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Showing posts with label Corruption in India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corruption in India. Show all posts

Friday, October 4, 2019

Narendra Modi-Rahul Gandhi slugfest: Congress, BJP are in Ivy league of hypocrisy

The current slugfest between the BJP and the Congress over the Sahara and Birla diaries is a living embodiment of Rahat Indori's couplet: Jhooton ne jhooton se kaha hai, sach bolo (liars are asking liars to speak the truth). Since Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of accepting "Rs 40 crores from Sahara" at a rally in Gujarat's Mehsana, both parties have come up with arguments and allegations that make politics resemble the Ivy League of hypocrisy.

Consider Rahul Gandhi's case first. After threatening to expose Modi in Parliament, bring about a quake, he has done a Kejriwal 2.0 by rehashing some of the allegations made by the Delhi chief minister in the state assembly. The papers he is quoting to attack Modi are a compilation of the who's who of Indian politics.

Hidden in the Sahara files and the Birla papers are names of politicians from across the political spectrum, including those of Congress leaders, some UPA-era stalwarts and the then Delhi chief minister, now the party's face in Uttar Pradesh. There are some oblique references to the then minister of environment and forests Jayanti Natarajan too in the diaries. Gandhi's selective outrage perfectly qualifies as a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

If Rahul Gandhi were really serious about a probe, he could have at least done an encore of his famous act of tearing up the legislation that UPA wanted passed to shield convicted politicians, allow them to contest polls. But, Rahul has performed the sorry spectacle of running with Sheila Dixit and hunting for Modi.

 Narendra Modi-Rahul Gandhi slugfest: Congress, BJP are in Ivy league of hypocrisyPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP's conceit, deceit and denials are even more shameful.

In April, the ruling dispensation had launched a brutal assault on Congress leaders and former PM Manmohan Singh because their names appeared in several conversations between middlemen accused of influencing the AgustaWestland chopper deal. On the basis of the conversations — not evidence — that mentioned in the proceedings of an Italian court, the party had asked the Gandhis to come clean on the deal.

Is the Sahara and Birla diaries case any different? The selective allegations made by both Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi against the prime minister are also based on papers that were seized by Income Tax officials during raids on these groups.

The Sahara papers were seized by I-T officials in a raid on the corporate office of its chairman. The documents showed details of proposed and actual payments made allegedly to different people, with details of place and timing. These documents were made part of the probe after following the procedure laid out under the law. In short, they have official and legal sanctity. Similar documents with details of alleged payments were recovered from raids on CEO of the Aditya Birla group in 2013.

So, why can't the BJP ask its leaders to do what it advised the Gandhis in the AgustaWestland case: Come clean, face a probe. Or is this a case of BJP being presumed innocence and the Congress being declared guilty without a probe? Remember also the BJP's double-standards in raking up the "J-tax" (alleged kickbacks to Jayanti Natarajan) during the 2014 election campaign based on entries in the Birla diaries and then laughing them off when the charges boomeranged on them.

As Indori said: Ghar mein jhooton ki mandi lagi hai, darwaze pe likha hai sach bolo.

In this concert of lies and hypocrisy, truth could be drowned, but not hidden. Everyone in India knows that politicians take donations (in unaccounted cash) for contesting elections. Huge chunks of this money come from the corporate sector under various pretexts but is divided up as contributions from individual donors. Any party that claims it fought the 2014 elections with legitimately collected and properly documented donations just knows the art of lying and fudging better than the other. In the hamam of political funding, every party is naked. By pointing fingers at each other, through selective allegations and charges of bribery, the Congress and the BJP are living another Indori couplet: Ungliya sab par na yu uthaya karo, kharch karne se pehle kuch kamaya karo.

Though Rahul Gandhi is trying to kick up a storm — his only option since he is on verge of political extinction — it is unlikely to lead to a concrete result because his intentions are steeped in hypocrisy and subterfuge. It would just lead to some noise, allegations, counter-allegations and then would be forgotten.

The BJP, would, of course brazen it out. Like it did when Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje faced allegations of impropriety in the Lalit Modi case. Like it did when it rode the storm on the Vyapam scam and resultant spate of suspicious deaths.

Several years ago, when LK Advani's name appeared in the Jain hawala diaries, he quit parliament and returned only after his name was cleared by the Supreme Court.

