Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare a Hindutva Project?

2012-03-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

If the results of the five state assembly elections have brought a feeling of despondency to the ruling Congress party, the public’s verdict this week should also be making social activist Anna Hazare and his team uncomfortable.

The anti-corruption movement launched by the veteran activist last year shook the political establishment, and in the heat of the moment it was widely assumed that any political party with even the slightest taint of graft would bite the dust at the polls. Team Anna also suggested that parties that had opposed a strong Ombudsman (Lokpal) Bill in the parliament would face the wrath of the people, and they hit the campaign trail to ensure that this would be the case.

But the election results have instead not just highlighted the limits of their particular stripe of activism, but placed a question mark over the motivations of such agitations generally.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), swept to power in Uttar Pradesh, has been critical of the Anna Hazare movement, and was instrumental in blocking the introduction of the Ombudsman Bill in the upper house of parliament. But the SP has also been hit by numerous allegations of corruption, including an SP candidate who was jailed.

The results in the neighboring state of Uttrakhand were also telling. This was the only state that was pressured by the anti-corruption movement to pass the Anna Hazare version of the Ombudsman Bill. Anti-corruption crusaders spent much time there during the election trying to mobilize support for the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and its chief minister for bringing the landmark legislation. But B.C. Khanduri not only lost his seat, but saw his party come in second to the Congress.

Even in Punjab, where the BJP allied with a bigger regional partner to retain power, it lost several seats in the urban constituencies that were the focus of the Hazare campaign. The BJP, which thrives on the urban vote, couldn’t take advantage of the anti-corruption campaign, and ceded ground to its rival the Congress, which was the target of the whole Anna movement.

The attempted mobilization over the issue of corruption seemed aimed more at targeting the Congress, rather than corruption. Indeed, newspapers and magazines have written extensively about how anti-corruption activists were given active support by local BJP and other Hindutva organizations in the elections. English weekly Open even ran a cover story a couple of weeks back describing Team Anna as the “BJP’s Team B.”

This shouldn’t be surprising – key players in the anti-corruption movement, including Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi, openly hobnobbed with the BJP and other rightists. These elections have therefore exposed the hypocrisy of the anti-corruption crusaders and brought into the open the hidden agenda behind the agitation.

The anti-corruption brigade are increasingly looking like part of a Hindutva project motivated not by a good cause, but by a desire to capture power in New Delhi by displacing the Congress party.

Anna Hazare had no role to play in UP elections: Hegde

2012-03-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Key Team Anna member Justice N Santosh Hegde admitted today corruption and governance issues did not determine the outcome of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections but said the anti-graft sentiment certainly worked in Goa.
Asked if Team Anna's campaign in Uttar Pradesh had an impact on polls, Hegde said: "There is no evidence to that effect. If corruption was an issue, I don't think SP (Samajwadi party) would have got such a huge margin".

A former Supreme Court Judge, he expressed the view that "governance does not seem to be an issue at all (in Uttar Pradesh", indicating that the Mulayam Singh Yadav won the polls for reasons other than issues of corruption and governance.

"They (people) have seen SP for ten years. SP never gave a good government", he said, also referring to media reports of some "law and order problems" immediately after SP swept to power.

But he asserted that anti-corruption mood certainly worked in Goa, where BJP won the polls, adding, the outgoing Congress government had allegedly indulged in "heavy corruption".
In addition, BJP played its card very well by giving tickets to different communities.

Hegde, however, said the Team Anna movement would gather momentum going forward. "Anna (Hazare) has decided to to tour all over India". Even though there are no elections round the corner, it would certainly have a tremendous effect on governing parties,he said.

"But for the Anna movement, corruption would not have been that big an issue. Peoples' reaction to Anna's movement had a significant effect on public mind", the former Karnataka Lokayukta said.

He said the issue (fight against) of corruption –whether through Anna or general perception -- has gained a lot of support and "it has harmed many people who are presumed to be corrupt".

Hegde expressed the view that if B C Khanduri was not projected
as chief ministerial candidate,BJP would have been "wiped out" in Uttarkhand. BJP made a "tactical error" by not replacing his predecessor Ramesh Pokhriyal, who was perceived as "very, very corrupt", much earlier

Team Anna’s anti-graft movement had an impact

2012-03-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare’s team, which conducted a low-key campaign in the assembly elections in five states, but kept its focus on Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, appeared satisfied with Tuesday’s election results. The jury was out among the political parties and analysts whether team Anna’s campaign had any impact on the election results, and the reactions were on expected lines.

The Congress dismissed it as a non-issue, but the BJP said anti-graft campaigns of Hazare and Baba Ramdev were definite factors behind high polling percentage and the poor Congress showing.

“Given the limited options available to voters, the results show that voters chose lesser evils in all the five states,” said key team Anna member, Prashant Bhushan.

Asked about the unprecedented victory of Samajwadi Party in UP, he said :“BSP paid the price of running a corrupt government and the Congress faced the music for not taking effective anti-corruption measures at the national level.”

Another team Anna member, Kiran Bedi linked the poor Congress showing to the lokpal bill. “Congress appeared to be suffering because it was blatantly against an effective Lokpal bill. And still is! Unless it changes stance,” Bedi tweeted.

Team Anna was willing to accept that its almost open support for Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri helped the BJP to come back into the fight from a hopeless situation a few months back.

From an open anti-Congress campaign in the Hisar (Haryana) Lok Sabha byelection in last October to an indirect campaign this time, team Anna changed its tactics this time following criticism that the anti-graft movement was being given a political colour.

Team Anna appears set to take it battle with the Congress and and its allies to 2014.

Anna Hazare, team to meet in Delhi

2012-03-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare will attend a core committee meeting of Team Anna on Monday to discuss the future strategy of his fight against corruption.
" We will decide the strategy for our fight against corruption, basically how to carry it forward now. We will discuss these issues and there will be two more meetings, after everything is finalized. I would go out again in the entire country and will start another fight against corruption," Hazare told media.

Earlier on February 24, he had threatened to start another movement for the passage of a strong ombudsman bill to combat graft in the country, before the national polls, which are scheduled to take place in 2014.

