Censoring social media antisocial

NAGPUR: Social media, the 'virtual' land of the free and home of the brave, is under attack. However, Nagpurians have come out in support of online freedom, trashing communications and IT minister Kapil Sibal's intentions and suggestions.

Sibal had said recently that the modern, powerful online platform, which has played a major role recently across the world in ending tyrant dictatorships, and closer home in forcing the mighty to take notice of various demands, should be monitored to avoid objectionable content. The ambiguity of what would constitute 'objectionable content' is worrying most of the stakeholders.

Citizens in Nagpur came down heavily on Sibal's statements. Considering the role social media played in Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, many feel the government wants to stop citizens from banding together.

Ajay Sanghi, city coordinator for India Against Corruption ( IAC), says the government is moving towards a repeat of the emergency situation. "They are going after Team Anna and the gloves are off. First, they put restriction on the number of SMS people can send, and now the social media is coming under the radar. The government is targeting our main communication tools, hoping that we will succumb. This is emergency part II," said Sanghi.

MLA Devendra Fadnavis prides himself on being active in the virtual world and said he was appalled by Sibal's statements. "I always thought there was a difference between China and India, but after listening to Sibal I feel we are now moving towards a Made-in-China democracy. If the government is supervising my moves online then they are curbing my freedom of speech guaranteed by the constitution," said Fadnavis.

Youth Against Corruption (YAC), an organization promoted by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) recently held a three-day protest against corruption in Nagpur. Swapnil Kathale of YAC said, "Social media is the tool we all use to get our message to the public as fast as possible and it helps in making any protest or rally a success. Sibal's remarks smell of a conspiracy to clamp down on any public uprising against their corrupt system."

Adman Sanjay Arora said, "Less than one per cent of India's population uses Facebook and Twitter, and the government wants to clamp down on that as well! Censorship has never worked anywhere in the world and it will boomerang here too. There was a lot of rage today in Twitter as users bashed Sibal on the issue."

Fadnavis feels that social media has in fact brought in a lot of positive changes. "The virtual world is shattering walls of caste, creed and colour as people are interacting more and more," said Fadnavis.

Sanghi said, tongue firmly in cheek, "The things that need monitoring are the mouths of Sibal, Digvijay Singh and Manish Tewari."

Digvijay Singh congratulates Anna Hazare on breaking his fast

NEW DELHI: Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday congratulated veteran social activist Anna Hazare on breaking his 19-day vow of silence.

"I congratulate Anna Hazare on breaking his fast," said Digvijay Singh, when asked that Hazare has finally come to Delhi and broken his fast.

Hazare broke his 'vow of silence' after paying tributes to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat earlier in the day.

After breaking his vow of silence, 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader said his 'maun vrat' was against the corrupt system, and not against any particular party.

"After my indefinite fast, I had a lot of weakness. Mahatma Gandhi showed me the way. He said one must observe 'maun vrat'. My health has become absolutely fine after the vow of silence. I now have more inspiration to fight for Lokpal," he added.

Hazare began his 'maun vrat' on October 16 at Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra for peace of soul.

Responding to a question on the attempts made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers to attack him at the Mughalsarai Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh late on Thursday night, Digvijay Singh said that he was least bothered about it.

"I have already said that attacking me is RSS and BJP's plan 'D'. I am least bothered about it," he said.

Digvijay Singh was reportedly waiting for a Delhi-bound train at the Mughalsarai Railway Station when BJP party workers clashed with Congress workers and tried to enter the waiting room, where Singh was present.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to campaign against corruption in UP

LUCKNOW: Siritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will embark on an anti-corruption yatra in UP from November 7 in which he would be holding satsangs in various parts of the state, and would ask people to take oath for not indulging in corruption.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar would start from Jaunpur on November 7 and will be in Sonebhadra on November 8. He would go to Mirzapur on November 9 and Sultanpur on November 10. He would end his trip in Kanpur on November 11. He would also be visiting IIT Kanpur.

