Civil servants start following in Anna Hazare’s footsteps

He came, he saw and he took the Congress-led government by storm with his 12-day fast against corruption at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi that became the epicentre of a national crusade.

But just a few days later, Hazare’s plea to hundreds of thousands of supporters to do more than just cheer him on and instead change their attitude to corruption looks to be bearing fruit.

Sipping coconut water and honey, 74-year-old Anna Hazare ended a hunger strike on its 13th day on Sunday when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government caved in to the demands of the veteran social reformer as parliament backed anti-graft legislation that met many of his demands.

In the past two weeks, the Ramlila Maidan, a common location for festivals and political rallies, had become a microcosm of the nation when it witnessed a lively gathering on a daily basis catering to supporters from all walks of life during a politically-driven movement.

But now that the grounds lay bare, with the restoration process already underway for upcoming events, suddenly there seems to be a vacuum. Not only school kids, but young professionals and daily wagers who sold “I am Anna” caps may be showing withdrawal symptoms from a busy fortnight as everyone goes back to their humdrum lives.

Even 24-hour news channels have gone back to airing sports and entertainment stories, which seemed to have been on a hiatus during the tense stand-off between Anna Hazare and the government.

Despite the present lull, people have been foraying into the corruption-free way of life, highlighting honest and transparent means. A deputy inspector general of police in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, made all his subordinates take an oath to reject bribes and corrupt practices on Sunday.

“It was always my aim to infuse honesty in our rank and file. So, after a heart-to-heart talk with my men, I thought of this experiment and am hopeful it will bring the desired results,” said Asim Arun.

In another case, a public servant, police inspector Bhanupratap Barge set an example by voluntarily declaring the list of his movable and immovable properties on his Facebook wall.

Technically, the government hasn’t yielded much by merely agreeing to the social reformer’s key demands in principle. Nevertheless, the government knows the possible ramifications if it decides to renege on its given word of a “strong and effective Lokpal (ombudsman) bill” in the next session of parliament.

“Till there is complete change, I will not sit quiet … everyone is united in this cause now,” said the self-styled Gandhian activist, promising to create another stir if the government doesn’t bring the anti-graft law soon.

Sri Sri Ravishankar calls on NDA to solicit support for Hazare’s demands

Anna Hazare having a word with Sri Sri Ravishankar during the seventh

day his fast at Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on Monday.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar on Monday met NDA leaders on behalf of Anna Hazare at senior BJP leader L.K. Advani’s residence to discuss the Lokpal issue and garner opposition support for the cause the Gandhian is fighting for.

Though there was no official word from either side about the meeting, sources said Sri Sri Ravishankar praised Mr. Hazare as a good man who should be supported at this juncture.

He said a way should be found out to end the deadlock and discussed in detail the whole issue around the Lokpal Bill.

The spiritual guru, who is also acting as Mr. Hazare’s emissary in talks with the government, wanted to know the NDA view on the Lokpal issue and solicit its support to the demands being raised by the Gandhian.

Civil society activists Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal had planned to accompany Sri Sri Ravishankar to the NDA meeting but kept away at the last moment, reportedly due to heavy media presence at Mr. Advani’s residence.

Sources said the NDA held a separate meeting to decide its strategy in Parliament in the wake of the developments in Mr. Hazare’s agitation.

“We have decided not to disrupt Parliament tomorrow and will press for a discussion on the new corruption issues. The CAG reports on KG Basin deal, Air India as well as the other corruption issues will be discussed,” a senior NDA leader said.

In Monday’s NDA meeting, the opposition also decided not to join hands with the nine political parties, led by the Left, which will hold protest demonstrations inside and outside Parliament on Tuesday on a host of issues — including corruption, farmers’ rights, price rise and attack on democratic institutions.

Though NDA will not participate in Tuesday’s strike call, it has decided to mobilise its own cadre to hold protests and demonstrations against corruption.

BJP has chalked out an ambitious plan of enrolling 10 Lakh youth through its youth wing BJYM and form a Yuva Vahini (youth brigade) for the purpose.

The NDA has decided to have a discussion on corruption under Rule 193 in Lok Sabha. This is a climb down on its part as there would be no voting on the resolution. Earlier, the NDA had demanded a discussion on corruption under Rule 184, which entails voting. The wording of the resolution was being finalised between the government and the opposition.

The NDA does not want to be seen voting with the government as it happened during the debate on price rise earlier this month. The Left and other parties voted and asked for a division of votes and since the wording of the resolution was agreed upon by UPA and NDA, the two voted for it.

BJP sources said the party is also expecting a call from the government amid reports that the Prime Minister himself is planning to take the party and the NDA alliance on board on the Hazare issue. This may lead to a slight revision in its plans, sources said.

Jan Lokpal Bill: What Anna Hazare does when he's not on stage?