Hazare has been at loggerheads with the government over the Ombudsman Bill, for which the Gandhian activist went on hunger strikes in April, August and December last year.

Meanwhile, commenting on the exit polls conducted by three major television channels, in which they claimed that the regional Samajwadi Party would emerge as the winner in Uttar Pradesh, Hazare said the decision of the people must be respected.

See, this is a democracy. We have to accept the decision of the public. But, whoever comes has to think about the future of the country," Hazare added.

No need for new law to fight corruption: Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy

2011-12-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

MATHURA: As Anna Hazare gears up for yet another protest fast against the government's "weak" Lokpal Bill, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy today advocated the need to strengthen the existing laws to tackle corruption instead of introducing a new legislation to combat the menace.

"Anna Hazare is demanding a new law to fight corruption, but what is required is to strengthen the existing laws, as they are strong enough to fight corruption," Swamy said in a conference here.

He said the Government should strongly implement the existing laws and take swift action against those involved in corruption.

"Corruption is an issue of concern in the US also, but the difference is that quick action is taken against the accused there, but in India even after a court verdict, it takes years to solve a case," he said.

Cong justifies quota, says condition of poor Muslims worse than Dalits

2011-12-24T11:07:00.001-08:00

Justifying the Congress-led UPA government's proposed move of providing a sub-quota for minorities, a union minister on Saturday said that condition of poor Muslims and Buddhists in the county was "worse" than Dalits. "The condition of poor Muslims and Buddhists in the country was worse than Dalits, therefore 4.5 % quota within quota was necessary," coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal today said.

The union minister alleged that corruption in Uttar Pradesh was at its peak and blamed the chief minister Mayawati for it. "Though union government wants to set up projects, the state is not making land available and corruption is at its peak," Jaiswal said.

Jaiswal claimed that this time Congress is going to form government in Uttar Pradesh, and "behenji" (Mayawati) and "bhai saheb" should shun their lure of power.

He also said that Congress is not worried about Anna Hazare and is ready to face him if he decides to campaign against the party in the state. "Congress is not worried about the agitation of Anna Hazare or anyone else, and if Anna or his team comes to Uttar Pradesh to campaign against it, the party is ready to face them," Jaiswal told newspersons here.

"Congress looks ahead ... In the past also many people have campaigned against it but what happened," Jaiswal said adding that his is a democratic party which is not afraid of any individual or agitation.

"Congress only thinks about the sentiments of the people following which it has introduced a strong Lokpal Bill in Parliament, which covers Prime Minister as well as employees of group C and D and would try to get it passed," he said.

Problems galore for Anna and his team

2011-12-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: This seems to be a weekend fraught with problems for Anna and his team as the anti-corruption crusader is brought down by a severe bout of cold and a case is filed against his team for allegedly insulting the tricolour.

Ahead of his three-day fast in Ralegan Siddhi from December 27 to protest against a "weak" Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare has caught cold but his associates say it is no major cause for concern.

"Anna has cough and cold. However, there is no reason to worry. He is taking medicines. There is no cause for concern," Hazare's aide Suresh Pathare told reporters.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police was pulled up by a court on Saturday for its failure to take a categorical stand on a complaint accusing Anna and his team members of insulting the tricolour during their anti-graft protest in August.
"Why is it taking so much of time? Tell me an exact date on which you will file the report," Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh said, while directing the police to file its report on the complaint expeditiously.
The police, which had earlier said it had sought the legal opinion on the complaint from its prosecution branch, said on Saturday "opinion received from the prosecution branch in the matter was not clear whether the offence was made out or not."

"Therefore, the matter was again referred to the prosecution branch for specific opinion and further action will be taken upon receipt of the opinion," the police said.

"The investigating officer has not filed the status report till date and submitted that more time is required as report has been sent to the prosecution branch for legal opinion. Matter be expedited. File report as soon as possible," the court ordered.

The complaint had been filed by advocate Ravinder Kumar seeking registration of an FIR against Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and six others for allegedly showing disrespect to the Tricolour during their anti-graft
demonstration.

He had also annexed his complaint with pictures showing Kiran Bedi, a key member of Team Anna, waving a torn tricolour and other protesters demeaning the national flag by mishandling it and even painting it on their bodies.

Comment: Lokpal is still a long haul, but Anna damages his cause

2011-12-24T11:05:00.000-08:00

Considering that Anna Hazare is dissatisfied with the Lokpal bill presented to parliament, it is obvious that a quick resolution of the confrontation between him and the government is not feasible. In fact, the scene can take a turn for the worse if, for one, Anna's fast has an adverse effect on his health, as his doctors have warned. And, for another, if the proposed protest outside Sonia Gandhi's and Rahul Gandhi's houses leads to violence.

The main difference between the earlier stages of Anna's campaign and the latest one is that while his focus was mainly on his fasts earlier, he is now presenting a direct challenge to the Congress. This switch to politics, which will be intensified if Anna tours the five states going to the polls to campaign against the Congress, underlines a realisation that self-flagellation or self-purification a la Gandhi is no longer as effective as before.

True Anna's movement can be claimed to have been always political. Besides, it was also anti-Congress. Any anti-government agitation that singles out the first party for constant criticism cannot be anything other than political and anti-Congress. But it is possible that this emphasis on the Congress has given the latter an opportunity to engineer a line-up along a familiar political fault line.

As is obvious, the Congress now has on its side, apart from its allies in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), parties from the Hindu belt like Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party,Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and also, possibly, Sharad Yadav's Janata Dal-United (JD-U), which is an ally of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). There is also a possibility that Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will side with the Congress at a critical moment.

What can be seen in this combination is the familiar secular-communal divide, except for the JD-U. But, like the latter, the Shiv Sena, too, is currently closer to the Congress on the anti-Anna platform than to the NDA. That leaves out the BJP. But, before considering its position, it is worth noting that the political turn which Anna has given to his movement has highlighted the old battle lines between (in addition to the secular-communal schism) the rural backward castes and Dalits of the cow belt on one side and the middle class-dominated urban support base of Team Anna on the other.

Not surprisingly, to strengthen its own side of the divide, the Congress has played the caste, gender and religion cards by ensuring reservations for Dalits, Adivasis, Other Backward Classes (OBCs), women and minorities in the eight-member Lokpal bench and in the so-called search committee which will help in the Lokpal's selection.