Significantly, the yatra is being conducted at a time when political parties in UP are gearing for 2012 assembly elections and Congress is in the back foot on the issue of corruption. While Baba Ramdev is already on a yatra targeting Congress, Anna Hazare has announced to tour UP asking people not to vote for Congress party in 2012 assembly elections in case Congress led UPA government fails to bring a strong lokpal in winter session of Parliament. In such a situation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's yatra may create more trouble for the Congress.

The yatra also assumes importance in the light of Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh's statement that RSS has put up Sri Sri Ravin Shankar after its plan A (Baba Ramdev's campaign against corruption) and plan B (Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign) failed. Not only Digvijay Singh, even SP leader Azam Khan has alleged that RSS is behind Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar despite the fact that Anna Hazare has categorically denied any links with RSS.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has also made it clear that in his campaign is spiritual and not political or for lokpal. He had said that lokpal alone cannot curb corruption, hence he would be making a spiritual appeal to people to shun corruption. Last week, he had administered an oath to nearly one lakh people, asking them not to give or take bribe.

Sri Sri had supported the anti-corruption campaign of Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare. Responding to Digvijay Singh's allegations, he had also said that fighting corruption is no crime and he would go on educating people on the ill effect of corruption on society.

Anna backs Bedi, Team reiterates Jan Lokpal Bill

New Delhi: Notwithstanding criticism from the ruling party, Team Anna on Tuesday looked 'united' in countering the allegations faced by its members and called for a core committee meeting on October 29 to reach a consensus on all the issues.

Hazare and Kejriwal on Tuesday came out in full support of Kiran Bedi, saying they are ready to face punishment if proved to be wrong. They also said that government has no other option but to pass Lokpal Bill in the winter session of the Parliament.

The Core Committee of Team Anna will meet in New Delhi during which the members are expected to discuss the controversies surrounding the group, including continuance of Prashant Bhushan in the team and alleged financial malfeasance of Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi. It is, however, not clear whether Anna Hazare will attend the meeting as he is on a 'vow of silence'.


The meeting will take place against the backdrop of the resignation of two prominent activists Rajinder Singh and P V Rajagopal and allegations against Kejriwal and Bedi.

Key Team Anna members have been amidst controversies recently. Former top cop Kiran Bedi has been accused of giving inflated claims for her travel expenses. In his latest post, Hazare, who has taken a vow of silence for the past few days, said that if the government feels Bedi had used the money for personal gains, it should probe the matter and "take stringent action against her if found guilty".

Another Team Anna member, Arvind Kejriwal, has been accused of not giving an account of some Rs 70-80 lakh donations collected at Anna Hazare's fast in Ramlila ground in August. Another member, Prashant Bhushan, recently came under attack when he favoured a plebiscite in Kashmir.

Then, travel agent and trustee of India Vision Foundation, Anil Bal, on Tuesday resigned from the NGO following the controversy over Kiran Bedi showing inflated travel expense. He termed the move to return the money incurred through such travel by Bedi as bizarre.

Attacking the governmnet, Hazare on Monday wrote a blog over recent attacks and allegations on Team Anna members. The social activist hit out at the "gang of four" within the UPA government for targeting members of Team Anna. He said that the "gang of four" was acting like ruffians to oppose those who wanted the Jan Lokpal Bill.
One of the key Team Anna members, Arvind Kejriwal also broke his silence on Tuesday daring the government to conduct a probe against him and other Team Anna members even as he questioned the motive behind the 'smear campaign'.

Defending himself and Kiran Bedi, who is under attack for inflating her travel bills, Kejriwal said, "If someone paid the ticket examiner in Railway because he needed a ticket, so that person cannot question Suresh Kalmadi? Is this the message being given out?

"Do you mean to say that out of 120 crore people, only saints can question UPA's corruption and government will keep on robbing people? If anybody questions then that person will be asked to look into his case first," he said and warned that if the current smear campaign continues, the next movement will be 10 times bigger.
Kejriwal, who was accused by Swami Agnivesh of depositing donations for Hazare agitation in a trust run by him, said if they have committed mistakes, then the government was free to probe and punish them by taking the strongest possible action.

"Dont forgive us. Give us twice the punishment given to common people. But bring Lokpal and you will have to," he said.

