We're flexible! Just do it our way: Team Anna

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New Delhi: Team Anna on Tuesday said that it was willing to negotiate with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and help in formulating a strong Lokpal Bill. Speaking exclusively to CNN-IBN, Anna Hazare's close associate Arvind Kejriwal said that the civil society will not put precondition for the talks to end the Lokpal deadlock. 

 

"This is a political problem. This needs a political solution through dialogue. The Government has not responded yet. We are hearing through media that the Government wants to talk with us. But no one from the Government has contacted us directly," said Kejriwal.

"Any responsible person from the Government is welcome, any person with authority from the Government is welcome. We don't have any precondition," he said.

However, Kejriwal made it clear that the precondition of Hazare calling his fast, which entered its eighth day on Tuesday, will be called off only if the dialogue end in a positive note. Another condition that Kejriwal put forward was that Team Anna was not willing to talks to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Union Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

"It's time that Government sends someone officially for talks. Annaji will nominate somebody for talks. It will be difficult to talk to Sibal, Chidambaram," said Kejriwal.

When asked about Congress MP and Parliament Standing Committee Chairman Abhishek Manu Singhvi's statement that the Government was willing to negotiate and bring in a strong Lokpal Bill in the next three months, Kejriwal said that the country has already waited for too long for a strong anti-corruption law.

"The country has waited for 42 years. Eight standing committees have debated the issue. The issue has been debated so many times. Lets' not get confused with rules," he said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/no-rider-willing-to-talk-team-anna-to-govt/177931-3.html

Gali Gali mein shor hai, Rahul Gandhi chor hai: Anna supporters

Gali Gali mein shor hai, Rahul Gandhi chor hai! In the last few days, this slogan of the era of Rajiv Gandhi has become quite popular with students and young professionals protesting at Ramlila Maidan where Anna Hazare has been on an indefinite fast.

It is probably for the first time in several years that such slogans have been raised against the young Congress general secretary.

Whether Hazare’s fast was a political fast is a matter of perspective. But the fact that those mouthing the slogan are largely apolitical makes it impossible to dismiss them lightly.

Popular among the young, Rahul Gandhi has never been targeted by them even when his party was drawing flak. But his silence and the party’s blunders together seem to have changed all that.
People are miffed with the young Gandhi scion for missing from action especially when thousands of youngsters across the country have taken to the streets to support Hazare and to demand a strong Lokpal Bill.

Not just Rahul. His mother and Congress party chiefSonia Gandhi and prime minister Manmohan Singh are also facing the people’s ire. Since the day the fast started at the venue, people have been raising slogans against them. However, the organisers have so far refrained from raising any slogan targeting any family or any individual.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_gali-gali-mein-shor-hai-rahul-gandhi-chor-hai-anna-suporters_1578710

Journalists struggle to bring you Anna Hazare live

NEW DELHI: With Anna Hazare's fast at Ramlila Maidan here entering its eighth day Tuesday, hundreds of foreign and Indian journalists are spending hours at the sprawling grounds, reporting every single development of his protest for a stronger anti-corruption bill.

Demanding a Jan Lokpal bill that brings the prime minister, the higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs inside parliament within the ambit of a Lokpal (ombudsman), Hazare has been fasting since Aug 16. Initially arrested, he has continued with his fast at Ramlila ground since Friday.

The protesters may be returning to their homes after shouting slogans for Hazare but journalists are ever-present at the ground - puffing cigarettes, sipping tea and nibbling snacks - while covering the 24x7 television spectacle.

"Since Anna began his fast the entire unit is on its toes ...the coverage on Anna has turned out to be really taxing. I have not managed to have proper sleep since the last three days," said a journalist from a leading news channel.

While the vicinity of Ramlila Maidan is packed with Hazare's supporters, the roads are dotted with OB vans that channels use for outdoor coverage.

"I have just come from my house and will be here till 12 midnight. After that my colleague will be here till 8 a.m.," said a television journalist on condition of anonymity.