The BJP has, predictably, opposed the inclusion of minorities in the panel and the committee, calling it unconstitutional. It may be right. But the Congress will not be too concerned about the hurdles put by it for, first, the BJP's stance will again reinforce its Hindu communal image and, second, if the judiciary strikes down the provision, the resultant delay in the enactment of the bill will not displease the Congress.

After all, the party has never been in a tearing hurry to see the bill through. The inordinate delay in its enactment - the measure has been hanging fire since 1968 - is evidence enough of its lack of interest. Nor is it the only laggard. It is no secret that the entire political class is wary of the possibility of an all-powerful ombudsman sitting in judgment over their heads.

Hence their reluctance to relinquish control over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), for they know that once the police and the bureaucracy are imbued with genuine professionalism where they can act without fear or favour, the cosy partnership between politicians, officials and even criminals willcome to an end. The pressure from the Anna group may have forced the government to ease its earlier iron grip on theCBI - now the Lokpalwill have the power of "superintendence" over the CBI - but the repeated pleas by the backward caste politicians and also the Communist Party of India (CPI) not to pass the bill in a hurry are not motivated by a need for closer examination alone.

There is little doubt that Anna has pushed the government a long distancetowards the framingof a reasonably powerful Lokpal. But, by sticking to its old "my way or the highway" stance, Anna is damaging his own cause. Besides, while his own decency - except for a few quirky attitudes like tying the "accused people to trees to deliver summary justice", as Amartya Sen said - is unquestionable, the pomposity of some of his colleagues can be off-putting. If they retain their influence, the movement can suffer a setback because they lack the sophistication to guide it through the present phase when a lot has been achieved.

Anna Hazare's fast: Police take stock of security arrangement at MMRDA

2011-12-24T11:01:00.001-08:00

MUMBAI: Top police officials today took stock of security arrangements at the MMRDA ground, where CCTVs, metal detectors besides barricades will be installed for Anna Hazare's three-day fast from December 27 demanding a stronger Lokpal bill.

"They have agreed to install CCTVs, metal detectors and ground barricades at the venue. They will start work by tonight or tomorrow morning and the ground will be ready by evening on December 26," DCP Saytya Narayan Choudhary told reporters at the ground.

Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Rajnish Sheth also visited the ground earlier in the day.

"We have given them some Dos and Don'ts," said a police source adding final inspection of the ground would be conducted on Monday.

Meanwhile, the police have also asked the organisers to slightly modify the layout plan. "Since Anna has Z+ security, police have asked us to make some changes in the layout plan," said an Anna aide.

Anna Hazare invites people to register for jail bharo

2011-12-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Anna Hazare's jail bharo agitation for a strong Lokpal has been a hit with netizens with over 40,000 people registering for the protest within a day of the India Against Corruption (IAC) launching a website for it.

IAC has launched a website for people to register for the agitation all over the country. The website has state wise as well as city wise listing of the number of people registered for 'jail bharo'.

Team Anna member Kiran Bedi invited registrations on Twitter on Friday. "B a Freedom fighter agnst corruption Register for Jail bharo. Sms to 575758 or call 07303150500," she tweeted.

Over 40,000 people had registered for the agitation till 7 am on Saturday on the
website www.jailchalo.com.

The website for the agitation starting December 30, is called 'Jail Bharo' (http://www.jailchalo.com/) and invites people to register for the protest in their respective states and cities.

The count of people who have registered for the agitation was 40,184 till 7:00 am on Saturday and the number is going up every second.

Anna Hazare and his team have rejected the Lokpal Bill presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and have announced to resume their agitation from December 27. Hazare will fast at Mumbai's Azad Maidan from December 27 to December 29 and will begin jail bharo from December 30.

The Government had tabled the Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday even as MPs cutting across party lines criticised several provisions of the anti-corruption legislation.

While some MPs criticised specific provisions of the legislation, others asked came down heavily on the Government for showing 'undue haste' following the Anna Hazare agitation in rushing through the Bill.
Hazare and his associates called the Bill a weak one and claimed that it would not be able to tackle corruption. Hazare's close aide even went to the extent of saying that he had little faith in Parliament after the debate over Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha.

"They say (MPs) 'have faith in Parliament'. My mother says 'have faith in Lord Shiva'. I now tend to agree more with my mother," Kejriwal tweeted.

Another Team Anna member and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi feared that the Lokpal Bill may go the Women's Reservation Bill's way as those in power are comfortable with status quo.

"What you are seeing is nothing unexpected. It may go the Women's Bill way. There is no unity, no consensus on the issue," she said reacting to the opposition from some political parties to the proposed legislation.

Bedi said the bill was hurting those in power. "It appears that status quo suits those in position and power," she said.

Lalu Prasad Ydav at his witty best in Lok Sabha

2011-12-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: Lalu Prasad was at his irrepressible best in the Lok Sabha today as he used his rustic wit and humour to send a message against rushing through the Lokpal Bill, taking potshots at Anna Hazare and his team.

"Don't put the noose around your neck," the RJD chief appealed to the packed House, saying "Parliament cannot be run from the footpath. We are the lawmakers."

Prasad's poser was "how many friends of (Suresh) Kalmadi you want to make? If an ex-MP comes, he doesn't get place even in the bathroom," evoking laughter. He said the Lokpal would open a Pandora's box for the lawmakers themselves, both past and present.

In the midst of his hilarious remarks, he said "I was born in 1948. Mere aane se pahle hi Angrez bhag gaye (even before I arrived, British fled)". This sent the House into peals of laughter.

Repeatedly saying that he was not against the Bill as was being projected, Prasad went out of the way to woo the media saying that it should be exempted from the ambit of the Lokpal, maintaining it was doing "nothing wrong but giving publicity" to politicians.

In this context, he said Union minister Kapil Sibal's photographs were being well-published in the newspapers. Then he turned to another minister Pawan Kumar Bansal saying he has a file tucked in his armpit and feels like he is running the government.

