this verdict justifies one of the concept of their Janlokpal regarding time limit.
“Supreme Court has exactly said what we have asking and fighting for, what people have been asking, everything to be time bound.  (1.)But in Jan Lokpal Bill, there was supposed to be no sanction for prosecution.
(2.)If there is evidence, the CBI starts its investigation and nobody interferes in its investigation. This is what the Jan Lokpal Bill was.
(3.) Secondly in Jan Lokpal Bill, it was time bound trial and through number of special courts as needed, so within the maximum period of less than two years, a case is decided,” Bedi told media in Jaipur.

Prashant Bhushan said the verdict would give a boost to the struggle against corruption.

“They have firstly again highlighted how big a menace corruption is in society and we need to tackle it on a war footage. Secondly, even when a private complainant makes a complaint and seeks sanction of the government against a public servant, the government must read the complaint on the same footing as a chargesheet filed by the CBI seeking sanction and must deal with it within the time frame prescribed in Vineet Narayan’s judgement which is within four months,” he added.

Editor's View: Its true that every case related to corruption should be investigated and then decided within appropriate time limit. And Janlokpal Bill contains strong demands of Time Bound independent investigative measures.

Source:http://truthdive.com/2012/02/01/Supreme-Court-vindicated-one-of-our-key-demands-Kiran-Bedi.html
http://www.morungexpress.com/editorial/76096.html

Anna Hazare: Illness report.2.0

Anna Hazare, suffering from persistent cough and back pain, today(January 29, 2012) underwent a check-up at Medanta Medicity (hospital  in Delhi ) headed by eminent cardiologist Naresh Trehan

Hazare is suffering from cough, back-pain, high blood pressure and has swellings in his legs. 

The 74-year-old activist was treated for acute bronchitis at a hospital in Mumbai earlier this month after he called off his hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill midway. He was discharged on January eight.Team Anna sources alleged that he was administered anti-biotics and steroids in overdose during some earlier treatment. Doctors at Medanta Medicity did not confirm this claim.

Dr R R Kasliwal, head of internal medicine at Medanta Medicity who is attending on him said, "He came to us with complaints of breathlessness and high blood pressure. We will conduct a couple of investigations and he will undergo treatment for both."

"He has come to us with a specific problem and we are treating him for that. As far as we we know he has no heart ailment and his vital organs are all right," he said.

Hazare is likely to stay in Medanta for next couple of days after which he will be shifted to Bangalore's Jindal Naturecare Institute.

Earlier, after calling off his 12-day hunger strike in Ramlila Maidan in August last year, Hazare had gone to Medanta for treatment.The doctors led by Naresh Trehan had also constantly monitored his condition during the Ramlila agitation.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Haryana/Anna-Hazare-undergoes-medical-tests/Article1-803808.aspx

Team Anna begins non-biased campaign in Punjab

Jan 25, 2012(news date)
Team Anna arrived Amritsar  on Tuesday to launch an anti-corruption campaign and to pursue people to cast their votes only after weighing the creditability of candidates and not to get swayed by populist promises. 
The core committee members of Team Anna initiated their Punjab visit as a campaign for "polls against corruption" after paying homage to martyrs of Indian freedom struggle at Jallianwala Bagh here. Later, members of India Against Corruption (IAC), including Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai, Maulana Shamoon Qasmi and Anillana addressed a meeting to enlighten public about their right to vote and for enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. 
Maulana Shamoon Qasmi, member of IAC core committee, said IAC was not against or with any political party.(See the proofs  )They were with the general public only, who had always raised their voice for enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. He said the government had betrayed the whole country by not passing the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Another member, Anillana, shared that these political parties had considered common people as "machine to vote." They allured the voters with false promises and succeeded in buying their priceless votes. "Now, this is the time to peep into the reality and unveil their corrupted faces," he added.
"Parties are changing since 1947. But now, it's a time to change the system. We need a system, not a party. So, whoever tries to play mudslinging games with the system must be punished," said Gopal Rai. Manish Sisodiya said that the recent incident of showing black flags to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh happened in Amritsar only, which is the land of warriors. "The government will have to face such situations as long as they fail to pass Jan Lokpal Bill," said he.