"Since the arrest of Anna, it's become really tough. God knows when this will end. And the biggest problem is relieving yourself when nature calls. The portable toilets are really dirty," said a female journalist.

US based freelance journalist William Malony has been in India since the past three weeks. He is making a documentary on the entire episode braving the scorching heat and sporadic rains in the city.

"It's actually amazing to see the crowd gathering in such large numbers. Though it's quite hot but I won't mind capturing this historic moment," Malony said.

Michale Nauman from Germany's ARD news channel said: "I know that you people have a problem but it does not mean that you will go on a hunger strike. In Germany, people put pressure on government by assembling in large numbers but they don't go for hunger strikes." 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/journalists-struggle-to-bring-you-anna-hazare-live/articleshow/9704991.cms

Actor Rajinikanth supports Anna Hazare

CHENNAI: Actor Rajinikanth has pledged his support for Anna Hazare's movement for the Jan Lokpal bill.

In an email sent to India Against Corruption on Tuesday, the Tamil superstar said he was happy that an able and dedicated leader like Anna Hazare is leading the fight against corruption.

"There can be no doubt that corruption is a dreaded disease that needs to be weeded from the Indian society. I am very happy that we have an able and dedicated leader in Anna Hazare to lead us in the fight against corruption. I wholeheartedly support the India Against Corruption movement in their campaign to get the Jan Lokpal bill legislated in the parliament", the actor said.

The actor congratulated all Indians who have lent their support to the 'bloddless revolution'. "This kind of peaceful movement is possible only in India which is the birth place of Sathyagraha," Rajinikanth said. 

Source- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/9705776.cms

'Sarkari Lokpal knocks out govt's credibility'

In the first clear show of support for Anna Hazare, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley asked the government to drop the idea of a “sarkari lokpal”, which he said is envisaged in the bill introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier this month.   Instead, he said, the government must talk to Anna’s team, political parties and others for a “strong, independent lokpal with a view to bring a maximum number of persons under its purview.”

Jaitley said he did not consider Hazare’s statement that “either accept my bill or go” as a serious issue.
Without directly endorsing Anna’s Jan Lokpal bill, Jaitley said the “way forward” for the government was to end the air of “mistrust and lack of credibility” and open a dialogue because “people have lost faith in the government’s commitment and approach to end corruption.”

For accountability of the judiciary, Jaitley favoured a national judicial commission, which would oversee the conduct of judges as well ensure their appointments in an independent manner.

What’s the way out of impasse?
The way forward is that the political establishment must go for genuine dialogue with an open mind. The crisis was created by the government. Huge scams, lack of action to book the guilty and then cover-ups knocked out its credibility totally. To cap it all, the government went for a sarkari lokpal, with least coverage. Hence, the first step is getting back credibility.

Wasn’t the government trying to do what it could?
It took Anna’s team up the garden path after their round one of agitation, without candidly telling them what’s possible and what’s not. Then the government came up with a sarkari lokpal bill and, when Anna went for round two against it, they went for police action instead of a political solution.
What is a workable formula?
I am not in a position to offer one but the meat of the matter is what (lokpal) is to be created. Unless it is credible and independent, and covers a maximum number of people, it will not work.

Doesn’t the BJP have an issue with Anna’s insistence on “my bill or else go”?
Not really. Civil society members are crusaders and they can take up tough position as part of their campaign and I fully hope India eventually gets a strong and credible lokpal. We cannot enter into conflicts with their campaign positions. These are transient situations.

Isn’t their threat to gherao MPs and ministers a threat to functioning of Parliament?
I would not prefer this form of protest. But as long as their protest is peaceful and non-coercive, I cannot object to their right to protest. Civil activists are insisting either the Prime Minister or Rahul Gandhi must talk to them.

What’s your view?
I do believe that the best communication is one that has the shortest distance directly between persons concerned.

Can the BJP help the government in this situation?
We can only advise the government to talk to them and others in a genuine manner and accept the idea of a strong lokpal and restore its credibility in the fight against corruption.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Sarkari-Lokpal-knocks-out-govt-s-credibility/Article1-736294.aspx