NEW DELHI: Well before he comes before the people every morning at the Ramlila Ground, Anna Hazare locks himself in a 10x10 feet makeshift room backstage and writes in meditative silence for over two hours. It is an activity he's particular about.

Though the activist abstains from his routine yoga during fasts, writing is one thing he never compromises on, said Suresh Pathare, a Hazare confidant who is from his Ralegan-Siddhi village in Maharashtra.

His schedule during his hunger strike, which entered the seventh day Monday, goes something like this.

The 74-year-old wakes up at 6.30 a.m. in a room hidden behind the grand stage. He takes about an hour to get ready. Shaving is a must, "a habit from his military days", says Pathare, who has been with Hazare for about 10 years.

An hour later, he gets down to writing.

What does he write? "About little things, humanity, rights... He puts on paper a lot of internal thoughts," says Pathare, 31.

"Even in Tihar (Jail), he used to write a lot. In jail he used to read newspapers and watch news on TV, but here he just writes."

Pathare added: "In the village, he sometimes doesn't come out of his house for days. No one has the guts to knock on his door.

"If someone has to bring him food, he'll keep it outside and leave. No one can dare to disturb him."

Pathare first met Hazare during a rural development project in the village. He has since become his loyal aide.

It is only at around 10 a.m. that Hazare appears before the waiting crowd, which bursts into a prolonged applause on seeing the former soldier who ferried supplies to the frontlines in the Indian Army.

He stays on the stage till 9 p.m., sometimes sitting in an upright posture and sometimes taking help of the bolster to give his body some stretch.

The gathering keeps a steady chant of slogans hailing him. He faintly smiles. It is only occasionally that he picks up a mike and addresses the crowds.

A portable toilet is placed next to his makeshift room. Doctors check him every three hours.

At around 10 p.m., the activist calls it a day and retires to his room.

"Anna likes to sleep at the venue when he's fasting," said Pathare, who has been with Hazare during all his last 10 fasts in the past decade.

However, during the five-day fast at Jantar Mantar here in the city centre, Hazare used fellow activist Swami Agnivesh's home nearby to get fresh.

Besides the multiple medical check-ups daily, a 24-hour ambulance is parked outside Hazare's night shelter.

Balram Gupta, a doctor from Medanta Medicity, told IANS: "His blood pressure, heart rate, everything is fine. He's a very tolerant man."

Volunteers are parked behind the stage.

Around 300-400 activists are deployed at the ground, which is bigger than a football field, apart from police force.

Hazare's meetings are restricted to close aides and special guests.

Pathare said that Hazare was very particular about time.

"If he has two back-to-back engagements and the first function stretches on a little and he gets late for the second meeting, he gets very angry," he said.

Aswathi Muralitharan, who has been with India Against Corruption (IAC) for two years, reveals another Hazare characteristic.

"He will never sign a document without going through it. He'd check it 100 times and make at least 50 changes. No one can impose anything on him."

Adds Pathare: "He writes, rewrites, improvising again and again, till he's satisfied. He's a perfectionist."

What Anna Hazare does when he's not on stage?

NEW DELHI: Well before he comes before the people every morning at the Ramlila Ground, Anna Hazare locks himself in a 10x10 feet makeshift room backstage and writes in meditative silence for over two hours. It is an activity he's particular about.

Though the activist abstains from his routine yoga during fasts, writing is one thing he never compromises on, Suresh Pathare, a Hazare confidant who is from his Ralegan-Siddhi village in Maharashtra, said.

His schedule during his hunger strike, which entered the seventh day on Monday, goes something like this.

The 74-year-old wakes up at 6.30am in a room hidden behind the grand stage. He takes about an hour to get ready. Shaving is a must, "a habit from his military days", says Pathare, who has been with Hazare for about 10 years.

An hour later, he gets down to writing.

What does he write? "About little things, humanity, rights... He puts on paper a lot of internal thoughts," says Pathare, 31.

"Even in Tihar (Jail), he used to write a lot. In jail he used to read newspapers and watch news on TV, but here he just writes."

Pathare added: "In the village, he sometimes doesn't come out of his house for days. No one has the guts to knock on his door.

"If someone has to bring him food, he'll keep it outside and leave. No one can dare to disturb him."

Pathare first met Hazare during a rural development project in the village. He has since become his loyal aide.

It is only at around 10am that Hazare appears before the waiting crowd, which bursts into a prolonged applause on seeing the former soldier who ferried supplies to the frontlines in the Indian Army.

He stays on the stage till 9pm, sometimes sitting in an upright posture and sometimes taking help of the bolster to give his body some stretch.

The gathering keeps a steady chant of slogans hailing him. He faintly smiles. Occasionally that he picks up a mike and addresses the crowds.

A portable toilet is placed next to his makeshift room. Doctors check him every three hours.

At around 10pm, the activist calls it a day and retires to his room.

