Anna Hazare's movement among top 10 news stories of 2011: Time magazine

NEW YORK: Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement that saw Indians rally in support has been named among the top 10 news stories in the world this year by Time magazine, which listed the Arab Spring and killing of Osama bin Laden as the top attention-grabbing headlines.

Time magazine compiled 54 wide-ranging lists of the top 10 happenings in 2011 in the field of politics, entertainment, business, sports and pop culture.

Among the 'Top 10 World-News Stories' is "Anna Hazare's Hunger Fasts Rock India" with the magazine saying that "in a year with more than its share of protests worldwide, perhaps the most striking act of dissent took place in India, where the country's ruling coalition took flak for a host of corruption cases implicating a number of leading politicians".

Hazare's "fasts -- even the threat of them -- triggered mass demonstrations of support across India's major cities and heaped pressure on the government to create an independent ombudsman body capable of investigating the nation's political elites -- even the Prime Minister -- and bringing the corrupt to justice".

It said the mass support 74-year old Hazare commanded, particularly from India's burgeoning middle class, is a "sign of the growing frustrations and aspirations of those in the world's largest democracy".

The top news stories of 2011 were the Arab Spring that spread to a number of countries and the killing of bin Laden in a covert US raid in Abbottabad, besides the famine in the Horn of Africa, fall of longtime Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and Europe's financial crisis.

In a different category, Time magazine said the death of religious leader Sathya Sai Baba was among the top 10 'Religion Stories' of 2011.

Was FDI Just a Smokescreen?

In New Delhi, much like in other capitals, political gossip is often dominated by theorizing about why politicians do the things they do. In Delhi, this theorizing often arrives at an intriguing answer: Indian politicians often do one thing in order to accomplish something else altogether.

Consider the theory that has been circulating around town in recent days as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government have been pilloried over another seemingly self-inflicted political wound – in this case, the government’s clumsy handling of the ill-fated decision to allow foreign retailers into India. Political analysts almost uniformly describe the situation as a disaster.

But has it been?

According to the widely discussed theory, Congress Party leaders did not misplay the foreign direct investment issue in the slightest.

No, not at all.

True, Parliament was paralyzed for days in a logjam that blocked a host of important bills from being discussed, debated and voted upon. True, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had threatened to bring down the coalition government.

But this was all by design.

What was actually happening, according to the theory, was a well-orchestrated diversion. Congress party leaders wanted a paralyzed Parliament and they wanted a huge political distraction (even though it made them look fairly incompetent). What they most wanted was to avoid having a parliamentary debate over a powerful Lokpal, the anti-corruption agency advocated by none other than activist Anna Hazare.

How to accomplish this? Shut down Parliament, of course.

And what of the foreign direct investment measure, upon which rode untold billions of dollars in anticipated investment, an initiative that many economists predicted could boost the sagging Indian economy?

According to the theory, it was a political smokescreen.

It had to be because otherwise the government surely would have been smart enough to wait until Parliament had adjourned before introducing the foreign direct investment measure, thus avoiding all the mayhem and gridlock.

One thing about such theories, of course, is they are rooted not only in an easy cynicism but also in the belief that politicians are actually far smarter and more skilled than they often appear.

Theory ran into reality on Wednesday, when Pranab Mukherjee, the finance minister and the Congress party’s top political fixer, stood in the floor of the Lok Sabha, or lower house of Parliament, and announced that the government would suspend any action on multi-brand foreign retail investment until a “consensus” had been reached on the issue.

In the meantime, Mr. Mukherjee said it was imperative that members of Parliament get back to work and address other key bills before the end of the winter session.

One can only hope he meant it.

Now, Sharad Pawar fires back at Anna Hazare

The face-off between NCP president Sharad Pawar and social worker Anna Hazare escalated on Wednesday with charges of corruption flying from both ends.

Breaking his silence, Pawar said, “When the Justice Sawant commission held three of our ministers guilty, I ordered that they be sacked. And I would like to remind Hazare that it was the same commission which held Hazare guilty after investigating some matter related to administrative lapses and corruption.”

