Problems galore for Anna and his team

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.

Plea against Hazare: Court asks what offence has he committed

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court hearing a plea for lodging a criminal case against Anna Hazare and his associates for allegedly instigating people against the government during their anti-graft campaign today sought to know from the complainant as to what offence was committed by them.

Unimpressed by Haryana native Satbir Singh's plea for registration of a First Information Report against Hazare, Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh asked him to first explain as to what criminal offence had been committed by them.

Agreeing with the Delhi police argument that complainant had no case whatsoever, the court remarked, "No personal vendetta is required for bringing criminal law into force."

On complainant Singh's repeated accusation that Hazare's provocative speeches led youths to participate in his anti-graft hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan and resulted in the death of a young protester, the court said the supporters had come to join the campaign on their own.

Singh, in his complaint, had alleged that 21-year-old Sandeep had participated in Hazare's hunger strike and died of pneumonia, holding Team Anna responsible for it.

He has also accused Hazare of instigating people across the country to lay a siege of the houses of Members of Parliament and ministers to press their demands.

The police, in its reply, filed earlier before the court, had said no case is made out against Hazare and his team.

Govt back to dirty tricks, says Team Anna

NEW DELHI: Less than a week after Anna Hazare broke his fast with much fanfare, Team Anna is claiming that government is back to its 'dirty tricks' and is victimizing them for their campaign. Hazare's aide Arvind Kejriwal has received an income tax notice for dues of over Rs 9 lakh, a charge that he has hotly contested, saying it was not the I-T department but "political bosses" that have made them do this.

His colleague, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, linked the renewed urgency behind I-T department's move with MPs' complaints against Kiran Bedi's "ghoonghat act" and the police claim that the CD with a purported conversation between his father Shanti Bhushan and Mulayam Singh Yadav was genuine.

Bhushan said, "This shows that the government has not learnt the lesson. There is a notice against Arvind. Delhi Police has closed the investigations in the CD case saying the disc is genuine. There is also a privilege notice against Bedi. They are back to the dirty tricks department." Bhushan plans to move court against Delhi Police's closure report and will ask for an independent probe by a court appointed special investigative team.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal questioned the timing of the notice coming 11 days ahead of Hazare's fast. Chief commissioner of income tax issued the notice to Kejriwal to clear the dues, claiming that he violated the bond clauses under which he went for study leave for two years. Kejriwal claimed he "did not violate" any bond provision and he resigned from his Indian Revenue Service job after the stipulated three years of rejoining duty after study leave. "It is not the I-T department's decision. They are doing what government is saying. The I-T officials have no role in this notice. They are doing because of the pressure from political bosses," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal said he had taken study leave on full pay for two years from November 1, 2000 and he rejoined work on November 1, 2002 after signing a bond that he would refund the salary if he resigned or retired or failed to resume duty within three years of his study leave. "I have not violated any provisions. What government is saying is wrong. After over one year of rejoining, I took leave without pay which was sanctioned by my superiors. I worked for RTI. I was not into any wrongdoing. I have not signed any bond that I will not take leave after rejoining," he said.

However, the government has said that unpaid leave can't be recognized as active service and Kejriwal should've worked in the department for three years before resigning. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had, in fact, recommended in 2008 that dues against Kejriwal be waived but the Department of Personnel and Training did not agree. In a letter dated April 22, 2008, the government asked the I-T department to "kindly recover pending dues from Shri Kejriwal as per leave rule and furnish a no dues certificate so that his resignation may be submitted for approval of competent authority".

Kejriwal said he had informed the government that he did not have funds to pay off Rs 9.27 lakh dues as he had donated all his savings. Referring to media reports linking his uncle with RSS, he asked what his relatives had to do with the movement.

Anna Hazare spits fire at govt, dubs it cunning

RALEGAN SIDDHI: Anna Hazare may have won the latest round on the Jan Lokpal bill but his anger against the government hasn't subsided. On Friday, in a speech to a gram sabha at Ralegan Siddhi, the Gandhian spewed venom on the UPA dispensation, singling out Union home minister P Chidambaram for the strongest attack.

He also asked the Centre to stop "playing around" with his associate Arvind Kejriwal, who has been slapped with an income tax notice, warning that civil society may rally to his defence.