Over the past few decades, laws of morality in politics have undergone a drastic change. Instead of trying to be Ceaser's Wife, politicians now believe in the pragmatic philosophy of claiming innocence-till-proven-guilty. The BJP, once a party that talked of shuchita, pardarshita and asmita in public life, is defined more by pragmatism and opportunism, instead of morality and ideology.

So, behold the spectacle of two liars fighting for truth. It is the defining feature of our polity.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Day After Receiving Award for 'Best Police', Cop Caught Taking Bribe in Telangana

Hyderabad: A day after receiving ‘Best Police’ award on Independence Day, a constable in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana was caught taking bribe by the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday.

Tirupati Reddy, a constable in Mahabubnagar one-town police station, was caught by the ACB while accepting a bribe of Rs 17,000 from a sand tractor owner, Mudavath Ramesh.
"Despite having a licence for the sand transport, Tirupati demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from Ramesh,” ACB DSP S Krishna Goud said.
Ramesh approached the ACB officials who then laid a trap to catch him red-handed.
“On our directions, Ramesh gave Rs 17,000 to the constable, following which he (Tirupati) was arrested,” the ACB official added.
Tirupati received ‘Best Police’ award from the District collector on Thursday.




Monday, October 22, 2012

Political corruption

Political corruption is the use of powers to legislate by government officials for illegitimate private gain. The misuse of government power for other purposes, like repression of political opponents and general police brutality is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by individuals or companies not directly involved with the government. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties.

Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, cronyism, bribery and embezzlement. While corruption may facilitate criminal activity such as drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking is not limited to these activities.

The activities that constitute illegal corruption differ depending on the country or jurisdiction. For example, certain political funding practices that are legal in one place may be illegal in another. In some cases, government officials have broad or poorly defined powers, which makes it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal. Worldwide, bribery alone is estimated to involve over U.S. $ 1 trillion year. [1] The state of rampant political corruption is known as a kleptocracy, literally "rule by thieves."
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Thursday, August 9, 2012

How Baba Ramdev Is Debasing The Debate on Corruption


The discourse within the anti-corruption campaign, 1st waged by Team Pakistani monetary unit and currently by cake Ramdev, is on a downward spiral to frivolity. For a lot of of last year, the controversy was characterized by a keen engagement of the mind, as Team Pakistani monetary unit framed it within the context of the necessity for a powerful anti-corruption agency, protected by associate degree freelance inquiring agency. despite the fact that the Congress wanted right along to dismiss Pakistani monetary unit Hazare and his motley crew as insignificant busy bodies, the UPA government was constrained by the sheer force of the movement’s case and therefore the standard support it seemed to command, to be seen to be partaking in an exceedingly reasoned dialogue concerning the contours of the projected Lokpal agency.

In  August 2011, once Pakistani monetary unit fasted at the Ramlila Maidan, Parliament was witness to 1 of the foremost scintillating and noble debates we’ve seen in recent years on the problem of corruption, and therefore the mechanics of taming it. Even those that opposed the institution of associate degree omnipotent Lokpal – on the grounds that it\'d have created a ‘supercop’ officialdom behemoth – created forceful contributions that did influence even the foremost conservativist supporters of Team Pakistani monetary unit into acknowledging the deserves of an alternate purpose of read.

All heart, no smarts, makes for associate degree debilitated anti-corruption campaign. PTI

Of course, the double-dealing nature of the sport that politicians  - across the political spectrum – compete in effectively watering down the provisions of the Lokpal Bill ensured that every one that reasoned dialogue came to zilch. And, over time, because the standard support for Team Anna’s fasts waned, the complete project has been place in cold storage. It currently seems doubtless that the Congress can pass the debilitated Lokpal Bill within the months sooner than subsequent election – and claim on the campaign stump that the govt. has done its damnedest to combat corruption. those that lack the intellectual facility to differentiate between a very freelance anti-corruption agency, and therefore the mere shadow of 1 that the projected legislation can establish, can little doubt celebrate the duplicity.

But this point around, with cake Ramdev‘s latest campaign, the discourse has gotten plenty a lot of simple-minded to the purpose of reducing it to absurd levels. It’s one factor to mention that everybody in Asian country features a legitimate right to campaign against corruption – which Ramdev is “on the proper facet of the ethical divide” by stringent that black cash stashed in overseas bank accounts be brought back. nobody will afflict that sentiment. within the same method that every one folks (except, perhaps, arms merchants) represent the nebulous thought of “world peace”, everybody folks needs to be seen to be taking a public stance against corruption. Smooth the monumentally corrupt in the middle of our legislators is, for the record and ahead of cameras,  in favour of doing one thing to fight corruption.