In a sharp rejoinder to Hazare’s allegations, the union agriculture minister said, “Hazare has every right to justify the attack against me, and I have no reasons to complain. But next time there is an attack, people will know whom to hold responsible. There will be no need for investigations to ascertain the facts. The people will know who and what led to such a physical attack.”

Pawar urged his followers to show restraint at the mindless needling by Hazare, and to question the Gandhian’s justification towards violence.

Highly placed sources in Mantralaya indicated to DNA, “Preliminary findings by the home department have indicated that Team Hazare has taken a conscious decision to revive its graft campaign against Pawar. The reasons cited are that a sustained campaign against Pawar helps Hazare occupy centrestage in Maharashtra; leaders of the opposition are also covertly supporting and waging a battle against the ruling Congress and NCP, in the wake of the local body elections.”

A senior Congress cabinet minister said, “The ugly incident of Harvinder Singh slapping Pawar may have evoked mixed reactions from people and politicians. But that episode is over, after both Hazare and Pawar expressed their reactions. The big question is, what was the reason for Hazare to revive the same episode, and justify it again in the name of Gandhian principles? This is anybody’s guess.”

The NCP core committee has discussed the Hazare campaign. But they have decided not to take to the streets against Hazare, since he still enjoys massive public support. An NCP general secretary said, “If our workers take to the streets again in anger, it will unnecessarily trigger ugly violence. We don’t want any law and order problems.”

The NCP is, however, extremely distressed by Hazare’s charge that Pawar has always protected and promoted corruption.

Fast in support of Anna

SURAT: The Surat Branch of India Against Corruption movement will stage a dharna and fast on December 11 at the statue of Gandhi in Chowk Bazaar in support of Anna Hazare's one-day symbolic fast. They will present a memorandum to the municipal commissioner and collector on December 12 and begin the agitation for compulsory and free education for children.

Politicians need to adhere to right path, says spiritualist

CHANDRAPUR: Noted spiritual guru and Bhagwat Kathakar Rameshbai Ojha from Porbandar (Gujrat) supported the movements taken up by Yoga guru Baba Ramdeo and social worker Anna Hazare on Wednesday. He claimed that when those in power are deviated from their just path, spiritual leaders like Baba Ramdeo and Shri Shri Ravi Shankar have to step in by awakening the people power.

Rameshbai Ojha is in town for the week-long Shrimad Bhagwat Dyan-Yadnya organised at Chanda Club ground by Shri Radhe-Radhe Seva Samiti. Interacting with reporters, he claimed that saints and sages work for social and national welfare. "However, when politics deviates from its right path, spiritual masters need to rein them in through social awareness," he said. He claimed that religion and politics are two sides of a same coin and could not be separated. "There should be religion in politics, but politics in religion is unacceptable," he said.

He stressed that those in power should listen to intellectuals and thinkers. He claimed that spiritual leaders must have ideal character and refrain from running after the money. "We are in the transition period, when people are attracted towards the spiritual guidance, still disintegration of values is high. One should have eye to evaluate right and wrong. It would be detrimental for the society if people start believing in wrong values," he said. Ojha said that he admired the people of Chandrapur for their discipline.

Anna Hazare, Jan Lokpal bill top status updates in 2011

CHENNAI: Communications minister Kapil Sibal may think content on social networking sites is offensive, but a new study shows that the users are politically engaged people who air views and share news online.

According to a report released by Facebook, Anna Hazare and the Jan Lokpal bill were mentioned the most in status updates in 2011 in India. But Sibal might just dislodge Hazare if he persists with the demand to pre-screen internet content. On Twitter, #IdiotKapilSibal was the trending topic on Tuesday.

The Facebook study shows that social media users in the country prefer to share and discuss political events rather than entertainment reports. "Today's social platforms are allowing people to do something about the things they believe in. The criticism that this is just a modern version of armchair activism, or re-tweet activism, is unfair," said Narendra Nag, general manager, 2020 Social, an online community management firm.

Social networking sites were used as an organizing tool for protests during the Anna Hazare fast in April. Facebook, with over 38 million Indian users-over 3% of the population-is credited with playing a significant role in the 'India Against Corruption' movement. Likewise, Twitter, MySpace and Blackberry Messenger have been key to political movements globally.