In the first public address after his release from hospital, Hazare slammed Chidambaram, using shockingly crude language. "He is not speaking the truth. He is the real 'khodsal' (mischief-maker) behind my arrest even before I could start my fast. The DIG told me that they (cops) got orders from the top," Hazare said. "This government consists of a mob of "labaad" (cunning) people," he said in Marathi.

Addressing the media, he strongly defended Kejriwal. "What they are doing with him is wrong. I am forced to say civil society will have to travel a different path," Hazare said, demanding to know why the a four-year-old tax issue had been resurrected.

"I have known Kejriwal for eight to ten months. His character, thoughts and actions are pure. I have seen his sacrifices, and he is not selfish. Kejriwal ke saath sarkar khilwad kar rahi hain. Yeh baat barabar nahin (the Centre is playing games with him. This isn't right).

He has dedicated his life for the cause of the nation and it is my request to the government to stop the game it is playing," Hazare said. The Gandhian said that just like him, Kejriwal does not have a bank balance. "Had he wanted to, he could have earned in lakhs," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Hazare accused the government of duplicity during the events before and after his arrest. "First they said they will give us J P Park. Then they refused to give us space for the fast and imposed Section 144. The police came to my house and arrested me saying I would to breach the peace. I asked them how would I disturb the peace when I was at home. The police then told me that they will release me if I paid Rs 10,000 to get bail, which I refused and told them to take me to jail. They took me to jail at 4pm and by 7pm they told me that I have been released," he said, recalling the events of August 16.

Hazare said the Delhi police were getting orders from the topmost quarters of the government. "When I asked them what had happened in the three hours to prompt the decision (to release him), the DIG said the orders had come from the top. He told me that since I was released, I cannot go back to jail. I told him that I will continue to sit in his office and hold my agitation. I sat there for three days. What kind of government is this?" he said.

Insisting that the movement for a strong Lokpal was needed, he said, "The government needs to be given a jolt time and again, like the one we gave during the nationwide agitation for the Jan Lokpal bill. The government has now realized the power of the people. The jan sansad (people's parliament) is higher than Parliament." Hazare said the government must decentralize power to stop corruption. "If the sarpanch becomes corrupt, make a law which can dismiss him. We need law to improve the lot of farmers and labourers to give them justice. We also need a law to stop commercialization of education. It seems as if they have opened shops. They demand donations, and we need a law to prevent this. The exploitation of natural resources needs to be checked by enacting another law," he said.

Addressing the criticism that Dalits had stayed away from his movement, the Gandhian said, "Politicians have created the rift based on caste and creed. At Ralegan Siddhi, the entire village offered voluntary labour (shramdaan) to repay a Rs 60,000 loan taken by a Dalit farmer. It is the bullock owned by a Dalit in our village that is worshipped during the bailpola festival."

NCP not happy with Hazare's arrest, says it was not proper

Leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key Congress ally at the Centre and in Maharashtra, on Saturday said that the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare was not proper and everyone had a right to express their feelings and opinions in a democratic society.

Speaking to the media, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who belongs to the NCP, said everyone has a right to express their opinion and also to go on a hunger strike. But to arrest someone even before he went on a fast was not correct and then later taking him to jail and asking to leave was improper, he pointed out. Mr. Pawar was speaking to the media after a Congressman from Ahmednagar Rajeev Rajale joined the NCP.

Earlier, NCP general secretary D.P. Tripathi too said that there was no need for Mr. Hazare's arrest. Besides, the Congress did not take its allies into confidence before this action, he added.

HE MADE IT KNOWN

Mr. Pawar said that Mr. Hazare had made his demands much in advance and already indicated that he would go on a hunger strike. Referring to Mr. Hazare's protests in Maharashtra, Mr. Pawar said that he had carried out many protests and fasts and the leadership had found a way out through mediation and discussion. He said even now when there were issues, he and the Chief Minister discussed and tried to resolve matters. However, he was not willing to get drawn into any criticism against the Centre.