But not like Team Anna’s thoughtful approach to establishing establishments to fight corruption, cake Ramdev’s campaign is a lot of associate degree attractiveness to the hearts. There’s a particular simplicity to his demand to bring back black cash hoards from foreign banks: simply declare all of it as “national assets” — and confiscate them — and every one of India’s issues are solved , he reasons.

In recent months, cake Ramdev has been going round the country meeting political leaders to support his campaign, and quite very, they weren\'t the least bit suppressed concerning being seen publicly with him, and endorsing his campaign.  That’s solely as a result of they maybe sense that cake Ramdev’s campaign pitch is thus twisted and naïve on not have any meaning impact.

Of course, since then, cake Ramdev has distended his canvas of his anti-corruption campaign, even incorporating the application for the Lokpal. Yet, even today, his movement is centered around his demand on conveyance back black cash from foreign banks.

There is, of course, a case to be created that the UPA government has not been agile in securing details of account-holders in tax havens that hold unaccounted wealth; nor has it exerted the total force of its diplomacy to obtaining foreign banks to cough up these details within the method that the United States has through with Swiss banks, for example.

But cake Ramdev’s approach — of declaring all of it as national assets and shipping boatloads of black cash home — represents a very simple misunderstanding of the complexities concerned in managing tax havens. the method of retrieving black cash is way a lot of difficult, involving secrecy-cloaked tax havens abroad that square measure structured in only such the way on defeat the efforts of national governments to retrieve the loot.

Try explaining that to cake Ramdev’s well-meaning, however unthinking, army of supporters – as journalist Madhu Trehan did long – and you get brusquely abused. (Check out her timeline on Twitter for the gory details.)

Baba Ramdev additionally severely compromised his anti-corruption platform by putt up posters of his aide Balakrishna (who is in jail for shaping passport documents) and Jayendra Saraswati (former head of the Kanchi dog, UN agency is undergoing trial on the charge of murder) aboard those of Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad at the quick venue on weekday.

It is actions like these that permit verbaliser leaders like Mani Ravi Shankar Aiyar to dismiss Ramdev and his followers, with prodigious vanity, as a “bunch of jokers” – as he did on CNN-IBN on weekday night.

The battle against corruption is in many ways an ethical war, however it desires over sensible intentions to wage it.  It isn’t enough to possess a heart that beats with ethical fervour. It desires a head which will suppose things through.

However well-meaning cake Ramdev’s campaign could also be, and but a lot of the Congress might stand exposed these days as obsequious in combating corruption,  thoughtless campaigns like his solely find yourself dishonourable the controversy on corruption and compromising the anti-corruption movement.

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Sunday, July 29, 2012

Team Anna's Anti-Corruption Rally In Town Pulls In Huge Crowds


Proving wrong the speak of activist Anna Hazare's fight against corruption losing steam, Mumbai turned up in droves on Sunday to support India Against Corruption's vehicle rally from Andheri (W) to Azad Maidan. whereas most of the participants within the rally were long-time supporters of the
campaign, there have been lots of new faces within the protest, held to mark solidarity for anti-corruption activist Hazare's movement for a powerful Lokpal bill.

Hazare started his indefinite quick for the legislation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday, with many of his shut associates. In Mumbai, protesters shout slogan, wave the tri-colour, sang patriotic songs, and even danced at road junctions, troublemaking traffic to some point. They even asked pedestrians to affix the rally.

The bring in concert started from Andheri (W) station and went through SV Road, the Santacruz-Khar-Bandra Linking Road, to Opera House and Churchgate before ending at Azad Maidan.

"We are requesting folks to affix us as a result of this movement is against corruption and can profit all people. a number of the folks are still not attentive to the movement in addition to its goal," said Komal Shah, 20, a Tardeo resident and IAC volunteer learning commerce.

For some participants, Sunday's rally marked the primary time they'd participated in an exceedingly major event, despite being long related to the pressure group. "Generally, I involve yourself in native protest rallies, however this is often the primary time I actually have participated in an exceedingly major rally. our legislators are behaving recklessly as if they're not responsible to anybody," said Bhupendra Shringi, 50, a chief instrumentation engineer and Khargar resident.