The Congress party also not looked on a defensive pitch.
A day after Hazare blamed the government for trying to defame his team members, Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday cautioned against creating a divide between the government and civil society.
"I don't think we should talk through media. I will not say anything, I will only say whosoever tries to create a distance between the civil society and the government is not doing any favour," Khurshid said in reply to questions on Hazare's comment.

Khurshid, however, said, "Please don't create greater distance between civil society and us."
Commenting on Hazare's blog, Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday tweeted that he is curious to know who are the lucky ones in the 'gang of four' in the UPA Government. "Anna has blogged against gang of four? Who are the lucky ones? I am curious!" Singh tweeted.

Anna supporters slam Diggy's statement

LUCKNOW: Anna Hazare might be observing a 'maun vrat' (vow of silence), but his supporters slammed Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh for making alleged 'defamatory propaganda' against anti-graft crusader.

"Singh is trying to prove that the RSS is behind Anna's anti-corruption movement. He has produced a RSS functionary's letter in support of his allegations. But, is he having any proof to show that Anna asked RSS for support," said Ishita Singh, a student. She also said that Singh accused Anna of observing maun vrat to avoid uncomfortable questions on Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who is in jail on charges of corruption. But, Singh forgot that Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde, former Karnataka Lokayukta, is responsible for Yeddyurappa condition.

Blaming a section of the media, Arif Siddiqui, a teacher, said, "A section of media is prominently showing the statements of RSS leaders on supporting Anna's movement, but has played down the report on Muslims in Lucknow praying for Anna's success in the last Friday prayer before Eid," he said.

"Interestingly, Singh has also contradicted his own statements. He says that 20% of the people in the Ramlila ground, where Anna observed fast, were RSS members. This means that 80% people were from other background. Hence Anna has support of all sections of the society," he added.

Shailendra Pandey, a research scholar, said Singh has accused Anna of playing in the hands of communal forces. "Delhi Police, which is under the Centre killed two terrorists in 2008 Batla House encounter. Mohan Chandra Sharma, a police officer, killed in the encounter, was honoured with Ashok Chakra by the UPA government. But Singh says that encounter was fake. Either Singh is right or the government. It raises doubts that the government is appeasing Hindus through encounters and Singh is playing politics with Muslims by declaring it fake," he said.

Social activist Manjul Upadhayaya said, "Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's suspicion is correct that attack on another Team member Prashant Bhushan on his 'plebiscite in Kashmir' remark was a conspiracy of people who have been hit by anti-graft campaign. Bhushan only reiterated what India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru said in 1947. Attack on Bhushan took place three weeks after issuing statement. Kejriwal has been threatened. Protests are being held outside his house accusing him of not declaring record of public donation received for campaign."

Jagriti Singh a housewife, said, "Anna fought against corruption in Maharashtra both under BJP and Congress regimes. But Singh accuses Anna of saying nothing against BJP. Also, Singh has said that Anna has done nothing about corruption in UP. My question to Singh is why CBI, which is under the Centre government, has not taken action against UP chief minister Mayawati and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on charges of corruption." She also alleged that the Congress-led UPA government has been misusing CBI to arm twist political rivals.

Bina Shukla, a private executive, was of the view that UP chief minister Mayawati is better than Congress. She has taken action against six ministers after their names figured in corruption and were indicted by the Lokayukta. Even if it is a posturing, at least Maya has done something, whereas Delhi chief minister did nothing against the ministers indicted by Lokayukta. According to Anshumali Sharma, a Team Anna member in Lucknow, Rahul Gandhi is reaching out to Anna, which shows that Congress is afraid of anti-corruption movement, which led to embarrassing defeat of its candidate in by-elections across the country.

Signs of a thaw? Anna Hazare invites Rahul home to Ralegan Siddhi

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare has invited Rahul Gandhi to Ralegan Siddhi to witness rural development in his village, indicating a thaw in the bitter relations between him and Congress.

"Anna's message is clear that Rahul is welcome to Ralegan. He has high expectations from Rahul about the leadership of the new generation," Vinayakrao Deshmukh, Hazare's nephew, told TOI, quoting the Gandhian.

