Govt told media to ignore fast at Jantar-Mantar: Kiran Bedi

Have you ever wondered why media is not giving coverage to T.Anna's fast?
Why complete knowledge about lokpal and fast is not shared with public by mass media?

Answering these questions Kiran Bedi  today alleged that the media was instructed by the UPA government to "underplay" the ongoing agitation of the movement for a strong Lokpal and action against central ministers accused of corruption.

• "There is a letter in writing from the government instructing media to underplay our agitation at Jantar Mantar as it is seen as a threat to its survival," she told reporters here.
• The government was opposing the Janalokpal Bill because if its enacted its cabinet ministers would be under investigation threatening their survival, she said

• On the controversial meeting of Hazare with Union law minister Salman Khurshid near Pune last month, she said, "It was Khurshid who came to meet Anna for discussion.

• She also said  that movement is "apolitical", adding that the team members were not hankering after any position of power.

• Bedi said the crowd was enough at Jantar Mantar, adding that "Jantar Mantar is not Ramlila Maidan".

Source:http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/govt-told-media-to-underplay-lokpal-stir-at-jantar-mantarbedi/37392/

Fast Update(2012) P-2

Point wise Update

• Baba Ramdev today(july 27) joined Team Anna's indefinite fast on the third day of the agitation.Ramdev with 2,000 supporters marched from Ramlila Maidan to fast venue of Jantar Mantar. 
•  At the backdrop of the stage from the pictures of 15 ministers against whom proofs of being corrupt are presented , photo of  Pranab Mukherjee is now totally covered with a paper over it, because him being president of nation.
• Health of Khejrival (who is diabetic) and Manish Sisodia has been bad on the second day of the fast.
• Its a common observation that the turnout of crowd is more during the evening(>1000) then in the morning and afternoon(around(200) |because these are working hours for common people|
• However, in Ramdev's Presence  around 3,000 people had collected at the venue.
•  Ramdev would continue to support the Anna Hazare movement however he is against personal attacks on anyone.

Editor's View
Turnout is said to be failure by the mass media.But Its not the failure, instead is the wrong planning to choose the fast date and day by T.Anna.Team Anna began their campaign on a working day. Till now (firday) its the working day. So people with jobs are unable to participate in the working hours(morning and afternoon) .
This is clear from the point that crowd is more during the evening(>1000) then in the morning and afternoon(around 200) because these are working hours for common people.So we should wait for weekends(Sat and Sun) for real turnout.
Moreover, Anna will also start his fast from Sunday!

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Baba-Ramdev-joins-Team-Annas-fast/articleshow/15203349.cms

Updated aims and facts of 25th July fast

• Earlier it was decided that Anna Hazare will not in fast, however Annn that he will wait till four days what the government does. Then I will start my fast from Sunday . So Anna will sit on indefinite fast on 29th of july(Sunday) instead of the 25th July fast, however other members i.e Arvind Khejrival, Manish Sisodia, , Gopal Rai etc  will begin their fast as decided on 25th July.
• Right now Anna's blood pressure is fluctuating.
• In a Press Conference at Delhi, Team Anna clarifying their stands said that their protest is limited to three demands which are as follows

1. an SIT probe against 15 Ministers(click here to know more)
2.  Team Anna also demanded that cases of  162 Lok Sabha members and 39 Rajya Sabha members(of whichever party) who are also facing corruption charges  should be given to the fast track courts
3. SIT to go into allegations against party chiefs.

• However, Anna Hazare clarified that the main aim is still a strong lokpal.
• Team Anna had earlier given proofs of Pranab Mukherjee's being corrupt(see here). So on pranab becoming president Team Anna attacked.

1. “It would have been better if Pranab Mukherjee had faced a probe and cleared of charges of corruption before becoming president of India,” Kejriwal said. 
2.  He further said,  "it is unfortunate that the constitution, which was meant to prevent corruption, gives immunity from both investigation and prosecution to the president. But we will continue to bring out his (Mukherjee's) misdeeds in public."  

Source:http://www.firstpost.com/india/anna-threatens-indefinite-hunger-strike-if-demands-not-met-389480.html

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/07/24/436--Anna-to-go-on-fast-from-July-29-on-corruption-.html

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Team-Anna-members-speak-in-different-voices-on-fast/Article1-894959.aspx

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anna-Hazare-to-fast-at-Jantar-Mantar-with-his-team/articleshow/15118520.cms?

Team Anna holds rally in Delhi

To gear up  momentum for the indefinite fast from July 25, Team Anna and IAC held a rally on Sunday(July 22) from Raj Ghat to Jantar Mantar. 


 Four-wheelers and two-wheelers , shirts with "I AM Anna" "Being Anna” writter on them, slogans,Tricolour  etc were common views of the rally.
While most of the members of core committee Including Arvind Khejrival were present at the rally, Anna and Kiran Bedi were absent.