There were quite many new entrants at Sunday's rally.

"We are requesting folks to affix us as a result of this movement is against corruption and can profit all people. Some are still not aware of the movement and its goal whereas some don't seem to be aware of the growing scams surrounded by the country," understood Shah.

People joined the rally in all forms of vehicles. Supporters denied the movement had missing maintain. "It isn't necessary to require to the streets when one fight dishonesty," said Jayshree Patil, 57, Kandivli resident and homemaker.

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Monday, December 12, 2011

Jan Lokpal Bill: PM open to dialogue, Anna Hazare asks him to send representatives

NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh maintaining that the govt is open to dialogue, Anna Hazare these days instructed that he ought to send his representatives for discussion on Jan Lokpal Bill.

Kiran Bedi, one in all the leading members of Team Anna, quoted Hazare as saying, "Let the govt come back forward to debate the Jan Lokpal bill. Let the PM send his representatives."
She conjointly dominated out that any negotiations were on between the 2 teams. "(Talk of) any negotiations are rumours," Bedi tweeted.

The suggestion came among hours of the Prime Minister saying that the govt is open to a "reasoned debate" on the Lokpal Bill which the Parliamentary panel examining it will propose changes.

"We are open to a reasoned dialogue on of these problems," Singh said at the golden jubilee operate of the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata.

As Hazare's quick demanding a powerful Lokpal entered the seventh day, his shut associates expressed concern over his deteriorating health.

His team asserted that they need no intention to topple the govt however defended the Gandhian's remarks that it ought to go if the bill isn't gone by August thirty.

Hazare's hunger strike inched near a hundred and fifty hours as a whole lot poured into Ramlila Maidan to specific solidarity with the 73-year-old Gandhian who began his indefinite quick in police custody on August sixteen.

As his protest continued, Team Anna said they were nonetheless to listen to from the govt aspect on the talks.


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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Govt hits out at Anna, says do not target PM, Rahul

New Delhi: the govt has hit back once Anna Hazare said that Rahul Gandhi's hurry to become the Prime Minister has weakened Manmohan Singh, calling the comments unwarranted.

Anna Hazare on Sunday throughout his token quick for a powerful Lokpal Bill attacked the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he not has any call creating powers which he has became a mute spectator. Anna additionally blamed Rahul Gandhi for the Lokpal draft debacle.

"Why was the PM a mute spectator when individuals turned out in huge numbers at the Ramlila Ground." Anna asked throughout his quick.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid defended the Congress General Secretary saying it had been Rahul Gandhi who had asked him to bring a powerful Lokpal that the country ought to be happy with.

"Rahul Gandhi told me only 1 issue which is to bring a powerful and effective Lokpal Bill, on that the country ought to be happy with...if this can be what you decision is weakening it, then i do not understand what sturdy (Lokpal) is," he told reporters.

Khurshid said that if the govt and its party leaders are liars, they have to be thrown out of the state.

National Congress Party leader Narayanasamy said, "Jantar Mantar is sort of a public meeting where individuals go and create a 'bhashan'. Ultimately the result are going to be zero, where in an exceedingly place like Parliament, there'll be a correct dialogue. Members of Parliament from varied political parties can offer their views and ultimately Parliament knowledge can decide the Lokpal Bill."

"Rahul Gandhi supported a powerful Lokpal that Anna Hazare and company are telling day in and time out. sadly, they're blaming Rahul Gandhi for nothing," Narayanasamy said.

Sources have told CNN-IBN that the govt is open to as well as the Prime Minister with safeguards and additionally embody cluster C workers underneath the Lokpal ambit.

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India anti-corruption activist Hazare holds short fast

Anna Hazare says the new bill does not go for enough
One of India's most outstanding anti-corruption activists, Anna Hazare, has been staging a one-day symbolic quick in Delhi.


His 12-day anti-corruption quick four months ago became the main target of a national campaign and place pressure on the govt to act on the difficulty.

The government has currently written a brand new anti-corruption bill, that it plans to gift to parliament later this month.

But Mr Hazare says the new bill is insufficient.

"We can take our protest to the streets if a powerful bill isn't brought in," he told a crowd of many thousand supporters at his quick in Delhi.

"If the govt brings in a very weak bill, the opposite political parties should be a part of hands with the folks of this country who are able to take off and support us."