"We had the right policy and correct philosophy (Jan Lokpal bill), and the huge number of social media users helped the movement," said Anna Hazare's former blogger and political analyst Raju Parulekar. In future, such channels will play a bigger role in democratic countries like ours, he said.

Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Ra.One' and song 'Chammak Chalo' were the second most-shared topics on status updates followed by Osama bin Laden, Jagjit Singh and Steve Jobs.

Globally, Osama bin Laden's death topped the status trend among a total of 800 million users as of September.

A separate study by Pew Research in June said that Facebook users are politically more active than other social media users. This year, social media has played a key role in international politics. The sites have been used to spread mass anti-government protests in Syria, Libya, and other North African countries.

The London riots in August were planned using social media tools, especially Blackberry Messenger. Later, police cracked down on planned riots with the help of Research In Motion, the makers of Blackberry. In the UK, status messages about the riots were the second most popular, after the Royal Wedding.

"Willingness to express opinions and network with large numbers of people will continue to fuel reform movements and people will thoroughly participate in such events," said Kiruba Shankar, tech expert and CEO of Business Blogging, a social media consultant.

On the move to control the content on the internet, Parulekar said, "I am absolutely against any kind of censorship in media or social media." He said these tools are important for democracy and democratic referendum.

Social media users and analysts suspect that the government does not want another Anna Hazare-type movement, which was powered by social media. "My suspicion is that they want to protect the government, fearing mass movements like the ones in Syria, Libya or other Middle East countries," Shankar said. "The internet is the world's largest democracy and it should not be meddled with."

Team Anna attacks Singhvi

NEW DELHI: Lashing out at Mr Abhishek Singhvi on the draft Lokpal Bill, Team Anna today accused the Congress leader of disrepecting Parliament by going against its commitment of including lower bureaucracy and Citizens' Charter in the ambit of the ombudsman.

Activist Mr Arvind Kejriwal said Mr Singhvi, the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill, was disrespecting Parliament by not abiding by the assurances given in a resolution passed by Parliament during Anna Hazare's fast to include lower bureaucracy and Citizens' Charter in Lokpal.
“Parliament passed resolution during Anna's fast to include lower bureaucracy and Citzens' Charter in Lokpal. Now, Abhishek Manu Singhvi is disrespecting Parliament by violating it,” Mr Kejriwal said. The panel has recommended exclusion of lower bureaucracy and Citizens' Charter from Lokpal Bill. He claimed that the recommendations of the Standing Committee will not have any impact on corruption but instead it will dismantle the existing anti-graft mechanism.

“I think the recommendations of the (Parliamentary) Standing Committee, whatever they are, the Lokpal which is coming, I don't think this will have any impact on corruption. On the contrary, it is likely to dismantle whatever exists in the name of anti-corruption in this country,” the activist said.

Claiming that the Standing Committee proposes to divide CBI into three parts, Mr Kejriwal said the move will cripple the investigating agency. “So by taking excuse of Anna andolan rather than strengthening the anti-corruption system, they seem to further weaken whatever exists. We are disappointed,” he said.
However, he was of the view that it was “extremely difficult” at this stage to say anything because Standing Committee's recommendations were not final. “The government can accept or go further than that. So let's wait and watch and only then we will be able to tell what form,” Mr Kejriwal said.

He said that citizen's charter and lower bureaucracy both would not be part of Lokpal. “We have learnt that many parties within Standing Committee have protested over it but even such recommendations are still made,” he said. Asked whether Mr Hazare will go ahead with his proposed fast, he said it was for the Gandhian to take a call. “As far as fast is concerned, it is Anna who is going to decide.”

“All that I can say is we are committed till the end for a strong Lokpal Bill,” he said. On the panel's recommendation that Group C and D employees would be covered under CVC, he said, “CVC has only 230 employees. How can these 230 employees keep a track of 57 lakh employees. You need to have at least 28,000 employees.”

Another Team Anna member Mrs Kiran Bedi said Opposition parties should come together on Lokpal issue the way in which they did so on FDI issue. She also indicated that inclusion of Prime Minister under Lokpal may not remain their priority, saying bringing CBI under the ombudsman will make anti-corruption efforts more effective than any other measure.

