8 parties on Anna stage, Congress feels heat

New Delhi:Despite differences over the details of their positions, the presence of representatives of eight political parties on Anna Hazare’s stage at Jantar Mantar on Sunday is likely to put the Congress in a tight spot in Parliament on this issue as the total strength of these parties adds up to 201 MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Leaders of BJP (115), SP (22), JD(U) (20), CPM (16), BJD (14), TDP (6), CPI (4) and Akali Dal (4) shared the platform with Hazare. Though the combined number of these parties is well below the halfway mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha, the fact that they chose to share the stage with Hazare a day after his direct attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is fraught with ominous signal for the Congress on this issue.

That they chose to ignore Team Anna’s disparaging remarks against the entire political class early in their Jan Lokpal campaign indicated the intention of these eight parties to put the Congress on mat in Parliament on issues being championed by Hazare. Leaders of this group appeared almost united on the issues of bringing Prime Minister, lower bureaucracy and investigation wing of CBI under the proposed Lokpal. This may mean that the idea has the support of 201 MPs.


“The PM is also a minister of many ministries and he is responsible for taking decisions. If the PM is not brought under the Lokpal, then who will take care of the corruption in the ministries,” CPI leader A B Bardhan said.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley echoed similar sentiments, saying, “We demand everybody who is in the government should come under the purview of Lokpal. We oppose the PM’s non-inclusion in the Lokpal Bill.”

The leaders also supported giving Lokpal control over investigation into corruption cases by the CBI. “The ruling parties have been using the CBI for their political advantage... there is a need to have an autonomous, independent CBI,” JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said.

However, the leaders laid bare their frustration with Team Anna’s inflexible stand and cautioned them. “Team Anna should not expect that each and every point it makes is accepted. They should show some flexibility. They should not think the entire wisdom of the world is with nine-10 people (Team Anna). There is no dearth of scholars in a country of 120 crore. Team Anna should also listen to others and have the patience to listen to others,” Bardhan said.

“You should not presume that all politicians are dishonest.... You should not insist for identical (to Jan Lokpal) Bill,” said SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav amid shouts against him.

Team Anna invites netas for Lokpal debate

New Delhi: Team Anna today invited leaders of all parties to Jantar Mantar on December 11, when Anna Hazare plans to sit on a day-long fast, to put their views on Lokpal Bill, a deviation from its stand on previous occasions when it did not allow politicians to share its platform.

"December 11th, Jantar Mantar debate with no adjournments on Lokpal. Come, listen, ask questions and clarify doubts. Political representatives are invited to speak," activist Kiran Bedi tweeted.

A Team Anna spokesperson said formal invites are being sent to parties.

Hazare will be sitting on a day-long protest demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.

In the past, Hazare had said that he will not invite any politicians to his fast. He had said they can come and sit with protesters but cannot share dais or make speeches.

An Anna needed here too, says Pak media Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/an-anna-needed-here-too-says-pak-media-129898&cp

Islamabad:  An Anna Hazare is needed in Pakistan to lead the struggle against corruption if the country's political parties continue to be averse to taking decisive measures against graft, a Pakistani paper said Monday, commending the Indian activist for his "unflinching struggle" for the common people.

"Corruption has become so ingrained in Pakistan and the political class is seen so steeped in it that unless firm, decisive measures are taken to combat graft, some Anna Hazare will be needed here too to lead the people's struggle against the malaise," said an editorial in the Urdu daily Jang.

Commending Hazare, it said he had finally prevailed over the Indian government and parliament.

"He only called off his 12-day fast after parliament unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a strict Lokpal bill, and agreeing to the three main demands he had stuck to," the editorial read.

"India is one of the nations identified as corrupt, with both the government and private sector accused of it. There is a great deal of latent anger and resentment among the people and there are many sections which taken up the fight against corruption. But the way this social activist led a popular movement against corruption remains unparalleled," it read.

The editorial stressed there are lessons in the stir and its handling by India's politicians for Pakistan - which is also counted among the countries where corruption flourishes.

"The Indian parliament understood the people's sentiments and unanimously adopted the resolution. Here, in Pakistan, where there is no section of the administration untouched by corruption, there is still no consensus on the Ehtisab (Accountability) Bill," it read.

"This lack of consensus is proof of how deep corruption is entrenched in Pakistan's political class and elite. This attitude will not be accepted by the people for much long," the Jang warned.