Critics accuse Mr Hazare of undermining the democratic method.

Laws can not be created at a protest website, Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi said, adding Mr Hazare had created his views known and was currently "insulting parliament".
Ombusdman

The bill was tabled in parliament in August, however was sent to a panel of MPs once protests from anti-corruption activists who said it absolutely was too weak.

Mr Hazare says the new bill doesn't go so much enough because it doesn't embody lower-level forms.

India has recently been hit by a string of high-profile corruption scandals.

Politicians, civil servants and business leaders are accused of robbing the state of billions of greenbacks, badly damaging the government's name.

The Lokpal bill envisages fixing an freelance ombudsman, who would have the facility to research and prosecute politicians and civil servants.

The judiciary and conduct of MPs in parliament are kept out of the Lokpal's ambit.

Among India's recent corruption scandals are an alleged multi-billion dollar telecoms scam, claims of economic malpractice in reference to the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and allegations that homes supposed for war widows ended up within the hands of civil servants.

A recent survey said corruption in India had price billions of greenbacks and threatened to derail growth.

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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Anna reaches Delhi for quick, says can fight till corruption is eradicated

New Delhi, Dec ten (ANI): Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who reached New Delhi for Sunday's day-long token quick, said the "second fight for independence" has started which can persist until corruption is eradicated.


"So several martyrs lost their lives for our independence, however even these days, we tend to cannot expertise independence.



Who got freelance. What independence. Corruption, loot continues to be here. solely 'goras' (whites) left and 'kalas' (blacks) came in, that's the sole distinction," Hazare told the media here.


"We are still fighting. Tomorrow, we'll quick for in the future tomorrow at Jantar Mantar," he added.


Terming the government's version of the bill as weak, Hazare said that it'd not facilitate to eradicate corruption from the country.


"We attractiveness to the people who the Lokpal bill that has been introduced within the parliament by the standing committee may be a government bill. Six months before, we tend to had already said that the govt bill is weak and therefore the bill cannot root out the corruption from this country and therefore the poor individuals won't get justice. So, the govt bill isn't correct and it's weak. we tend to urge them to bring Jan Lokpal bill, this was our demand. once the conferences of the standing committee and joint committee and remainder of the meeting that had taken place, finally, the govt has caused their version of the bill," he added.


Team Anna has invited all political parties, as well as the Congress and therefore the BJP for Hazare's day long quick to be held at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.


The Jan Lokpal Bill is seen as a weapon to root out corruption and nepotism from the govt machinery and in public life.


The proposed Bill envisages the fitting of a national anti-corruption watchdog to visualize money mismanagement and corrupt practices that have deeply pervaded many democratic and civic establishments of India.


The 74-year-old social activist had staged an indefinite hunger strike against graft that he gave up on August twenty eight when the govt agreed to deliberate the problems raised by him and his forum vis-a-vis the passage and enactment of the Lokpal Bill, a suggestion that has received unprecedented nationwide backing. (ANI)

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Jan Lokpal practical undemocratic: Aruna Roy


New Delhi: Jan Calling Lokpal Anna Hazare of Bill "impractical and difficult," said social activist and National Advisory Council (NAC) member Aruna Roy said that the administration of widespread powers to an unelected body is a "threat to democracy."

"Jan Lokpal bill is unenforceable. It derails the checks and balances between the judicial, executive and other organs of the democratic structure," Roy, 65, who pioneered the right to information (RTI) movement in the country, told IANS in an interview.
Jan Lokpal practical undemocratic: Aruna Roy


"Not that we agree with the government's bill Lokpal. Lokpal legislation must be fully conscious again by activists, legislators and other stakeholders.

"We, of course, support for the democratic right to hold demonstrations Hazare and fast against the government. That is why we condemned the arrest of Hazare" he said.

"But we have a meeting with them, though hold meetings including in meetings and events of common interest," he said.

Asked about the large Hazare has attracted public support, Roy said: "There have been mass rallies in support of NGO-sponsored agitation, as the Narmada Bachao No advertising may be similar, as live TV was not there then .. "

Roy and his fellow activists of the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) have prepared an alternate version of the bill Lokpal, which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of parliament.

Roy, a Magsaysay award winner, said Jan Lokpal bill is an "exercise of a giant, complicated," as they sought to extend from the first minister to a pawn.