"Anna likes to sleep at the venue when he's fasting," said Pathare, who has been with Hazare during all his last 10 fasts in the past decade.

However, during the five-day fast at Jantar Mantar here, Hazare used fellow activist Swami Agnivesh's home nearby to get fresh.

Besides the multiple medical check-ups daily, a 24-hour ambulance is parked outside Hazare's night shelter.

Balram Gupta, a doctor from Medanta Medicity, told IANS: "His blood pressure, heart rate, everything is fine. He's a very tolerant man."

Volunteers are parked behind the stage.

Around 300-400 activists are deployed at the ground, which is bigger than a football field, apart from police force.

Hazare's meetings are restricted to close aides and special guests.

Pathare said that Hazare was very particular about time.

"If he has two back-to-back engagements and the first function stretches on a little and he gets late for the second meeting, he gets very angry," he said.

Aswathi Muralitharan, who has been with India Against Corruption (IAC) for two years, reveals another Hazare characteristic.

"He will never sign a document without going through it. He'd check it 100 times and make at least 50 changes. No one can impose anything on him."

Adds Pathare: "He writes, rewrites, improvising again and again, till he's satisfied. He's a perfectionist."

No single solution to tackle problem of corruption: Manmohan

The Prime Minister said creation of Lokpal as an institution would not solve the problem and reiterated that there was no 'magic wand' to remove corruption.


With Team Anna stepping up the heat on the corruption issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the government was open to reasoned debate on the Lokpal Bill but made it clear that there was no single solution to tackle the problem.

“We have introduced the bill in Parliament which is now before the standing committee. There are differences of views on details of the bill,” Dr. Singh said at the golden jubilee function of the Indian Institute of Management here.

“We have made it clear that all concerned individuals should convey their concern on different aspects of the bill to their representatives in Parliament and to the standing committee”, he said.

Dr. Singh said, “We are open to a reasoned debate on all these issues”.

Recalling his Independence Day address, Dr. Singh said, “I said (in my speech) that there is no magic wand that can solve the problem in one stroke. There is no single solution. We need to act on multiple fronts”.

He said that the creation of Lokpal as an institution would help but it would not solve the problem. “It needs to be supported by improvements in the pace and quality of judicial processes”.

He said that corruption has not disappeared from the system and it surfaces in many forms.

“The ‘aam aadmi’ faces corruption when he has to pay a bribe to facilitate ordinary transactions with the government”, the Prime Minister said.

“There is also corruption on a larger scale. Large government contracts can breed corruption when government procedures are inadequate”, he said.

He said that strong procedures were needed to eliminate corruption and the government was serious to remove it.

“It is a mistake to see corruption as a consequence of economic liberalisation and reforms, Dr. Singh said, adding “any area which has actually seen systematic reforms has seen disappearance of corruption.”

'Need to strengthen regulatory institutions'

The Prime Minister said many of the controversies that have arisen in the recent past were due to inadequacies of our regulatory institutions.

“We need to strengthen this regulatory framework, including strengthening their technical capacity”, he said.

The funding of elections and of political parties was another area calling for reforms to reduce the scope for generation of black money, he said.

Stressing the need to thoroughly revamp existing government procedures to reduce discretion and to make the basis of decision making as transparent as possible, the Prime minister said, “I have asked a group of Ministers to look into this issue and I am confident we will come up with systemic solution“.

He urged the IIM students to contribute as managers to the process by suggesting mechanisms that would increase transparency.

Pointing out that many countries have a law to govern government procurement, he said, “We propose to introduce legislation along these lines. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law has recently modified its earlier model procurement law. We can benefit from this latest model law and internalise international best practices.

“I would urge state governments to do the same”, he said.

He said, “A comprehensive restructuring of government system and procedures along these lines is necessary if we want to clean up the system. Clean it up we must“.

Observing that economic reforms were aimed at unleashing India’s enormous entrepreneurial potential to accelerate the pace of economic development, Dr. Singh said, “Along with the techno-economic issues which we deal with in our planning process, we also need to change our system of governance to eliminate corruption. It will take time and effort but it can be done”

Sarangi meets Hazare to find points of consensus and defuse crisis

Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Umesh Chandra Sarangi met social activist Anna Hazare in New Delhi to find points of consensus and defuse the situation in the face of the overwhelming support for the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Mr. Sarangi, who was called to Delhi on Thursday, met Mr. Hazare twice. He confirmed to a TV channel that he did meet Anna and enquire about his health. He did not elaborate about the talks. Mr. Sarangi, who shares a good rapport with Mr. Hazare, has dealt with him closely over the past decade.

A Congress party source confirmed the meeting and said that Mr. Sarangi was perhaps the best man to talk to Mr. Hazare since he was Principal Secretary to the former Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, and had dealt with Mr. Hazare during that period. Prior to that, Mr. Sarangi was Commissioner, Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, a subject against which Mr. Hazare has raised many issues of corruption and fraud, forcing the government to take cognisance of his complaints.