Hazare shoots letter to Guv on fasting Mumbai University professors

2011-12-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Even as social activist Anna Hazare is preparing to stage his hunger strike in the city, he has come forward to support two professors fasting at Azad Maidan.

Professors of University of Mumbai Vaibhav Narawade and Subhash Athawale have been fasting since December 21 over the fake certificates of controller of examination Professor Vilas Shinde.

On Thursday, Hazare wrote to the chancellor of state universities and Governor K Sankaranarayanan on the Shinde case.
Written in Marathi and sent to the governor’s Mumbai office, the letter (DNA has a copy of it) says that Shinde had applied for two posts in 2007 but submitted different experience certificates. “In this regard, Prof Vaibhav Narawade met you (chancellor) in April 2010 and you have assured him to take action. But the university did nothing in this regard. Now you must look into the matter personally,” says the letter.

Hazare also attached Shinde’s documents with the letter.
“I am unaware of the letter as I am in Nagpur. Governor Sir was also in Nagpur till Friday. I will confirm after reaching Mumbai tomorrow,” said Umesh Kashikar, PRO of Raj Bhawan.

The three-day fast has made Athawale and Narawde weak. “We are yet to get an official communication on management council decision. We will continue to fast till our demands are met.”

A total of 150 students and parents lent their support to the professors.

All demands of Anna can't be met: Khurshid

2011-12-24T10:52:00.001-08:00

Union law minister Salman Khurshid today said all demands of Anna Hazare on Lokpal Bill "cannot be accepted" and the activist has to decide the "limits" of his exercise. "We have included all good points (suggested by Team Anna) in the Lokpal Bill. But not everything they say we are in a position to accomodate because a lot of other people think differently," Khurshid told reporters on the sidelines of a conference 'Electoral Reforms in India - The Role of Intellectuals' here.

"Anna Hazare has a role to perform and it is a legitimate exercise, but he has to decide what the limits of exercise are," Khurshid said, adding that the government would not advise him on that front. Asked whether he would appeal to Hazare to not go on fast from December 27, he replied that personally he would not do so, but would if the government takes a collective decision on the matter. "But (for now), there is no such decision taken by the government," he said.

Asked whether the Lokpal Bill undermined the autonomy of the CBI, Khurshid said the government and other investigation agencies, including the Lokpal, would not interfere in the probes conducted by the CBI.

"CBI also must know that they would not do all the investigation themselves, Lokpal would be free to give investigation to any other agency if they wished so," the minister clarified.

"I can assure you more than the CBI, the law ministry understands the integrity of the investigation. We have vetted it (Lokpal Bill) very carefully and I don't believe we have any problems with it," he added.

Replying to a question, Khurshid said if corruption is encouraged by elections, as alleged by Hazare, there are ways to contain it.

"We cannot sacrifice democracy at the altar of fight against corruption. We will have to find a combined and convergent method to strengthen democracy and weaken corruption," he said.

Khurshid also appealed to the BJP to play a constructive role in passing the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. "If there are differences between the parties, they must be sorted out," he said.

However, "arguing in front of the media and sharing space at the India Against Corruption platform" was not the best way to go about it, he said.

"They (BJP) are very experienced leaders. I must not be telling them what should not be done," he said.

Reacting to the BJP charge that Congress "propped up" RJD chief Lalu Prasad for derailing the focus of the Lokpal Bill by welcoming reservation for minority quota, Khurshid said, "It will not be fair to say we have propped up or provoked him.

"Laluji is very strong in his opinions and sometimes they might help the government, but sometimes they might hurt," the minister said. "They are his opinions and I think we should respect everybody's opinions".

Asked about Congress leader Digvijay Singh's stance on attacking Team Anna, Khurshid said the party leader is "a warrior".

"He works with a sword and we are pen-wielders," he said.

Anna Hazare crusade splits Shiv Sena, BJP

2011-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Social activist Anna Hazare has created a dent in the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.

The parties will now draw up their own manifestoes for the civic and zilla parishad elections in the state.

“Politically, it works to our advantage to see that the agitation continues in Mumbai. The longer the agitation, the better for the BJP as members of Team Anna are going to engage in bashing the ruling Congress,” said sources in the BJP.

“If Mumbaikars can connect with Anna’s agitation, it certainly would give credence to our campaign against corruption,” they added.

After the initial flip flop, the Sena decided to take an anti-Hazare stand. It said Hazare has no business to usurp the role of a dictator in a democratic system.

The BJP is worried that the Sena’s opposition to Hazare’s agitation could expose the cracks within the alliance. “If the Congress had resolved the controversy over the Jan Lokpal bill, the matter would have been relegated to the backburner. As the Opposition party in the Centre and the state, it works to our advantage to see that the issue keeps burning,” said a senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity.

The BJP-ruled states have been under pressure from its central leadership to adopt tough laws for Lok Ayukta. This is to convey a strong message to the people that the BJP is serious about fighting corruption. “The party is determined to fight against corruption,” said Madhav Bhandari, senior BJP leader. “As far as the state unit is concerned, we believe that every organisation has the right to protest in a democratic manner.”

The BJP leaders in Maharashtra have decided not to get into an ugly debate with the Sena. “When it comes to fighting corruption, there is no reason why the Sena should oppose his agitation which has public support,” said the BJP strategists.

New Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha tomorrow

2011-12-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: A new Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha tomorrow and the existing one withdrawn.

This was conveyed by the government to the main opposition party, the BJP, on Wednesday along with the intention to have a three-day additional sitting of Parliament from December 27 to take up this crucial bill. BJP gave its nod to this proposal.

Earlier today, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee held a meeting with Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha - Sushma Swaraj, her counterpart in Rajya Sabha - Arun Jaitley and BJP leader L K Advani to discuss the issue.

Mukherjee conveyed to the BJP that the Lokpal Bill passed by the Cabinet last night could be circulated to MPs only later this evening, according to sources.

He also said that the existing Lokpal Bill- introduced in the Monsoon Session of Parliament- will be withdrawn in the Lok Sabha tomorrow and the new bill introduced. Mukherjee said that in this scenario, there was little option but to extend the winter session by three more days and discuss the Lokpal Bill from December 27 to 29.