"He wants to take the higher courts in your area, which otherwise should have been according to the Judicial Responsibility and Standards Bill, 2010," he said.

It was felt that the suggestion of the dual duties - to curb corruption and repair damage - under the Lokpal Jan was not feasible.

"The Lokpal Jan is a threat to democracy as a powerful and unelected agency can lead to abuse of power and abuse of authority. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," he joked.

"Mitigating complaint should not be the role of Lokpal, but must be the work of the executive.

"Behold, the wages of hundreds of thousands of workers in the NREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) in Rajasthan have not been paid. But that is due to the shortage of banks and other bureaucratic hurdles, "he said.

The massive organizational settings suggested in Lokpal Jan will lead to corruption and inefficiency, he said.

"You may be able to find 11 members Lokpal integrity, but it is difficult to create a clean implementation of thousands of employees and hold them accountable," said Roy.

The government drafted Lokpal is also deficient in several fronts, he said. Because it excludes cases in state, there can be an investigation into the cases as the scandal of society Adarsh ​​housing scam Commonwealth Games and the illegal mining in Karnataka.

She said that excluding the prime minister and the higher courts were wrong. "This was wrong. No one should be above the law," he said, adding that there must be safeguards. "Since both the Lokpal and the Supreme Court should agree on an investigation against the prime minister."

Roy also suggested that court rules and Accountability Bill should be reviewed to facilitate the adoption of effective measures against the superior courts, while the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) should be strengthened to investigate the minor officials.

Bill whistleblowers protection should also be revised to meet the increasing attacks and threats against RTI activists, he suggested.

"Lokpal Bill should not become a matter of inflexible positions, political rivalries and personality disturbances engine. What we need is an honest and detailed discussion of the legislation of a huge social importance and public concern" he said.

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Jan Lokpal Bill: Hazare's struggle dangerous method of protest for democracy?

Anna Hazare Transformation of an "unelected corrupt tyrant" to "pure Gandhi" in the political lexicon of the Congress was swift and telling. The "Facing Anna" political software uploaded by Manish Tiwari his spokesman was quickly dismissed Interior Minister P Chidambaram said a reboot party interactive computer program with a more submissive. Anna resistance than expected. The fight against corruption was always strong resistance, especially those made in power and reaping a good measure of the good do not deserve it at the expense of the people.

Resistance failed because the termites of corruption has reached into all branches of the administration infuriating citizens who remain frustrated with the lack of an effective system to mitigate it. The Supreme Court had been so in 2003 and said: "The tentacles of corruption is spreading rapidly in society corrodes moral character and thus in most cases the country's economic structure. It has assumed alarming proportions in recent times. "

Raja of Manda, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the end of 1980 rebelled against the Congress to float a National Front to fight corruption, which smelled only when the Bofors scam hit the headlines. A close associate of Rajiv Gandhi had made a fool then Singh's team as a "national disgrace".

A victory Singh became the prime minister and set the stage for coalition governments in India. Experience shows that the fruits of his crusade against corruption was canceled as coalition governments produced some of the most corrupt regimes.

Anna Fast inflexible for passing Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament reflects the frustration of the people on corruption, which slows the benefits reach those most in need, either for admission to school or get a job. The authenticity of the complaints do not always give sanctity to the method of agitation. Is pressed, regardless of peaceful, institutions have been created through years of operation of the gagging of democracy views? No one can deny the need to correct course when. But courses are not corrected by whipping a frenzy among people with the promise that Jan Lokpal Bill is the only way to nirvana of corruption. What is needed is self-correcting.

Anna crusade against corruption is right. However, the "agree or fast unto death" struggle correct method? Alarmingly, Anna's supporters are increasingly adopting the "O support us or against us argument. Disagree suffocating for the brand is dangerous to democracy and has been in vogue for some time in this country.

If you do not agree with Congress, becomes a Sanghi. If the counters BJP, which is named as a leftist. If the counters of a social activist, becomes part of anti-social elements or the forces of fascism. What they forget is that a citizen has the right to freedom of expression, including the right to dissent.

The other way is equally frustrating. Elected representatives who receive a mandate to govern for five years are equally intolerant of their policies and work being put in doubt. They argue that if people are unhappy they have the right to vote out of office after 5 years. Do you mean by 5 years should not speak out? It was absurd to suggest that Anna and his followers were incited by a foreign hand, BJP, VHP and RSS.