Vinayakrao, who incidentally is Congress in-charge of implementation of UPA's flagship schemes in Maharashtra, is in the capital.

The improving vibes between the fierce Lokpal campaigner and Congress come amid recrimination over Hazare's "defeat Congress" call in Hisar bypolls. Congress leader Digvijay Singh accused him of carrying out RSS agenda to target the party with a flurry of letters.

But Vinayak said the 'RSS front' charge was baseless. "In our place, when some elder dies, a mourning person does not wear a cap and stays barefoot for 10 days. I still remember when Indira Gandhi was assassinated, Anna did not wear topi and chappal for 10 days, such is his respect for the Nehru-Gandhi family," he said.

In contrast, he said, Hazare was offered a Rajya Sabha nomination during NDA regime but he turned it down.

Vinayak said the slanging match between Congress and Hazare was a result of "bad communication" because the Gandhian was fighting against corruption while Congress leadership agreed with it.

"Anna is never against any party but is only for an issue... I think the days ahead are good for Congress-Anna partnership if a strong Lokpal bill is passed in the winter session of Parliament," he said.

"Now, after PM wrote to him assuring that the bill would be brought in the winter session, he has postponed his UP yatra," he said.

Hazare's nephew said there were no major differences between his uncle and the Congress leadership. "It will be good for Congress in future. Anna can help guide the Centre's rural development programmes through his associations," he said.

Digvijay shoots off another letter to Hazare, raises RSS issue

NEW DELHI: Shooting off another letter to Anna Hazare on the eve of Hisar bypoll, Digvijay Singh, who is leading Congress' counter-attack, on Wednesday raised the issue of RSS support to the activist and cautioned him that those around him were keeping him in dark.

Singh, who had yesterday questioned Anna Hazare on why he was not attacking the BJP, enclosed a letter from RSS general secretary Suresh (Bhayya) Joshi to him, extending "full support" in his battle against corruption.

In the letter, Joshi had informed Hazare that in the RSS executive committee meeting held in March serious concern was voiced over the issue of corruption and the RSS "gives full support to your efforts against corruption".

In the brief letter, the Congress general secretary wondered as to how Anna has not read the letter. "If you have not read the letter, then it is a more serious matter, as I have already said that people close to you are keeping you away from the actual situation," he said.

The letter has come on the eve of the Hisar Lok Sabha bypolls, where Team Anna is campaigning against the Congress.

In his letter yesterday, Digvijay Singh had also cautioned Hazare against "lofty promises" by that party of making him a Presidential candidate.

Singh had asked Hazare why he was "silent" on the issue of corruption when the BJP-led NDA was in power. He had told Hazare that an impression was gaining ground that he has been surrounded by people who have always been opposed to the ideology of the Congress.

"Be it Shanti Bhushan or his son Prashant or your colleague Arvind Kejriwal. All these people have been opposed to the Congress. These people are taking benefit of your clean character for their own political gains," he had said attacking Team Anna members.

Digvijay slams Asaram Bapu for calling Rahul ‘kid’

Mathura: Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh has slammed religious preacher Asaram Bapu for passing comments against party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Bapu had mockingly called Gandhi a ''kid''.

Addressing mediapersons here, Singh said Bapu should refrain from making such comments.



"Asaram Bapu should first decide whether he wants to venture into politics or wants to be known as a religious preacher. A person who belongs to the field of religion should refrain from making such comments. Asaram Bapu should firstly make his intention clear whether he wants to be in politics and fight elections, before that he should not pass such comments and we will openly criticise him," said Singh.

Singh also condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for misusing Anna Hazare's name to remain in the limelight of national politics.

"Anna Hazare is an honest and simple man. People are misusing his name. 'I am Anna' caps are being donned by people who are drunkards and corrupt. They are misusing his name and his popularity," added Singh.

He criticised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for arresting an honest and duty-bound police officer like Sanjiv Bhatt.

"Sanjiv Bhatt is an honest and duty bound police officer. He is being punished for speaking the truth. This is a burning example of fascist thinking and fascist government," added Singh.