"We-the-people have become who-the-people for them. Now it is time to give them the answer for who-the-people," he added. Prashant Bhushan said, "It's time to shun voting based on religion, caste and creed. We have to rid the system of bribes. The polling must be fair, people must vote and they should vote for the right persons only."

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FIVE STATE CAMPAIGN click here 

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-25/india/30662480_1_team-anna-core-committee-iac

Team Anna's core committee meeting

Today (Monday, January 2012) , Team Anna met to decide on future course and about the mode of campaign   during the elections to the five states.   
This is the first meeting of the Team after Hazare called off his agitation programmes for a strong Lokpal last month.Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and other members attended the meeting. However Hazere due to strong aliment.Doctors had advised him not to undertake any tour for at least a month due to his health conditions.
The meeting also comes against the backdrop of an article written by Kejriwal which suggested that Team Anna appeared to be confused on how to take forward the fight for a strong Lokpal, saying the movement is at "crossroads" and a wrong decision at this stage can prove disastrous for it. 
Team Anna will campaign against those MP's who didn't supported a strong Lokpal in the parliament and supported government's weak lokpal instead (see weakness of government's lokpal)

Editor's View: Well there is a discontent in the movement of course, as the supporters of lokpal are now withdrawing there support because they don't want to support Team Anna's Anti Congress behavior. Well people's point is also considerable, but if they don't want to support Team Anna then they should separately demand for a Lokpal. Citizens are free to make demands and they are not lame that they will need a Team Anna every time!Its the request from Janlokpal Bill Center that do your own protest for strong lokpal if you don't want to do protest with Team Anna! 

Source:. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/lokpal-bill-team-anna-meets-to-decide-on-future-course-sans-anna-hazare/articleshow/11422484.cms

Anna is ill

The health of Anna  who was admitted to a private hospital in Pune after suffering from viral infection, is not improving.
Doctor Paresh Sancheti said, "Anna's health has not improved, he is not feeling any better. He could not sleep properly in night due to cough problem."
The doctor also said that Hazare's discharge which was scheduled for Friday has been postponed till Sunday.

Anna was rushed from his village Ralegan Siddhi to Sancheti hospital in Pune late on Saturday night after complaining of chest congestion.

The 74-year-old was so weak that he had to be carried on a stretcher. Ill-health is what made Anna break his fast on December 28. His Team's core committee was to meet on Monday to discuss their next course of action but that meeting was also postponed.

The activist has been suffering from a viral infection since he undertook his fast on December 27, which was subsequently withdrawn the next day.

Editor's View: Anna is weak, he is old and he does need our blessings because he don't deserve death just because of his one false move to fast in ill-health on MMRDA Ground. At least pray for him if you couldn't support him on MMRDA due to your busy life!

Lokpal chocked in rajaya sabha!

Government's Lokpal which was passed in Lok Shabha  on Tuesday( DEC 27) was further discussed in Rajaya Sabha on 30 DEC  for complete passage by parliament. But this Lokpal  was opposed by several parties, even by allies of government.
Those who opposed wanted amendments, about  187 amendments were presented.
Thus government which was already without seats or number in Rajaya sabha also lost the numbers by its own allies on lokpal matter.

Main objections were:-

1. Disturbing federalism and voilating constution by imposing  Lokayukta bill made by center on states. Parties like BJP,  CPM  and  Trinamool  were against this and saying that   Lokayukta bill prepared by states will go in vein if  center's  Lokayukta bill is imposed on them. These parties were thus demanding to delete Chapter 3 from lokpal which was imposing Lokayukta bill on states 
2. Independence of cbi from political control- This independence was demended by BJP , Trinamool  ,CPM and BSP
3. Lokpal's control over CBI- it was mainly demande by BJP
4. Constructional Status-  Mainly Bjp stood against the constructional status of lokpal

To fulfill above demands 187 amendments were presented, but government said that this amount of    amendments could not be discussed and amended in one day.
Moreover government knew that if voting was done for lokpal in rajaya Sabha then Government because of lack of seats will loose voting. Hence voting was cancelled.