Mr. Sarangi was involved in talks with Mr. Hazare, mediating on several issues when he was the former Divisional Commissioner of Pune. Often he would be sent to understand Mr. Hazare's demands and place them before the Chief Minister so that a solution could be found.

A native of Orissa, Mr. Sarangi, with a 30-year career, also served as the former Chairperson of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. The Centre was looking for a person who could talk with Mr. Hazare and meet him on a one-on-one basis. There was a growing concern in Maharashtra about his health as well, said a political observer.

There is a feeling in the Congress that Mr. Hazare is a reasonable person and has, in the past, been open to discussion and negotiation. Mr. Sarangi will have to rely on his intricate knowledge about mediating in Mr. Hazare's agitations from the past to understand where some middle ground can be found.

The Congress also feels that the need of the hour is consensus and not confrontation and sending Mr. Sarangi to meet Mr. Hazare is a step in that direction. The Central government has already made a public announcement that any citizen can come before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Jan Lokpal Bill and offer suggestions, a move clearly aimed at involving the people.

However, there is a feeling within the Congress that Mr. Hazare is surrounded by a group which seems to be intransigent and even the National Campaign for People's Right to Information had expressed reservations about the methods adopted by Anna and his supporters.

Team Anna to govt.: Withdraw Bill, will talk

Social activist Anna Hazare at the core committee
 meeting of the "India Against Corruption" movement
 during 6th day of his fast at Ramlila Ground in
New Delhi on Sunday

Team Anna on Sunday said the government should appoint a negotiator to hold talks with Anna Hazare on the Jan Lokpal Bill and withdraw its draft from Parliament to create “an atmosphere of trust”.

Swami Agnivesh, one of the members of Team Anna’s core committee, said they were open for talks but the government should create an atmosphere for it.

“If the government wants to talk to us it should appoint a negotiator,” he said.

“We are open for talks. In order to open a door for dialogue, the government has to create an atmosphere. They have to create an atmosphere of trust by withdrawing the government Bill from Parliament and introduce Jan Lokpal Bill. We will not budge from our stand. This is the least they should do to earn our trust,” Swami Agnivesh said.

To questions on “strong words” being used by both government and members of Team Anna, Swami Agnivesh said it would be good if both sides desist from using “such phrases” which could lead to any kind of confrontation.

On the meeting between senior Maharashtra government official and Mr. Hazare, he said the official has known the social activist for a long time and he met him in his personal capacity.

Jammu shows solidarity with Hazare

Schoolboys hold a placard in support of anti-corruption activist Anna
 Hazare during a protest against corruption in Jammu on Saturday.

Even as Jammu showed solidarity with social activist Anna Hazare through rallies and demonstrations in the last five days, Kashmir continues to remain aloof of the crusade.

People gathered in small numbers in many areas of Jammu city, and in neighbouring towns and villages, to show support for Mr. Hazare's crusade against corruption.

The demonstrations saw the participation of social activists, students, professionals and traders.

Sangarsh RTI Movement leader Balvinder Singh said rallies would be organised here on Tuesday and Thursday under the banner of “India Against Corruption”.

In the Kashmir Valley, in contrast, there have been no rallies or demonstrations in support of Mr. Hazare. Analysts give varied reasons for this.

Political scientist Gull Mohammad Wani says the Indian civil society has by and large failed to “own any empathies with Kashmiris — particularly in the last 20 years.” “Hazare and his associates are not known to Kashmiris the way Jayprakash Narayan and Mridula Sarabhai are. They had supported the people of Kashmir in crucial political times.”

Convenor of Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement Muzaffar Bhat, however, says that the Lokpal was irrelevant to the State as it could not be implemented here on account of Article 370.

Hard-line Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said, “The efforts by Hazare are futile and meaningless. The campaign launched by him depicts the amount of corruption in India. However, his campaign and the proposed measures to curb corruption are futile and meaningless until there exists a strong and powerful body that holds everybody accountable.” To bring about a change, he said, there needed to be a nationwide overhaul of conscience. “Until then such efforts will not bear any fruits.”

His counterpart in the moderate camp Mirwaiz Umar Farooq praised Mr. Hazare and his crusade against graft.

“An old man in India has waged a war against corruption and loot. In Jammu and Kashmir, where we are facing repression, we do not lag behind in corruption,” he said.

Anna’s message travels on ‘Jan Lok Pal Express’

Supporters of Anna Hazare at Borivali Railway Station in Mumbai on Saturday.

What constitutes civil society? What is the meaning of ‘civil’? What is Lok Pal? These were just some of the questions passengers of the 10.57 a.m. local train posed hundreds of Anna Hazare’s supporters, who swarmed the ‘Jan Lok Pal Express’ on Saturday in a bid to spread awareness about the Bill on Saturday.