Bhagwat vows to support fight against corruption

Gorakhpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that his outfit would back any movement against corruption.

Addressing a gathering here on Sunday, Bhagwat said: "The RSS workers will always stand by the side of any person who is fighting against corruption. We are supporting it".



Earlier, Bhagwat had said that RSS volunteers had actively taken part in the movement led by social activist Anna Hazare against corruption without craving for position and credit.

Meanwhile, former RSS chief KS Sudarshan has slammed senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh.

"I don't want to make any comment on the statements made by Digvijay Singh. Everybody knows that the central point of corruption is the foreigner Sonia Gandhi. He (Digvijay Singh) would never make a comment on her. So, let him speak whatever he feels like," Sudarshan told the media in Bhopal.

Digvijay Singh on Friday said that he stood vindicated after Mohan Bhagwat's admission that his outfit has backed Anna Hazare's agitation.

"Well, I have always held that Anna Hazare's campaign and Baba Ramdev's campaign have been planned, engineered, organised by the RSS and I still hold to that. I am very happy that Mohan Bhagwatji has accepted this fact in his Dussehra speech in Nagpur. So, my stand is vindicated. And also at the same time, whenever I said that Anna Hazare's campaign is being run by RSS, Anna always tells me to go to a mental asylum. I don't know whether I should go now or not," Singh said.

Digvijay talks about Anna’s arrest; praises him

New Delhi: Days after describing Anna Hazare as an RSS mask, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh today called the Gandhian a ‘simple, good, well-meaning man’ and said the issue of his arrest should have been handled more tactfully.

“The matter (Anna’s arrest) should have been handled more tactfully. Anything else that I’ve to say about it, I’ll say it directly to my leader,” the Congress General Secretary said in an interview to Headlines Today.

“….When I say more tactfully I mean for example: why were the opposition parties not involved in the drafting process (of Lokpal). We made an unprecedented move, and we made it just out of respect for Anna. But why leave the opposition out, it made the BJP very angry,” he said.

Showering praise over the Gandhian, Singh said he is a simple man who has unknowingly fallen into the trap of RSS.

“I have known Anna from the time the media didn’t know him. I made him member Madhya Pradesh Planning Board. He did some great work. He is a simple, good, well-meaning man. But he has been misled. Anna has unwittingly become a front of the RSS. Anna is a Gandhian but he enjoys support of the RSS. I never called him an agent, but a front,” he clarified.

“He (Anna) has unwittingly fallen into that trap. Anna has been used by the RSS. I have letter of RSS support to Anna. They had RSS support, that now is an established fact,” the Congress leader said.

However, Singh did not tone down his tirade against Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal.

“I attacked double standards of Kejriwal. He took a study leave. He said he will return. Why did he not? He accepted donations from abroad while he was still a government servant.

Did he take permission from the government to start his NGO? He wants us to follow the rules, I think as a government employee he too should have followed them,” he said.

Singh also took a swipe at LK Advani over his proposed Rath Yatra saying he must start from Ahmedabad and take it through all BJP-ruled states to find out the “level of corruption that is there”.

Trashing Arun Jaitley’s jibe of too many lawyers advising the government, the Congress general secretary said, “If that’s a problem, then Arun Jaitley should stop advising the BJP.”

Dismissing BJP’s opposition to the proposed Communal Violence Bill as part of the party’s communal agenda, Singh said, “Communal disturbances happen due to inflammatory statements. Who gains the most from them? It’s the BJP.”

However, when asked about Mamata Banerjee’s note of dissent to the bill, Singh just said the content of the legislation can still be discussed.

He also came out strongly in support of beleaguered former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, saying, “I have full support for Amar Singh. He’ll prove his innocence. Every man is innocent until he is proven guilty.”

Even as he hit at some for making inflammatory speeches, he defended his tirade against RSS, saying he has never played politics over terror.

“I have never politicized the issue. I have always said religious fundamentalists give inflammatory speeches that incite terror. I have never interfered with a police probe.
Even in Batala House I questioned the encounter not the probe.”