In a democratic set up, institutions must be strengthened, not bypassed or ridiculed. Anna Theme is right, but his method of agitation can not be. Anna team has to look into the need for a wider debate on the theme - the elimination of corruption. At the same time, care must be taken at whipping up a frenzy among young people in expanding the breadth of his aspiration.

Anna team can ensure political freedom, social and economic justice through this turmoil they call a revolution? They can promise that the "revolution" to create an egalitarian social and economic policy in which everyone can enjoy human rights, freedom and liberty? We wish you luck and your team in this task.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Anna Tihar leave at 11 am, the head of a Ramlila ground


New Delhi, Aug 19 (PL) Anna Hazare get out of Tihar Jail, where he has been camping out since Tuesday, after his release at 11 am today at the head of the Ramlila ground, which will host indefinte of his fast on course for a strong Lokpal.
Anna Hazare presented at the Tihar Jail in the capital
Anna Hazare presented at the Tihar Jail in the capital


"Anna will Tihar around 11 hours," said Arvind Kejriwal partner. Hundreds of followers of Hazare too have been camping outside the Tihar premises since Tuesday, when anti-corruption activist was taken to jail after his arrest.

After two days of tough negotiations, the conflict between Gandhi and the government ended early today with both sides agree that Hazare held fast for 15 days in the Ramlila ground subject to certain conditions.

Hazare received from the Delhi Police's spacious Ramlila ground for rapid change of the smaller Park JP. Significantly, the team Hazare made it clear that his fast would not be a quick death and will be on hunger strike until only his health allows.

Hazare 73 years of age in a video recorded inside the Tihar Jail, said the protests "all my brothers and sisters, elders and children" is giving a "new energy" for fasting.

He said people were fed up with corruption and the government should not take long for a strong Lokpal bill.

Hazare, who is on the third day of fasting in Tihar Jail, also said he is "tired" at all.

Hazare Impact: 2 panchayats Pune APMC bribery survey again

Two villages in the district of Pune are setting a great example of how to fight corruption in action and not just shouting slogans and waving flags.

Gram panchayat members of the village in Shirur Taluka Jambut, Pune district have decided to return the money they received from a candidate to challenge thefor Market Committee of Agricultural Products (APMC) polls to cast votes in his favor.

During a meeting gram panchayat, the village head Balkrushna Kad said: "It is the first step if you fight against corruption in our level."
Other members immediately decided to return the money he received from his vows, but for the APMC election, held recently. They have decided to use the money to develop the village school.

Inspired by this movement, the gram panchayat and cooperative members of society of the near-Yemai Kavathe town also decided to collect the bribe money and use it to rebuild the temple in the village.

The last days of Anna Hazare was a movie theater, amazing and almost surreal.

It all started with high claims by ministers and spokespersons of the Congress that Gandhi, 74 years old and his small group of advisers were dressed in corruption and had no right to take away the power of Parliament (read Congress and its cronies), went on to threaten action against all the law into their own hands and trying to blackmail the government by threatening to go to a quick death to (wonder what Gandhi would have to say about it!) and within 24 hours to face the wrath of the people of India to change the language of "Hazare" to "Anna Hazareji" and tracking to meet your demands.

What a pathetic performance by the government. And what an amazing affirmation of the strength of the people who not only challenged the arrogance of those in power, but successfully reversed the pyramid of power within hours.
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To understand why Congress did what he did - Hazare and his team first attack, then move them from the hunger strike and then arrest him at his residence in the early hours of the morning, and then sent to jail Tihar - will be needed to understand the character of a party that has operated under a dynasty for decades.

Dynasties survive in servility, and to ensure that there is disagreement, increasingly authoritarian through a syndrome of the chicken and the egg, which gives birth to another.

Dynasties also generate mediocrity to reward loyalty over intelligence and merit. There is the belief of being better than others, and therefore encourage the arrogance, even frown on dissent. And above all, dynasties as a result of the combination of the above to lose touch with the people, governing themselves and their cronies, not the people in general.

All this and more has been on display for years, but more so in the days leading to the arrest of Anna Hazare and subsequent release. The Congress and its government was totally unable to understand the mood of the people in charge of a cabinet of politicians who have never met people in an election. Most of them are in the position because of the Nehru-Gandhi family, and spend all their time on pleasing the last to serve the people.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, chaired the incredible drama of errors, the Congress heir Rahul Gandhi at his side.