Quote:Words from rally

• A supporter said  “I want a country which is corruption free for my children. I have attended all the protests organised by Annaji. The Government’s Lokpal Bill is a flawed one under which the investigation agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation would not be independent of it,”
• Col. S.C. Talwar, a resident of Gurgaon  and an active participate of the year old campaign said  “Back then, I joined as an officer and he(Anna ) joined at a junior rank. But today I am his (Anna’s) soldier and he is capable enough to lead this nation,”  
• Some supporters expressed disappointment over the fact that “…NGOs were kept out in the Bill proposed by Team Anna”.
• Arvind Said “We want an Inquiry to be ordered into the charges we have levelled against the Prime Minister, his Ministers and the other tainted members of Parliament. We don’t trust the CBI. We proposed an inquiry by a three-judge panel which was turned down,” 

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article3672740.ece

Need for a fresh start to the an year old struggle

|About an year ago in 2011, a mass struggle for janlokpal, an anti corruption bill and legal structure began. From activists to common man to media, all actively participated in it.
Only department that didn't wishfully tried lokpal's implementation was POLITICAL ARENA. For the first half year congress resisted and for the rest half opposition parties also showed their true colors!
Finally a feeble bill by government(see its weakness) was presented in parliament, passed in Lok Shaba, and  strategically blocked  in Rajya Sabha. Meetings after meetings, two panels were setup, promises were announced. But nothing happened.
IAC (India against Corruption) also slipped from the path
during MMRDA's poorly planned fast (1st and 2nd report )
and due to Mufti shameem's controversy
Maybe that's why its now time for a fresh start.Hence, we all want IAC to be in form and citizens to avoid 'paid and made' controversies  |

Arvind Kejriwal, Gopal Raj and Manish Sisodia are going to sit on an indefinite fast at  Jantar Mantar from july 25. However, Anna Hazare would not sit  because Anna is not in great shape after several fasts in last one year. However, he will be there at the venue to observe and guide the fast and struggle
 In  Karnataka, N. Santosh Hegde(former Lokayukta of state) and members of the State unit of India Against Corruption, will  also start  demonstrations parallel to July 25th  fast at Freedom Park.

Demands of the fast would be

• Passage of strong Janlokpal
• a special independent investigation against 14 cabinet ministers of the Congress-led UPA-II, in the absence of an independent agency like Lokpal

QUOTE:their words(Santosh Hegde)

• “Although there has been three sessions since the Parliament agreed in principle on a strong Lokpal Bill, there are no indications of any such thing happening. We therefore have no choice but to take to the streets once again to demonstrate citizens’ frustration,”:Santosh Hegde

• "Although a Lokpal Bill was presented in the Rajya Sabha, it was without any teeth. It has now been sent to a select committee, which is only to delay matters further.”:Santosh Hegde

• “This is because 162 sitting MPs have pending criminal cases as per their own affidavits declared with the Election Commission of India and no major political party is willing to pass a strong and effective anti-corruption law because it will destroy them. That apart, 14 Cabinet Ministers in the Central government have cases pending against them.”:Santosh Hegde

 
Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3665095.ece

Congress, BJP, SP, All are corrupt, hence not passing Lokpal Bill: Kejriwal

 Arvind Kejriwal has said all the political parties are "dipped in corruption" and hence not allowing the Lokpal Bill to get passed."Political parties like Congress, BJP, SP and BSP are dipped in corruption and are trying hard not to get Lokpal Bill passed," he said at a public meeting on July 12. "Corrupt officials have deposited a sum of Rs 1,76,000 crore in their foreign accounts from public money," Kejriwal claimed.
See our analysis: Politicians are fooling public on the same issue that Khejrival has expressed.

Sourcehttp://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-13/india/32662845_1_team-anna-anna-member-arvind-kejriwal-lokpal-bill

Honest CBI officials are barred from working by politicians:Arvind

 Arvind Kejriwal on July 2(2012) said CBI has honest and efficient officers but alleged their political bosses do not allow them to work freely.
"There are honest and efficient officers in CBI but their political bosses do not allow them to work freely. The agency influenced by political people cannot deliver goods", he told a public meeting here

He further said "Under the present laws, he alleged, corrupt leaders have ample scope to escape and that is why "we are pressing for a strong Jan Lokpal. The political parties are not serious to curb corruption. We shall start indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar from July 25"

More from khejrival 

• In an interview with Sreelatha Menon siad that their biggest mistake was not to give room to other issues and voices when support for the movement against corruption was at its peak.
• He also said that is still a lot of anger among the people. And if there is anger against corruption, then nothing has changed.
• When asked weather people would give a positive responce to their fast  from July 25, he said that" I can't anticipate the response, but we will sit on a fast and demand investigation. It is up to the people whether they come and support us. There are lean phases in all movements. During the freedom struggle too, it was often said the movement had lost steam. What one must see is whether people have faith in the leadership or the cause."

Source:http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=767528
interview from http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-this-is-team-india-s-movement-arvind-kejriwal/20120702.htm