Mrs Bedi said Lokpal without CBI is a “sabotaged Lokpal” which will defeat the very purpose of setting up such a mechanism. “More than the Prime Minister, it is the CBI in Lokpal which will make it effective. Let's not get distracted. A united Opposition can call the bluff,” she said. She said CBI under Lokpal means all corruption exposed and “many embarrassed, losing false images. Will they vote against themselves?” She said Lokpal was supposed to be replacing government control over CBI.

Anna blogs: Pawar has old habit of protecting corrupt

Admitting that he had “committed violence” when he remarked “just one slap” after Sharad Pawar was slapped in Delhi last month, Anna Hazare on Tuesday said it was important to understand why people feel enraged by ministers like Pawar who have an “old habit of protecting corrupt people.”

“For the betterment of the society and the country, I have used strong words many times in the past. ‘Just One Slap?’ — I admit that I committed violence when I said that. But for the betterment of society, I do not consider this violence as wrong,” Hazare posted on his blog titled “Violence cannot replace peaceful protest”.

Hazare added that he had kept a CD of the abuses hurled at him by Pawar’s supporters which he would reveal before the public at an “appropriate time”.

Saying it is incorrect to compare him with Mahatma Gandhi, he wrote: “I have said many times that I consider Mahatma Gandhi as my ideal but sometimes I keep Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj also as my ideal...”

Blaming inflation on corruption “only”, he said it was driving people like Harvinder Singh, the man who slapped Pawar. He said the politicians who are enraged by the slap do not feel the same anger when farmers are shot at, lathi-charged and killed or forced to commit suicide.

He said he would start a movement against “Pawar’s ministers” who tried to frame him in a corruption case but were found to be guilty of graft by the Justice Sawant Commission, adding that no action was taken against them.

He also alleged that Padmasingh Patil, “a relative of Sharad Pawarji”, gave a Rs 30 lakh supari to kill him. “Padmasingh Patil was corrupt — this was proved. He gave supari to kill me — this was also proved... Despite the fact that he was so corrupt and Pawar supported him, these politicians still did not get angry,” the social activist wrote.

Back pain: Hazare advised rest

RALEGAN SIDDHI: After he complained of back pain Anna Hazare has been advised to take complete rest for at least four to five days by his doctor. “He suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis. Since yesterday he has been complaining about pack pain. Though it’s not a serious issue, it is necessary that he should take complete rest for at least four-five days,” said Parag Sancheti, his doctor.

Sharad Pawar hits back at Anna Hazare

MUMBAI: Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar Wednesday hit back at Anna Hazare for justifying the recent physical attacks on politicians but appealed to his partymen to refrain from violent retaliation.

In a statement here, Pawar said though he was pained by the vituperative statements by Hazare on his blog Tuesday, he would appeal to all his followers and activists of the Nationalist Congress Party to deal with the issue "maturely" and without indulging in any form of violence in words or deeds.

"By supporting the physical assault on me at a public function, Hazare has given a new definition to the concept of 'Gandhism and non-violence'," Pawar said sarcastically, referring to Hazare's oft-repeated claims of being a Gandhian and believer of non-violence.

While Pawar asserted in his statement that he had no objection to Hazare expressing his views on him (Pawar) or his (Pawar's) actions, "if any further physical attack takes place on me, it would be amply clear from where the instigation or encouragement for such acts emanates".

Despite Hazare's allegation on his blog that Pawar has "an old habit of protecting corrupt people" and one should "consider why Pawar was attacked," Pawar appealed to his followers and party activists not to resort to any form of violence.

Dismissing Hazare's allegation that he had given protection to corrupt individuals as per the Justice P.B. Sawant Commission of Inquiry report, Pawar pointed out that the probe report has not made any direct or indirect reference to him.

Besides, Pawar said all the ministers indicted in the inquiry have already resigned.

However, he said he found it strange that "no action seems to have been taken on the issue of maladministration and corruption mentioned in the Justice Sawant Commission report regarding Anna Hazare".