The mundane train commute turned into an educational ride for commuters as volunteers of the India Against Corruption campaign distributed fliers explaining the differences between the Jan Lok Pal and the government Bill. Volunteers, who divided themselves into small teams and boarded the 12 compartments of the train, invited doubts from people and exhorted them to support the andolan.

Volunteers enter with ticket

Befitting the anti-corruption fervour perhaps, one team leader was seen conscientiously directing volunteers to enter the first class coaches only with a valid ticket. Women volunteers campaigned in the ladies’ coaches.

Forgetting their daily stress, commuters took an active interest in what was being said and even joined the campaigners in raising the slogans ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. Bogie after bogie resounded with uproarious cries packing the moderately-crowded train with much energy.

The Indian tricolours flying from each of the 12 coaches made for a spectacular sight and as the train gained momentum it seemed to have grown wings.

'People have matured'

“People have become matured and we are moving to a better democracy. I think we have been suppressing our anger against corruption for long,” Medha Shah, who asked the query about civil society, told The Hindu.

Another commuter Geeta K. Gandhi, a retired professor, said, “It is imperative that everyone participates in this andolan. If we don’t, the future generations will not forgive us. The people are not slaves. They can think for themselves. As per our culture, even the king is liable to punishment. What Anna Hazare is demanding is as per our ‘sanskriti’ [culture]. All, even the Prime Minister should come under the Lok Pal.”

Anna power

Sabishi Shankar, a first class commuter, said she had boarded a train after about a year. “I got text messages about the Jan Lok Pal Express. I am tired of simply reading about this movement sitting at home. I don’t want to play couch politics. It is easy to say on Facebook or Twitter that I don’t believe in Anna Hazare, but I am against corruption. Look at this energy! I want to see the mood at Azad Maidan. I have not told anyone at home I am going. I feel it is people like us, the educated, who can make a difference. The poor are suffering. I am privileged and not affected in anyway, but we must think of others. What Anna Hazare is saying makes sense. The government Bill is just an eyewash,” she said.

Although some commuters stayed aloof, the campaign had reached a cross section of society. Saumya Naidu, a transgender person, from a community who is routinely seen asking for money on the trains, said, “You go anywhere they ask for money, for giving the ration card, for instance. They enter politics to make money and the poor don’t get anything. Public me revolution ana chahiye [There should be a revolution among the people]. Anna Hazare is so old, but he is doing so much for the country. We should not let him fight alone.”

The lone partially-dissenting voice came from an Arts student who did not wish to be named. “It’s a good cause, but I also feel there is some merit in what the government saying. You cannot sit for a fast for everything. One person doing it does not make it a fight. We must resolve not to give or take a bribe. If those protesting still pay a bribe at the end of the day to get work done quickly, then it beats the purpose. We have to be responsible citizens. But if feels good that people have supported this issue in such large numbers.”

Bandobast

Police bandobast was put in place on platform 7, from where the train began its southward journey. As it roared into Churchgate station, the crowd of supporter had touched around one thousand. The strong gathering raised slogans and sang the national anthem at the station before proceeding to the Azad Maidan.

My fight will not end with this: Hazare

A team of doctors examining Anna Hazare on his fifth day of fast
against corruption at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on Saturday.

Enthused by the tremendous public response to his indefinite fast for a strong and amended Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Saturday raised the pitch promising more fights in the coming days for land reforms, farmers' rights and a better education system. Earlier, he had talked about agitating for electoral reforms and the right to recall.

As his fast entered the fifth day on Saturday, he said he felt “some weakness having lost 3.5 kg,” but asserted that he will not give up. “There is nothing to worry. I will keep fighting till we get the Jan Lokpal Bill [or amended Lokpal Bill that includes provisions of Jan Lokpal Bill],” he said to a roar of approval from the audience at the Ramlila Maidan here. By evening, the venue, with a capacity of about 50,000, was nearly full.

The activist demanded that the government withdraw its Lokpal Bill and pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament by August 30. There has been no initiative so far from the government to open dialogue with Mr. Hazare on his demand, which the Congress described as “unrealistic.”

“My fight will not end with the Jan Lokpal Bill. There is corruption in land being forcibly taken away from farmers for builders and companies. Farmers are being forced to commit suicide. We have to fight for them. The education system has become so corrupt that we have to pay money to get our children admitted in schools and colleges. This chain of corruption has to be broken. We have to change the system.”

Mr. Hazare was joined on the dais for a while by former Law Minister and co-chairman of the joint Lokpal Bill drafting panel Shanti Bhushan, who said that if the government had the “political will,” it could withdraw the Lokpal Bill and pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament by August 30 through a “whip.”

“The Bill can be introduced on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha, and discussed on Wednesday and Thursday. It can then be sent to the Rajya Sabha where discussions can easily be concluded by August 29-30 and the Bill passed,” he said, adding that, on many occasions, Bills have been passed within minutes of tabling, without any discussion or debate.