So now Lokpal may come only in next season of parliment i.e in  Budget  season in march 2012.
However since lokpal reached Rajaya Sabha so it will not be deleted and will remain in register till next season.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rajya-Sabha-Who-said-what-on-Lokpal/articleshow/11300673.cms

Lokpal bill passed in Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 by voice vote even as the Left, BSP and SP staged a walkout. SP and BSP staged a walk out from the Lok Sabha shortly before the voting on the lokpal bill in protest against the government bringing a "weak legislation"  

• Lokpal bill was passed without Constitutional status due to lack of 2/3 consensus in parliament . 
• Before the Lokpal Bill as put to vote the Government amended Section 24, the provision to keep armed forces under its ambit, 
• the state government will decide on the Lokayuktas, 
• and the requirement of three-fourth members of Lokpal to approve inquiry against the Prime Minister was changed to two-third.
• The Leader of the Opposition raised objections to several issues including creation of Lokayukta through the lokpal bill and the process of appointment and removal of the ombudsman 
• They also demanded inclusion of CBI under its ambit,

• The lokpal bill was rejected as weak and inadequate by several parties which wanted it to be withdrawn even Manmohan Singh pushed for it while rejecting demands for bringing CBI under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman.
• BJP's leader Yashwant Sinha called the Congress-led UPA government "morally bankrupt" which has brought a "brokepal" bill instead of lokpal bill. Sinha said that the rampant corruption in the country in the past years had prompted Anna Hazare to go on fast.
• Earlier, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said it should be sent back to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for further discussion to make it "effective and strong". "Accept our amendments or withdraw the bill... Send it back to standing committee for further discussion," she said while describing it as a "patently unconstitutional" legislation which the Opposition will not "tolerate".  
• Tearing into the bill in its present form, Swaraj said it would "sow the seeds of second partition" as it has the provision for religion-based reservation which was "patently unconstitutional".
• UPA partners, Trinamool Congress and DMK, also supporting parties like RJD and SP, maintained that the provisions to create Lokayuktas through a central legislation would impinge on the powers of the states and wanted that it should not be rushed under pressure of the Anna Hazare movement.
• RJD chief Lalu Prasad also demanded its withdrawal contending that the bill was brought in "haste under pressure".

• Pushing for passage of the bill, the Prime Minister said a "holistic" approach was needed to deal with the "cancer" of corruption but rejected demands for bringing CBI under the purview of lokpal, warning that no entity should be created inconsistent with the country's Constitutional framework.
   "I believe that the CBI should function independently of the lokpal. We believe that the CBI should function without interference through any Government diktat."He said
•  Prime Minister also dismissed opposition to the provision on setting up of Lokayuktas in states, saying federalism cannot be an impediment in the war against corruption as essential services in the states are the "bane" of corrupt practices. 
• Singh reiterated the supremacy of the Parliament and said that it should take the final decision on the bill. Singh said that others can persuade and have their voices heard but the final decision while making policy must rest with us.

• Demanding that lokpal should be accountable to both Parliament and Supreme Court, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia said corruption by corporates and business houses should be brought under the lokpal ambit. 

• Kapil Sibal  led the Congress counter-charge and  hit out   at the BJP saying it had "political motives" to delay the bill so that it benefits them in the upcoming polls through Anna Hazare's campaign. "If you oppose this bill, you will be violating the sense of the House and people will never forgive you," he told the Opposition. 

Editor's View: This lokpal bill passed has a number of errors(see those errors ). Another thing to be considered is that Government got full time (more than 3 months to standing committee and full 6 months to government ) to frame a healthy lokpal so they or others should not blame Team Anna for lack of time.Government simply made a revengeful formality!! We didn't demand for this beggar faced lokpal! 
Source:  http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/Lokpal-bill-passed-in-Lok-Sabha-by-voice-vote/Article1-787999.aspx
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ls-passes-lokpal-bill-left-sp-bsp-walk-out/215545-37-64.html

Anna's letter to PM

On Saturday (december 17) Anna wrote a letter to PM . Key issues of letter were about controversial things like CBI , citizen Charter,inclusion of lower bureaucracy etc.