Arab Spring, Gandhi, Tolstoy and Tagore at Jaipur Lit Fest

New Delhi, Dec 7 In its seventh year the annual literary extravaganza in Jaipur is hosting once again a slew of international authors alongside Indian writers with focus on a variety of issues such as Arab Spring, Tagore, Tolstoy, Gandhi, the Anna Hazare phenomenon, as well as new writing. `Beginning January 20, 2012, the four-day Jaipur Literature Festival is scheduled to be held at at the heritage property Diggi Palace in Jaipur. Prominent authors who have confirmed their presence at the include Nigerian poet and novelist Ben Okri, British author of Kashmiri origin Hari Kunzru, Sri-lankan born Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje and Pakistani writer and journalist Mohammed Hanif and British writer Zoe Heller. English novelist and screenwriter, Helen Fielding, best known as the creator of the fictional character Bridget Jones, Academy award winning playwright Tom Stoppard and Buddhist scholar Thant Mynt-U also figura among the 200 speakers set to attend, according to a statement released today. "This year the festival will focus on a variety of issues including bhakti and sufi traditions, the Arab Spring, Gandhi, Ambedkar and Anna, vegetarianism, censorship, writing from conflict zones, theatre and other issues," say organisers. "The festival is now the Kumbh Mela of Indian and international writing. It nourishes narratives and nurtures a vibrant literary community. Once again, this coming January, our festival will generate and give voice to the marvelous and spontaneous energy that has become its hallmark," says festival co-director Namita Gokhale. "This is our best Jaipur line up ever. ...We will also be analyzing the fascinatingly interwoven relationships of Tolstoy, Tagore and Gandhi", says festival co-director William Dalrymple.

Anna Hazare lashes out at govt on Lokpal issue

Ratcheting up pressure on government on Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare today questioned the Standing Committee's proposal to bring lower bureaucracy under the ambit of Lokayuktas, saying it was against the resolution passed by Parliament.

Hazare said he will campaign in five poll-bound states telling people that the UPA government has neither intention nor honesty in tackling corruption and so don't vote for them.

Demanding the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill in the ongoing session, he said the session should be extended if "there is no time" for bringing the law. "If there is less time, then extend the session.

"Constitution allows you to extend the session. If you have the will, you can do anything and you can pass it now. If you have the will, then what is the problem," he said.

He said, "they were telling us to honour Parliament. The same Parliament has passed a resolution. Why are you not honouring it? Why do you want it (lower bureaucracy) to leave it to states?"

Terming it as a "wrong" proposal, Hazare said lower bureaucracy should be brought under Lokpal and not under Lok Ayukta.

He said Parliament has given an assurance that Group C and D employees will be brought under Lokpal besides providing for Lok Ayuktas in states and Citizen's Charter.

Hazare noted that three Congress MPs have given dissent notes demanding inclusion of Group C employees under Lokpal and making CVC accountable to the ombudsman, key demands of Team Anna and wondered what was stopping the government providing for it as their own people were demanding it.

"If they are going to ignore our demands, then I will sit on a fast in Jantar Mantar on December 11 and then from December 27 in Ramlila Ground. I will tell people in five poll-bound states that the government has no intention of bringing this bill and ask them not to vote for them," he said.

Centre Not Serious On Fighting Corruption : Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare has again dared the Government if it goes back on its promise for bringing a strong Lokpal Bill.

Anna said, "The Government is not willing to remove the corruption."

He also demanded that the Group C & D employees should be brought under Lokpal's ambit.

Questioning Parliament Standing Committee's Lokpal Bill draft, Anna asked, "When some Congress members are saying that C & D employees should be brought under lokpal ambit then why is government not doing it?"

Threatning another agitation if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed, Anna said, "If the Government doesn't listen then I will go on agitation again. Will go to all five states where elections are going to take place and appeal to the people to vote against Congress."

"If Government wants then it will bring the Lokpal Bill in this session only. If they want, they can extend the session," said Anna.

Anna said, "The government repeadely urged us to have belief in Parliament and now that the Parliament has given sense of the House on three key issues, there is no point on going back on these issues and insulting the Parliament."