Asked if Mr. Hazare's demands did not amount to “blackmail,” Team Anna said he was not holding a gun to the government. If he did not agitate, Lokpal will be hanging fire for another 42 years.

‘Jan Lok Pal Express' to roll into Mumbai today

India Against Corruption volunteers will board a local train from Borilivi station

The ‘Jan Lok Pal Express' will roll into Mumbai on Saturday — in it, Anna Hazare supporters will spread the word on the Bill among the city's train commuters.

Volunteers of India Against Corruption (IAC) will board the 10.57 a.m. Churchgate-bound local train from suburban Borilivi station. “We will be using the public announcement system [for spreading awareness on the movement]. The motormen have allowed us 20-minute slots to speak about the Jan Lok Pal,” said campaign coordinator Mayank Gandhi.

The supporters have also planned a 1-lakh march on Sunday, along the lines of the recent million man march at the Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.

A group of physically challenged people belonging to the Disabled Sports Federation (DSF) have also jumped into the fray. Disability was no deterrent to four sportspersons from the Federation, three of whom were on crutches, to come from faraway suburbs. Prakash Nadar, from the Federation, said the DSF was planning a rally on Sunday at the Azad Maidan. “There is a Ministry for us and special funds, but when do they ever reach us? If corruption ends, perhaps we will get what is due to us. I had met Anna when he came to the August Kranti Maidan. I told him about my activities and work. He told me: ‘you are not disabled; it's the others who are disabled.' I liked that,” he said.

Another physically challenged person Ramesh Sartape said: “Anna's cause is right. He did the right thing by releasing himself and not walking out when the government released him. This cause is very important.”

People in Ralegan Siddhi come together in support of Anna Hazare

“This is not the age to fast. He should spread his message through dialogue”

The celebrations are on at the main village square. But inside Anna Hazare's brother's home here the mood is sombre.

On Friday afternoon, the news that he has he has left the Tihar Jail for the Ramlila Grounds in Delhi reaches Mr. Hazare's family, all huddled in front of the television set.

“He hasn't eaten for four days. The government should agree to his demands at least now. This is not the age to fast. He should spread his message through dialogue,” Mr. Hazare's sister-in-law Kantabai tells The Hindu. The pride that the family feels for him as the television anchor says that “he is now ready to lead the nation in its second struggle of independence” does not hide the anxiety. “He has always been adamant. Once he takes up an issue, he will always fight for it till the end. Our mother used to fast with him in the earlier days, but even then he wouldn't give up,” says his brother Maruti Hazare.

“I was in Delhi for the last three days, but I hardly got to see him. We haven't spoken to him on the phone since the last two weeks,” says Anna's nephew Ganesh.

Kantabai says the family has not cooked for the past two days. “We don't have any option but to watch. But he is doing this for the country. I am sure the fight will be successful,” says Ganesh.

PROCESSION OF DEITY





Outside the Yadavbaba temple, which Mr. Anna Hazare has made his home, and at the main square, the stage is set for the celebration of ‘freedom from corruption.' Slogans in support of Anna are a constant throughout the day.

The focus of Ralegan Siddhi residents is on the happenings in Delhi. In the morning, the locals participate in the procession of the village deity, Yadavbaba. “Anna worships Him, and so do we. This will give him energy to go on,” says Shanta Gaikwad.

People from various villages come to Ralegan Siddhi to show solidarity.

S.T. Padhir, who came from Hiwre Bazaar, a village in Ahmednagar district that has emulated the principles of rural development for which Ralegan Siddhi stands for, says: “Our village has benefited from Anna's ideals. So we had to come here in support.” Later in the day, the villagers take out a candlelight march.





Hazare's protest

It is not any ‘outside' force (as claimed by the Congress) but the ‘force' called corruption that is inducing people to come out in large numbers in support of Anna Hazare. It is evident that the UPA government is concerned more about taking on him, not corruption. Instead of targeting him and seeking to divert people's attention, the Congress-led coalition should think of some constructive ways of adding weight to the Lokpal Bill. Whether or not people support Mr. Hazare, they feel that the government Bill is a fractured one.

S. Pravish,

Chennai

A few have described Mr. Hazare's protest as blackmail that undermines Parliament. But can they tell us how to end corruption, now that the Prime Minister has said he doesn't have a magic wand to eradicate it? It is not just the Congress but the entire political class that is against an effective tool to curb corruption.

No system is foolproof. Laws, including the Constitution, are subject to change in the interest of the nation. All that Mr. Hazare is doing is mobilising public opinion to rectify some flaws in our system. Can't Parliament, which accommodates even those who have criminal cases pending against them, consider Team Anna's Jan Lokpal Bill?