BJP agreed to the proposal after initial reluctance. BJP party sources said its opposition is to the content of the bill rather than extension of this session.

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) will meet this evening to decide on the extension.

Government is keen to ensure passage of the Lokpal Bill along with two crucial legislations- Judicial Accountability Bill and Whistleblower Protection Bill -- during the current session. But since only two days are left, it wants additional sitting after the Christmas break.

The BAC had yesterday decided to hold an additional three day sitting from December 27 but later several MPs opposed it, prompting the government to say it will have a rethink.

Several MPs, including from the UPA coalition, are still opposed to the three day extension of the session.

Lokpal Bill was cleared last night by the Union Cabinet. The new bill will be a Constitution amendment Bill which will also bring the Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal with certain riders.

The bill, however, keeps the CBI out of purview of Lokpal except on cases which are referred to it by the latter. The Lokpal will have its own wings for preliminary inquiries and prosecution.

The Lokpal will be a nine-member body including the chairperson.

No 'understanding' with Govt on Lokpal: BJP

2011-12-21T10:13:00.001-08:00

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday refuted suggestions it had an "understanding" with the government on the Lokpal Bill, insisting the party will stick to the dissent notes it had submitted to the Parliamentary panel dealing with the Bill and also move amendments where it does not agree.

Though senior BJP leaders maintained they were unaware of the contents of the Lokpal Bill and can react only when the copy of the proposed legislation is circulated to them, the party said it will not dilute its stand.
"There is no understanding with the government on the Lokpal Bill. Only when the draft is circulated will it be possible for us to study it and comment on it. We will try to give a preliminary reaction tomorrow," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said.

He said BJP has already stated its position on the Lokpal in the dissent notes it gave to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice which was dealing with the existing Lokpal Bill. BJP members in the Committee had given 18 dissent notes.

The BJP leader insisted that his party had reacted "at times even harshly" to the government Lokpal draft, adding that the yardstick for this is the dissent note.

Jaitley maintained that what has appeared in the newspapers about the "basic features" of new Lokpal Bill is "a matter of concern".

"Like in the appointment of Lokpal the influence of the government is overarching, if the newspaper reports are true. The independence and autonomy of the CBI is not there; there is government control. There are several other questions on which it is possible to make comments only after seeing the whole draft," Jaitley said.

The BJP also maintained that the extension of winter session of Parliament was not a priority area for the party and it was only concerned about the content of the law which should be "reasonable".

Indian govt set for showdown

2011-12-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

The Indian government geared up yesterday for a showdown with opposition parties and civil activists over a landmark anti-corruption bill to be presented in parliament.

The new legislation was the focus of mass protests in August, spearheaded by veteran activist Anna Hazare, that saw millions take to the streets of cities across India to denounce the corruption that permeates all levels of Indian society.

The proposed law would create a powerful new ombudsman, or "Lokpal", tasked with probing and prosecuting senior politicians and civil servants suspected of graft.

The Indian cabinet approved a final version of the bill late Tuesday and Sonia Gandhi, the president of the ruling Congress party, vowed to steer its passage through parliament over the objections of opposition MPs and the Hazare campaign.

"I will fight for the Lokpal Bill," she told a meeting of Congress party members. "I cannot see any reason for us to be defeatist."

Opposition parties have said they will insist on amendments to the cabinet-approved bill, while Hazare has scheduled a repeat of his August hunger strike that galvanised public opinion behind his campaign.

The main points of contention focus on the ambit of the ombudsman's office and its powers of investigation.

The government bill offers only limited jurisdiction over the prime minister and requires the ombudsman to put any criminal probes in the hands of the government-controlled Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Hazare and a number of opposition parties want the ombudsman to control any CBI investigations

Indian govt set for showdown over anti-graft bill

2011-12-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI - The Indian government geared up on Wednesday for a showdown with opposition parties and civil activists over a landmark anti-corruption bill to be presented in parliament.

The new legislation was the focus of mass protests in August, spearheaded by veteran activist Anna Hazare, that saw millions take to the streets of cities across India to denounce the corruption that permeates all levels of Indian society.

The proposed law would create a powerful new ombudsman, or “Lokpal”, tasked with probing and prosecuting senior politicians and civil servants suspected of graft. The Indian cabinet approved a final version of the bill late on Tuesday and Sonia Gandhi, the president of the ruling Congress party, vowed to steer its passage through parliament over the objections of opposition MPs and the Hazare campaign. “I will fight for the Lokpal Bill,” she told a meeting of Congress party members. “I cannot see any reason for us to be defeatist.”

Opposition parties have said they will insist on amendments to the cabinet-approved bill, while Hazare has scheduled a repeat of his August hunger strike that galvanised public opinion behind his campaign. The main points of contention focus on the ambit of the ombudsman’s office and its powers of investigation.

The government bill offers only limited jurisdiction over the prime minister and requires the ombudsman to put any criminal probes in the hands of the government-controlled Criminal Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hazare and a number of opposition parties want the ombudsman to control any CBI investigations.

“I reject the new version of the bill,” Hazare told reporters in his village in western India.

“If the CBI is outside (the ombudsman’s control), then how will the Lokpal be strong? This system will save corrupt politicians,” he said, accusing the government of “cheating” the Indian people by proposing a weak bill.

Gandhi hit out at what she called the “obstructionist” tactics of the opposition and accused the Hazare team of “malicious” criticism.

The outpouring of public support for Hazare’s anti-graft fast in August had stunned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s coalition government, which has been tainted by a series of high-profile corruption scandals. Hazare confirmed that he would hold a new, three-day hunger strike from December 27 in a public venue in Mumbai.
Government sources said the anti-corruption bill would be formally submitted to parliament on Thursday (today) – the final day of the current winter session.

Lokpal will be 'new Gaddafi': Shiv Sena

2011-12-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

NEW DELHI: On the eve of introduction of a new Lokpal bill in Parliament, Shiv Sena today appealed to political parties to stop a "new Gaddafi" from taking birth.

Declaring that creation of the Lokpal was not the only way to eradicate corruption, Party General Secretary Sanjay Raut said that the passage of the bill could lead to the ombudsman controlling the nation.

"Stop a new Gaddafi from taking birth in the interest of the nation and Parliamentary democracy," the MP said.