Following are main allegations that Anna put on 7th para of four page letter 

• Demanding bringing CBI'a anti-corruption wing under Lokpal and make it its investigative agency, he said it appeared that no government weather it is bjp or congress wants to give away the control over CBI for political reasons. "Does it mean that Lokpal will not have an investigative agency. Without an investigative agency what will it do? Then it is better that we don't need a Lokpal," he said alleging irrespective of Congress or BJP, CBI was misused. Anna said.
• He  questioned on selection process for lokpal suggested by standing committee saying that  politicians play a major role in search and selection committee for Lokpal recruits. He said that there is no description of formation of search committee and that of conduction of selection process 
• Anna asked why PM why he changed his stand on Citizens' Charter despite giving a written assurance that it will be part of the Lokpal bill. "I was surprised when on 13 December Standing Committee decided to make  a new citizen charter isolated form lokpal. But You(PM)  earlier had said me that as per the parliament's  prescription chitizen charter should be indulged in lokpal then why you sent it again to standing committee?"
• He said that we waited till winter season and suspended all our agitations but now reports are saying  that the Winter Session will end on December 23.
  "We suspended all our agitations till Winter Session taking your word on face value. Reports published in media now says that the Winter Session will end on December 23. Will the Lokpal Bill be passed by then. We have doubts on this," he said.

Anna ji[1]

Source:http://www.scribd.com/doc/75919823/Anna-ji-1 (LETTER)
http://www.timesnow.tv/Anna-writes-to-PM-Congress-upset/articleshow/4391641.cms

COPY PROTECTED(contact editor to use the article) 

If government extends winter season Anna won't sit on fast on 27 december

 Anna Hazare has given the government an ultimatum. He has warned that if an effective anti-corruption Lokpal Bill is not passed before the Winter Session of Parliament ends on December 22, he will begin an indefinite fast on December 27, will ask people to participate in a jail bharo movement from January 1 and commission demonstrations outside the home of any MP who votes against the bill, or tries to dilute it.

But speaking to NDTV , Kiran Bedi has indicated that "if Anna sees Parliament engaged on the Lokpal Bill, he will be willing to wait."

"If Anna sees Parliament is engaged in drafting the Lokpal Bill, why will he go and sit on a fast on December 27? Why will we do a jail bharo from January 1? If Anna sees the Parliament engaged, he would love to facilitate the engagement," she said.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/if-govt-extends-session-for-lokpal-bill-anna-won-t-sit-on-fast-on-dec-27-kiran-bedi-158298

Ms Bedi added, "We will wait till that last day. I am sure Anna would do that."

Anna and team ready for another agitation

 A third confrontation between Team Anna and the government in eight months seems to be brewing with the activist group hitting the road to drum up protests against the draft report of the parliamentary standing committee on Lokpal bill that ignores some of its key demands. 

Anna Hazare on Tuesday said the government had betrayed the people once again and his day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on December 11 against the report, which is expected to be the basis of the government's bill, can be a precursor to a more prolonged protest at Ramlila Maidan. 

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.
   Arvind Kejriwal also said the draft violated the "sense of the House" resolution adopted by Parliament and the assurance given to Hazare when he ended his fast on August 28. "When Anna ended his fast, Parliament agreed to a resolution that stated clearly on lower bureaucracy and citizens' charter. We just hope that resolution is respected," Kejriwal said. 
• 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. 
• Team Anna also did not agree to the draft report's recommendation on citizens' charter, which has been one of the main demands of Team Anna's Lokpal movement.  "Having only five members in the state capital to look into the complaints of an entire state instead of officials at each block level, as demanded by us, will lead to the system collapsing in four days,"Khegrival said. 

Addressing a news conference at Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare said the government has cheated the people by making a weak draft. "I will wait till December 22 to see if the government makes amends. Else, I will start an indefinite agitation from December 27 till we get an effective Lokpal. I will also tour the five states which are going to polls and educate the people there," he said.Hazare urged people to express their support to him by fasting for a day on December 11 and taking to the streets. "However, the agitation must be peaceful. There should be no violence," he said.
Hazare alleged that the government was trying to break the Lokpal bill into four or five components. "I will even accept that, provided the government appoints joint committees of experts and government representatives to prepare strong drafts of each bill. We will even accept exclusion of the judiciary from the ambit of Lokpal if the government bill is strong and effective," the Anna said
Hazare said that only those NGOs which take funds from the government should be brought under Lokpal. "I would not mind even if the media is brought in the ambit of Lokpal. If you are pointing fingers at others, why are you keeping yourselves out?" he said. . 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Anna-and-team-readying-for-another-face-off-with-govt/articleshow/10926196.cms
: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

http://janlokpalbillcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/upset-on-draft-by-standing.html

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

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.

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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

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