Biranchi Narayan Acharya,

Cuttack

Mumbai dabbawallahs' decision to strike work for a day, breaking a 120-year tradition, to support the Jan Lokpal Bill points to the remarkable assertion of the common man against the growing menace of corruption. It is an unmistakable demonstration of the importance the country attaches to good governance.

K.V. Raghuram,

Wayanad

A strong Lokpal is the need of the hour. Mr. Hazare is the right person to lead the fight against the political class which has showed no resolve to eliminate corruption. The movement against corruption should not be seen as a showdown between the government and civil society. Every citizen has the right to a corruption-free administration.

Basavaraj Revannavar,

Dharwad

I am amused on reading the reports, articles and letters on corruption. Everyone knows what the sources of corruption are. We know full well that nobody can buy or sell property, get an electricity or water connection or work done in a government office without bribing. We all know that educational institutions bribe the higher bodies to get recognition. There are institutions where bribe appears ‘legalised.' But nobody even murmurs because all of us are interested in getting things done at the earliest.

We also know that corruption and black money can be reduced to a great extent if we make the punishment for the offences stringent. What is lacking is the will.

A. Ramadas,

Puducherry

Some readers have expressed the view that we should stop bribing in our day-to-day lives if corruption is to be eradicated. Common people do not give bribes willingly; they are forced to pay. Of course, there are a few who bribe others for selfish reasons. But most people offer bribes because they have no choice. Mr. Hazare is doing what people want, which is why they are with him. What other option do they have?

Rajapandi Selvaraj,

Chennai

The allegation that Mr. Hazare is obstinate and unreasonable is misplaced. To brand his agitation a blackmailing tactic is unfair. Was the Dandi march against the salt tax unlawful and belligerent? If yes, then Team Anna's protest is anti-everything too. It is apparent that no politician wants an effective Lokpal.

Anilkumar Kurup,

Anna is not India nor India Anna

With the anti-corruption movement spearheaded by Anna Hazare winning the first round hands down and the United Progressive Alliance government capitulating to its demand that the Gandhian must be allowed to lead an indefinite fast without any restrictions worth speaking about, the focus shifts to what the agitation can expect to achieve in terms of an effective Lokpal Bill. The conditions seem propitious considering that the unintended consequence of a scam-tainted government's initial reaction — which bore the stamp of Pavlovian conditioning — has been the strengthening of the anti-corruption mood in the country. What the agitation symbolised by Mr. Hazare has succeeded in doing is to totally discredit the content of, and the motivation behind, the Lokpal Bill the UPA government has introduced in Parliament — which Prashant Bhushan, a key member of Team Anna, has taken to calling the ‘Promotion of Corruption Bill.' The wise course for the government is to withdraw the Bill immediately, without standing on false prestige. Not to do so would only strengthen the popular perception, reflected in a number of public opinion surveys, that it is bent on perpetuating and covering up corruption.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's exposition of a “constitutional philosophy” in his August 17 statement in the Lok Sabha misses the mark by a mile. Even a cursory look at the history and sociology of how major laws are shaped in India and other parliamentary democracies shows that quite often they are the end product of movements and struggles of various kinds and that the proposition that it is “the sole prerogative of Parliament to make a law” is true only in the most literal, superficial, banal sense. Moreover, in the Indian constitutional scheme (in contrast to the British), Parliament is not supreme; it is the Constitution that is supreme. That said, it does not in the least follow that settling the terms of the anti-corruption institutional mechanism can be left solely to Team Anna or that its Jan Lokpal Bill, which has some impractical and unsound provisions, must be accepted in toto. In quite un-Gandhian fashion, a mood of triumphalism has taken over the current occupants of Ramlila Maidan. Mr. Hazare has stated that he would not budge from the venue until the Jan Lokpal Bill was introduced in Parliament; and Kiran Bedi, a widely admired member of Team Anna, was so carried away by the mood that she proclaimed, perhaps momentarily forgetting the slogan's authoritarian era associations, that “Anna is India and India is Anna.” Democratic, progressive, political India needs to find its own way. It must use this favourable moment to push forward and shape a law that centre-stages the principle of independent, effective, and quick-acting investigation and prosecution of corruption, especially in high places.

BJP supports Hazare’s crusade against corruption: Gadkari

Extending support to Anna Hazare’s anti-graft crusade, BJP President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday asserted that it was his party that brought corruption and black money issues to the forefront and now it will firmly stand behind the social activist in his agitation.

“BJP had not failed or delayed anywhere on raising such topical public issues. BJP very much voiced corruption in 2G spectrum and Commonwealth Games, and even did not allow ruling Congress-led UPA government to run both houses of Parliament,” Mr. Gadkari told media persons at the airport here while on his way to Ujjain for attending RSS meet.

The country and its citizens have woken up now, and no government can crush their agitation. ‘BJP anna ke saath hai’ (BJP is with Anna), Mr. Gadkari said.