Claiming that Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thacakrey was the first party chief to come out against the creation of the Lokpal to maintain supremacy of Parliament and its representatives, he said that other parties needed to follow suit.

Shiv Sena, he said, has always fought against corruption and has staged agitations on the issue. He claimed that Team Anna member Kiran Bedi has "no moral right" to agitate on the issue of corruption due to her alleged "acts of omission and commission".

He also took a dig at Anna Hazare's plans to shift the venue of his proposed fast from Delhi to Mumbai in view of the intense cold in the capita . He said that MPs have been attending Parliament in spite of the cold and have even extended the winter session.

Politics Journal: Whatever Happened to Kashmir?

2011-12-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

A non-violent agitator takes on the government with a sustained campaign. The nation takes to the streets, the government is flustered, opens a dialog and then largely capitulates to the campaigner’s demands.

That sums up Anna Hazare’s months-long push to get the government to agree to a strong Lokpal, or ombudsman, bill, which now is about to come before Parliament, even though the government and “Team Anna” still have major differences.

In summer of 2010, stone-pelting youths
took the Srinagar’s streets, chanting
slogans demanding freedom.

But such a story line is only a distant hope for Yasin Malik, the leader of the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front.

“The Indian state is so strong and powerful. I have taken the path of non-violent protest for so many years now. But nobody is interested in talking to me,” he told India Real Time at a conference organized by the Delhi-based think-tank, the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation and a Pakistani think-tank, the Jinnah Institute.

In the tumultuous summer in 2010, stone-pelting youths took the Srinagar’s streets with the chant “Hamein kya chahiye” – “what is it that we want?” – and the answer “Azaadi!” – freedom!

But this year, an eerie calm has pervaded the streets as domestic tourists travelled to Kashmir in record numbers. The situation was deemed sufficiently calm that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sought to address the very sensitive and complex long-pending issue of the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state.

To many, it has been viewed as a sign of a peaceful new era. But to some in Kashmir, including Mr. Malik, it is more a sign that Kashmir has not been “solved” but has simply slipped down the priority list of the Indian government’s major problems, replaced by the likes of Mr. Hazare. He also sees a similarly dismissive attitude in Pakistan as it tries to improve relations with India.

“Both India and Pakistan have frozen Kashmir,” Mr. Malik said, speaking to IRT on the margins of a conference.

He may not be far wrong. In recent years, Kashmir has lost its position in India’s centre-stage in more ways than one. Prior to the Mumbai attacks of 2008, the Kashmir dispute as well as terrorism were always on top of any India-Pakistan agenda, but after Mumbai, the need for Pakistan to end terrorism directed at India has become dominant.

Domestically too, the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance’s perceived weakness and its myriad scandals have not only dented the UPA’s image but allowed people like Anna Hazare to fill the credibility vacuum.

In Pakistan too, as relations with the U.S. and with Afghanistan plunge downward, Kashmir-specific attention seems to have dipped. Political parties make perfunctory reference to resolving Kashmir before embarking on any activity with India, as was evident when Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N) party recently made noises about Kashmir on the question of Pakistan giving most favored nation status to India.

But the party quickly fell in line, because it favors improved relations with India. It was lost on no one that improved trade with India has several takers inside Pakistan, across the political spectrum, and that these lobbies did not want it held hostage to the Kashmir issue.

In his conversation with IRT, Yasin Malik refused to talk about the nature of a possible compromise between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir, only insisting that the beginning of a real dialogue between honorable interlocutors will lead to a solution that will be acceptable to both sides.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Omer Farooq of the Hurriyat Conference, addressing a seminar in Kashmir a couple of weeks ago, bemoaned how even western countries, whether the European Union, the U.S. or U.K., preferred to now focus on economic issues rather than human rights violations.

With Mr. Hazare dominating newspaper and television space for the best part of the last six months, Kashmiri separatist leaders say they are bitter about the Indian state’s virtual refusal in opening a dialogue with them. The federal government appointed three interlocutors to talk to all shades of Kashmiri opinion in an effort to gauge the depth of the problem, but all separatist groups spurned the initiative. That report is expected to come out in the next few weeks.

Instead, Kashmir has been preoccupied with a much less significant debate on whether to open bars and cinemas in the valley – hardly the stuff that the future will be decided over.

For the record, the issue has drawn much ire from the separatist leadership, but several Kashmiris — both Muslim and Hindu – have responded by pointing out that several bars and cinemas had existed before Pakistan-sponsored militancy began in 1989.

“Gujarat has banned the sale of alcohol since 1948, in deference to being the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, but it has very high levels of consumption. We should end this hypocrisy,” said a Kashmiri analyst. But he added: “The question is not whether Kashmiris should be allowed to publicly drink or not drink, but what should be the relationship between Kashmiris and the rest of India. For that to happen, an honorable conversation on the future of Kashmir must begin as soon as possible.”

It might be tempting to say that if Kashmir is peaceful and the biggest thing the valley’s residents are worried about is whether they can get a beer, then that is real progress for one of the world’s most troubled regions.

Mr. Malik begs to differ.

He says this year’s calm in the Kashmir valley is a deceptive one, and that the simmering discontent beneath is bound to break out sooner than later.

“I have to face the anger of my boys who keep asking me, ‘Why should we stay quiet?’ ‘Why should we not use force?’” he said.

“I want to tell the Indian government: ‘Do you want these boys to become the Taliban?’ ‘Do you want the state to become radicalized?’ If not, you have to address our concerns. You have to talk to us about the nature of Kashmir’s relationship with India.”

Is Anna Hazare Bollywood's marketing weapon?

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Bollywood stars, on an aggressive promotional spree, seem to have jumped on to the bandwagon of veteran social activist Anna Hazare who has a considerable following among the youths of India.

On Wednesday actor Shah Rukh Khan, who was recently in the national capital to promote his film Don 2, said he supported the anti-corruption movement launched by Hazare. This is not the first time that Hazare has attracted stars to his popular campaign.