Mr. Pawar said the Jan Lokpal bill was pending and since this was a democracy, elected representatives in the Parliament would discuss it later. He said if any expertise from the State was needed, then Maharashtra was well-represented in the Union Cabinet. The Centre was perfectly capable of taking decisions on its own. In fact, some time ago, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had called a meeting of all the allies. When asked if he felt the Congress had not taken its allies into confidence, he said he would not comment on it.

‘NCP NOT UNLEASHED'

In response to questions, he said it was totally wrong to say that the NCP was being “unleashed” on the Congress as was reported in a section of the media. He clarified that the NCP was not against Mr. Hazare at all and everyone was for eradicating corruption. However, it must be done within a legal and constitutional framework. He said even the Prime Minister had accepted the need for a Jan Lokpal and it could be passed through the Parliament with amendments, if necessary. “There are no two opinions that corruption must be cleaned up and the bill such as this is can be debated,” he said.

Mr Pawar said that the current agitation of Mr. Hazare had kept political parties at bay and even their flags were not permitted. Anna's supporters were apolitical, he said.

MAVAL ISSUE

On the Maval issue, Mr. Pawar said he had condemned it in the State Legislative Assembly the very next day after the incident and both he and the Chief Minister had discussed the matter. Asked about Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit, he said that Mr. Gandhi was a leader and possibly a future Prime Minister and he went wherever there was an issue involving farmers. The NCP had already stated that the firing should not have happened.

When asked about proposed changes in the Home Ministry, Mr. Pawar said he had only read about it in the newspapers. There had been a lot of buzz that R.R. Patil was on his way out as the NCP was unhappy with his functioning. However, Mr. Pawar denied he went to New Delhi as was reported in the media and clarified there was no discussion on any change in the Home Ministry. If there was going to be any change, the party high command would decide and he was not going to meddle in it. And it will not be discussed with the media first, he pointed out.

NCP president Sharad Pawar is in the city to attend the Iftar party hosted by it. There are reports that he may visit Mawal en route Pune on Sunday.

Anna aides meet Delhi Police Commissioner, decision likely on Thursday

New Delhi:  Anna Hazare's close associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan met Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta, after midnight, in a fresh initiative to iron out differences over the duration for the Gandhian's protest and a decision by the civil society is expected on Thursday.

The meeting took place at Mr Gupta's residence to discuss police's fresh offer of extending the number of days of the protest from initial offer of 7.

Mr Kejriwal, who was staying with Mr Hazare at Tihar even after his release from custody, Mr Bhushan, Ms Bedi and Manish Sisodia drove from the prison, where they were holding a series of meetings with Mr Hazare, to meet the police officials.

After a brief meeting, the four went back to Tihar Jail to brief Mr Hazare about their talks with the Police Commissioner.

"We met the Police Commissioner to help resolve the timeframe. The decision will be known tomorrow. We will go back to the Jail and discuss with Anna," Ms Bedi said.

Govt doing difficult job in handing Anna's stir: Khurshid

New Delhi: Union minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday contended that the government was doing a difficult job in handling the situation arising out of the agitation led by Anna Hazare and defended the administration's role in dealing with the protest.
"Administration has to negotiate what are the limits of your dissent and protest, how much is the carrying capacity of a place where you want to do it and what is the apprehension," the Law and Justice minister told Karan Thapar in an interview.
"We had a difficult job to do, and nobody else could have done it for us and we have done a difficult job to the best of our ability. How it plays itself out is what's important," he said.

On whether the government was going in circles on the issue, Khurshid said, "This is something that happens all the time. I have myself as a political leader in UP have been through this, perhaps not in the same iconic coverage that Anna Hazare's got, but it happens all the time."
Asked if the government has bungled the issue, Khurshid said, "It's an impression some people have. I am not sure that everyone has this impression."
"I wouldn't be bogged down with impressions of today, let's see what happens as we move on," he said. Asked if this issue was the worst low the Government had seen, he said, "That is what you have said."
Justifying Anna's arrest by the Delhi Police, Khurshid said, "We didn't arrest him without reason because if we had arrested him without reason, they would have rushed to the Supreme Court or the High Court and got themselves released."
He added that the civil society members did not go to court on Anna's arrest as "the court would have imposed conditions and those conditions would have come from court not from us and this is all part of the process of law."