He said after BJP spearheaded the corruption and black money issues in Parliament and in public, non-political and social organisations took it up and gave it a momentum.

He however said that Mr. Hazare and Baba Ramdev’s agitation against corruption does not indicate that political parties including the BJP are incompetent or have failed to raise the issue effectively.

“The agitation or movement on public issues by political parties and non-political (social) organisations should not be compared. Now its time to fight corruption jointly,” Mr. Gadkari said.

Govt works hard to free Anna Hazare

The stalemate between the UPA government and Team Anna continued even 24 hours after Anna Hazare and his colleagues were formally “released” from Tihar Jail. But the “release” remained on paper as Anna refused to walk out unless the government accepted his demands unconditionally.

“We will only begin negotiating with the government after we get permission for Anna to continue his fast without any conditions,” lawyer Prashant Bhushan told DNA.

Even as the government set up a team of five officers from the Intelligence Bureau to keep a close eye on Hazare’s movements, negotiations between the two sides continued late into the night, with everything hinging on the duration of the fast.

Team Anna wanted Delhi’s Ramlila grounds for 30 days, but the government wanted to keep it down to seven days with a possible extension of an additional week. The government was also firm that the electronic media would not be allowed to cover the agitation live.

And as the day progressed, crowds continued to swell across the national capital. Thousands were camped outside Tihar jail overnight while huge crowds congregated at India Gate and Chhatrasal Stadium. Earlier on Wednesday, director general (prisons) Neeraj Kumar told DNA that as Anna refused to move out of the jail he had been accommodated in the jail’s compound.

Inside Parliament, a furious debate between the government and the opposition raged with prime minister Manmohan Singh standing up to make a statement on Anna’s arrest that was immediately dismissed as “weak and ineffective”, designed to “protect the corrupt”.

Earlier, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who played a major role in the negotiations, told DNA that “Annaji has met the senior leadership of the Delhi police and the negotiations are on on the number of days the fast can go on.”

But the decision to arrest Anna and then take him to Tihar seems to have been the biggest strategic blunder that the UPA’s political managers committed. In a battle of perceptions, while the UPA was hell-bent on denying Anna space for the fast, they ended up giving him Tihar jail as a venue on a platter.

With Anna “in jail” the anger among his supporters spread quickly to other states.

“We made huge mistakes,” a senior Congress leader told DNA. “Had we allowed the protests, we would have probably tired them out without granting an inch. The protesters would have left after the initial enthusiasm. But with him in jail, the sympathy factor just galvanised the masses.”

This “blunder”, political and senior home ministry bureaucrats told DNA, was clearly an error of judgment by Union home minister P Chidambaram. There were three major mistakes that Chidambaram seems to have committed, they argued. His refusal to heed police commissioner BK Gupta’s pleas to avoid arresting Anna was the first mistake.

“There was a general consensus among the bureaucracy on this. The idea was to allow Anna to fast while the government hammered out an amicable solution,” a senior official told DNA.

The second mistake was the timing of Anna’s arrest. “It is a standard practice to arrest someone in the early hours and then extern him out of Delhi. But the government dithered and lost precious time and then failed to send him to Pune, as decided.”

The third mistake was to send Anna to seven days judicial custody that brought the crowds running to Tihar jail. People like Arvind Dhillon, (name changed), who is posted in Delhi with the Indian Air Force took leave to join the protests. “I took an off along with a friend from the Indian Navy,” Dhillon told DNA.

Manmohan, Chidambaram give different versions

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday gave two entirely different versions in the Lok Sabha on the reasons that prompted the police to move the magistrate to review his earlier order to remand social activist Anna Hazare and his supporters in seven-day judicial custody.

In his statement to the House, Dr. Singh said the police approached the magistrate on the basis of information ‘received' that Team Anna intended to move the Supreme Court challenging the police orders and the petition was likely to be mentioned before the apex court on Wednesday for urgent hearing.

Responding to the discussion on the Prime Minister's statement, Mr. Chidambaram conceded in response to a specific question by JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav that it was a “political decision” on his advice to the Police Commissioner. “When we heard that Shri Annaji has been remanded in judicial custody, I advised the Delhi Police Commissioner in the evening to go back to the magistrate to get the order reviewed,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

Dr. Singh in his statement said: “Late yesterday [Tuesday] evening, the Delhi Police received information that Shri Anna Hazare intended to move the Supreme Court challenging the orders of the Delhi Police. The Delhi Police also received information that the petition was likely to be mentioned before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, i.e. today, for urgent hearing.

“Since there were reasonable grounds to believe that Shri Anna Hazare had opted to seek legal remedies, the Delhi Police did not apprehend any imminent breach of peace or imminent disturbance to the tranquillity if the arrested persons were released. Hence, the Delhi Police moved the Magistrate concerned to review his earlier order and the Magistrate was pleased to release Shri Anna Hazare and the other arrested persons at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday.”