Khan said every aspect of the cause should be looked at seriously. "I think we all support the cause. I think there should be no corruption in the country. I think this whole aspect is becoming so large and so big and there are so many aspects of it that we need to look at it seriously, quietly, step-backedly. We just can't keep saying we support anti-corruption," said Khan.

Actor Kabir Bedi and her star father Kabir Bedi were seen at the Ramlila Maidan protest ground in New Delhi during Hazare's fast to force the government into drafting a stronger Ombudsman bill.
Ramlila Maidan and Hazare drew a star campaigner in August this year when actor Aamir Khan arrived with '3 Idiots' filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani in a crisp white shirt and was welcomed on stage with a thundering applause.

Khan said, "I am here to meet Annaji and give him a hug for the initiative he has taken."
Bollywood till now has only given a passive support to the Jan Lokpal issue. From tweets to participating in pro-Anna rallies in Mumbai, the Anna movement was yet to rub shoulders with the 'heroes'.

"The Bill won't be passed in a day or two. It requires a lot of discussion and debate in Parliament," Aamir said at that time. His presence on the stage raised a lot of eyebrows ahead of the release of his actor nephew Imran Khan’s film 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' in September. Khan had also been promoting Delhi Belly, another Imran starrer that was released in July.

Thousands of protestors were in for a treat as Aamir gave a speech and even entertained the spectators by singing. Director Rajkumar Hirani also spoke at the stage and asserted the need for Anna Hazare, 74, to remain healthy.

Hazare's campaign has attracted a lot of high profile campaigners.
Bollywood stars seem to have realised that Hazare’s new-found popularity among the youths is an assured way to reach out to their target audience

Lokpal: endgame near despite Anna protest?

2011-12-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: As the deadline of another agitation by Anna Hazare for a strong Lokpal Bill approaches, the UPA has decided to withdraw the old draft and introduce a new one in Parliament even though several smaller parties have accused the Government of trying to rush though the proposed anti-corruption legislation.
Anna has threatened to go on hunger strike from December 27 if Parliament fails to pass a strong Lokpal Bill, but there is no unanimity among the different parties on the proposed Bill.

The winter session of Parliament, which was scheduled to end on December 22, has been extended by three days from December 27 to discuss Lokpal Bill and other legislations.

The Lokpal bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and would be taken up for discussion when Parliament reconvenes on December 27 after a four-day Christmas break.

Even as UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi addressed Congress MPs and assured them that the government bend further to please Team Anna and the Opposition, the UPA withdrew the old bill and decided to introduce a new draft. The BJP has given its nod to this proposal.

She told her party colleagues that the Government won't go down without a fight on the Lokpal Bill and will ensure that it doesn't meet the same fate as the Women's Reservation Bill.

She also reiterated that the Government and the party were united on the issue and hit out at the Opposition in general and the BJP in particular for trying to derail the Lokpal Bill.

"The Lokpal Bill has been cleared by the Cabinet. The Opposition will have lots of things to say. They should accept suggestions of Government. Team Anna should also accept it. The Opposition cannot reconcile to the fact that they lost (the 2009 Lok Sabha elections). The party and Government support each other, there is no rift between the party and Government," said Sonia.

In another major development, several MPs cutting across party lines have come down heavily on both the Lokpal Bill cleared by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Cabinet and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury have questioned the UPA Government's intention while making it clear that Parliament will not rush through the anti-corruption legislation in a hurry to please Hazare and his associates.

Lalu questioned the need for rushing though the legislation and said that a Bill can be passed after following a due process of Parliament.

"No one can dictate terms to us. Parliament has to follow due process. It is an important legislation. MPs may want to move amendments. How can we rush through it?" questioned Lalu.

Mulayam Singh Yadav warned the government that the proposed legislation would give 'all powers' to the police.

"Lokpal will not be in your hands. It will go to the hands of police. Nothing can be done then against the police," he said and apparently referred to Anna Hazare as he asked whether all this could be done "under pressure of one man".

He said his party will oppose as much as it can. "These powers will go to the police, they will not respect us (MPs). Superintendents of Police and District

Magistrates will send us to jail," Yadav said.

Mayawati-led Bhaujan Samaj Party is also against rushing through the Bill while the Shiv Sena has opposed the concept of a Lokpal completely. The BJP and Biju Janata Dal have also opposed the Government version, but want an early passage of the Bill.

The BJP is yet to reveal its strategy but it has said that the party is ready for a discussion on the Bill any day. It is likely to raise objections on the procedure of the appointment of the Lokpal panel.

BJP leader Arun Jaitely said, "Primary reports on draft are matter of concern. It doesn't measure to our expectation. Selection of Lokpal and independence of CBI is a major concern."

However, Keeping up the heat, Team Anna on Wednesday attacked the government for keeping CBI out of Lokpal's ambit, saying it 'totally destroys' the anti-corruption mechanism in the country by not giving an investigating arm to the ombudsman.

"If the CBI is outside, then how will the Lokpal be strong? This system will save corrupt politicians. If CBI comes under Lokpal then (Home Minister) P Chidambaram will be in jail. You are saving corrupt politicians and say it is a strong Lokpal," Anna said.

"It is cheating people who will teach them a lesson," he said adding he will campaign against the UPA in Uttar Pradesh and other four states going to polls early next year.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said the new bill will do "more harm than doing good" to the existing anti-graft machinery.

Another Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde said there was some "ego problem" with government in accepting certain suggestions in Jan Lokpal bill while Kiran Bedi claimed that the agency will remain under government control till immunity is given for past acts of corruption by political parties.

"The Lokpal Bill will not have even investigating powers. You will complain to Lokpal but it cannot investigate. What Lokpal is the government setting up? It means the government is cheating people," Kejriwal said.

Hegde said with CBI out of Lokpal's control, what it does will be like departmental enquiry. "This is certainly unacceptable," he said.

Bedi said on micro-blogging site Twitter, "The bill is not path breaking but breaking the path. Thank you Sonia G."

"It appears till a provision for immunity is guaranteed for past acts of corruption, political parties will ensure CBI remains in government control," she said, adding it was now 'Save CBI' campaign.

The government may find it difficult to pass the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament if the Opposition continue to oppose it. The government has a majority in Lok Sabha but the Opposition can push for amendments in Rajya Sabha.

Dalit leader welcomes reservation in Lokpal

2011-12-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

New Delhi: Dalit leader Udit Raj on Wednesday welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision to include reservation for SC, ST, OBC and other weaker section in the ambit of the proposed Lokpal.

Raj, Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, also took a dig at Team Anna and said they should understand their "weaknesses."

"They might have organised big shows at Ramlila ground and Jantar Mantar but the majority of silent section of people is not necessarily with them," he said in a release.

There is no doubt that Anna Hazare has aroused the consciousness of the country on corruption but they should wait and watch what Parliament is going to do, he said.

"After all, Parliament is the will of about 120 crore people and thus they (Team Anna) should have faith in democracy," he said.

While welcoming the Government draft of Lokpal Bill which was approved by Cabinet yesterday, he suggested that Lokpal selection panel should not have more than two judges and that members from other fields like journalism and education also be made part of the panel.

Anna Hazare on warpath again

2011-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Rejecting the Citizens’ Charter Bill tabled by the government in Parliament on Tuesday, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare criticised the Manmohan Singh government for introducing a “misleadingGrievance Redressal Bill”.

He also reiterated his plans to proceed with a three-day fast in Mumbai from December 27.

The government on Tuesday tabled the Citizen’s Charter Bill, also known as the Grievance Redressal Bill, which spells out the responsibilities of government departments towards citizens, their right to delivery of goods and services, and redressal of their grievances in a time-bound manner.

Speaking to journalists along with core team member, Arvind Kejriwal, at his village on Tuesday, Hazare said, “The basic structure of the draft introduced in Parliament is both misleading and unrealistic. It shows the government is not serious about fighting graft.”

Hazare said that after three days of fasting, he would call for three more days of “jail bharo andolan” across the country.

He said that under the government’s bill, a common citizen would have to run from pillar to post to get his grievances redressed. “The Jan Lokpal bill

submitted by us has meticulous and realistic provisions for timely grievance redressal, which the government has chosen to
overlook,” he said.

A visibly irate Hazare accused the central government of going back on its promise of introducing a Citizens’ Charter bill as per the “sense of the house” resolution passed by Parliament in August.

“The government accuses us of insulting Parliament, but they themselves are to be blamed for this,” he said.

The eminent social activist reiterated his plans to tour the five states where legislative elections are scheduled for early next year and campaign against the Congress.

“After the passage of a strong Lokayukta law by the Uttarakhand government, many state governments had asked for direction from the central government to enact similar legislation. However, the central government has remained silent on that, which proves that they are not sincere in fighting corruption,” he said.

A belligerent Hazare said the public would teach the government a fitting lesson for its “betrayal”.

Former top cop Kiran Bedi, another key member of Team Anna, lambasted the government. “Have you ever heard of an investigating body that has no investigation powers?” she asked. “It is better not to have such a Lokpal as it will destroy whatever is left of the CBI. Are we dumb citizens who can be given anything?”

NCPRI happy with the Grievance Redressal Bill
Although Team Anna expressed disappointment over the Grievance Redressal Bill introduced in Parliament on Tuesday, Venkatesh Nayak of the Aruna Roy-led National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), cautiously welcomed it.

“Although we have our reservationsabout 16 points in the Bill, on the whole the draft is a welcome move by the government,” hetold DNA. The issue ofa separate redressal bill had sown the seed of discord between one-time friends Kejriwal and Aruna Roy, with both accusing the other of high-handedness in the matter.

Asked if the NCPRI would take part in the 3-day fast and further agitation announced by Hazare from December 27, Nayak said, “The future course of action of the NCPRI would be decided once the government introduces the Lokpal Bill in Parliament.”

Lokpal Bill: Anna Hazare's Mumbai fast may cost team Rs 50 lakh

2011-12-21T09:53:00.000-08:00

Anna Hazare has realised that holding an agitation now comes with a price tag. A 15-day proposed agitation at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) would set Team Anna back by a cool Rs 50 lakh, something the crusaders against corruption had not bargained for.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued a primary permission to Anna Hazare and his men to hold an agitation at the MMRDA grounds at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), but the rental, parking and security charges may force Team Anna to look for another venue since the costs are turning out to be rather prohibitive.

Team Anna has booked the MMRDA grounds from December 26 to January 10, but has not finalised the dates yet. And apart from paying a rental of Rs 2 lakh per day to MMRDA, Team Anna will also have to pay additional charges for electricity, security and traffic management, including parking charges. MMRDA deputy commissioner Anil Wankhede confirmed that Team Anna has asked for permission to use the MMRDA grounds at BKC for their agitation which has been issued to them, subject to clearances from the police and fire brigade.

Team Anna has been given a 30,000 sq metre plot in the G Text block of the BKC for 15 days instead of the original demand for one month. Wankhede said that a plot of 30,000 sq metre is available at BKC. "Since the plot is available for 15 days, we have told the organisation, India against Corruption (IAC), about the same. The rate applicable will be different in 2011 and 2012. In the first five days of 2011, we will charge IAC Rs 6.40 per sq metre per day, and in the first 10 days of 2012, we will be charging them Rs 8.40 per sq metre per day."

Team Anna will also have to pay electricity charges which include a security deposit of Rs 5 lakh. Hiring of fire brigade services is compulsory. So, fire charges will be collected at Rs 50,000 per day which will add up to around Rs 7.5 lakh for 15 days. In addition, parking charges and traffic management charges for 15 days will be close to Rs 7.5 lakh. So, the total charges for a 15-day agitation will work out to be a little over Rs 50 lakh. However, Team Anna members aren't amused and feel the charges are absurd.

Said Praful Vora, a member, "IAC volunteers are shocked at the expensive charges of hiring the MMRDA grounds: it is roughly Rs 2,00,000 a day. How can a poor man like Annaji, who is leading a civil protest , expect to pay such a sum to the Maharashtra government? MMRDA should not apply a commercial policy to IAC since we are working for a public cause, a not-for-profit movement, and we can't afford such sums like commercial entities can. IAC will write to the chief minister asking for a solution as a civil movement can't afford such hefty costs." For the moment, though, the cost of an agitation stands at Rs 50 lakh.