The missiles Congress - in the form of P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal and Manish Tiwari - broke with the result that when the people took to the streets in anger, all became the target of criticism. And in the fury of the people, the government dragged back into the woodwork, desperately trying to undo all he had done.

The first sign of this concern was the almost apologetic press conferences and even pompous in the hands of powerful ministers who have taken extreme pleasure in the months in issuing threats against all those concerned and in accordance with government policies.

There was a show of the interior minister insists that Hazare had been arrested by the Delhi police, and that while he was well informed, which was certainly not in charge of the operation. Incredible! The day began with the arrest of Hazare ended with authorities Tihar asked to leave and accept each of its terms. The pomp that had emerged from the voices of Sibals and Tiwaris of Congress, who tried to get to the crisis he had created.

The story is no longer under arrest Hazare, but the impact of his arrest and release. The Congress, if at all able to read the letter of the people, see the writing on the wall and start counting your days. The anger against the government has spread throughout the country, and is almost certain that this movement are linked to the very important and vital struggle for the land that is happening in several states.

This is essential to give real substance to the movement, especially as land acquisition by the government to the private sector and the real estate mafia is one of the greatest acts of corruption in this country. It is encouraging that Hazare in his comments before his arrest, made this link and you can only expect that the movement is embracing the ongoing struggles across the country.

It is also clear that the political class is already feeling the pressure. The SP has been ambivalent to the issue of corruption for obvious reasons, came out in support of Hazare. The Mayawati Government in UP took action against a corrupt minister even though he had defended in the assembly. The Left and the BJP are on board this movement of people.

The regional parties, including allies of the Congress will not be able to swim against the current now as they know the dangers of being swept away, despite not wanting to, will have to follow people who just needed a catalyst to express repressed anger with the governments of the day. State governments are under pressure and with one of the largest protests taking place in Bangalore, where the BJP has been a free ride on the rollercoaster corruption.

All this, if you follow the logical course, will make the UPA unstable and weak. The current congressional leadership will not be able to stem the tide, as it lacks the brain's resources to do so. People in power and it is unlikely that government will be able to function as it has done over the past eight years. There is tremendous anger against the government's attempt to remove the democratic space and peoples right to protest. The government, of course, has become little monkeys Gandhi, unable to hear, see or speak.

Hazare Tihar leave at 11 am today: Kejriwal

Civil society activist Anna Hazare get out of Tihar jail Ramlila ground around 11 am Friday, where he will continue his fast with a strong bill against corruption, his aide said Arvind Kejriwal.

"He (Hazare) off the meeting once it gets out of jail and out of a Ramlila ground.'d Come out of Tihar jail around 11 am," Kejriwal told a news channel.
"Crowds gathered to support Anna Hazare are spiritual, and there have been incidents of violence so far in the country at political rallies easily turn violent," said Kejriwal.

"We have asked all our supporters that if they see someone with an unusual behavior, you should contact the police immediately," he said.

Hazare, 74, was scheduled to begin his fast a stronger bill Lokpal JP Park in the area of ​​the ICO Tuesday.

Delhi Police imposed certain conditions before the protest could afford. Hazare however refused to accept, after which police detained him and his staff Tuesday.
He was sent to Tihar and was later released on Tuesday night but refused to leave jail until he can perform the fast without any conditions. Hazare is expected to continue his fast Ramlila ground Friday.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Combating corruption and communalism should go hand in hand

New Delhi: South Asia Bar Association Minorities (SAML) today called on the government and civil society groups to give equal importance to the fight against communalism that has been granted against corruption. In a resolution adopted at the debate entitled "Corruption, Lok Pal and the rule of law," the SAMLA urged all concerned to use a consensus against corruption to find an effective solution to the problem, both at central and state without defaming and denigrating personalities.

Speaking at the debate, Salman Khurshid, Minister for Minority Affairs and member of the committee bill set for Lok Pal expressed confidence that the committee could prepare a draft acceptable to all. He reiterated that the Union government has pledged to fight corruption and to reach a consensus on the Lok Pal Bill.

Eminent filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said it was deep anger against corruption among the public and Anna Hazare was able to expand that anger. He said the fight against corruption can not succeed unless the issue of communalism was given the same importance.

Eminent journalist Vidya Subramanium said that India had witnessed two movements fighting against corruption in 1974 and 1989 JP under VP Singh, but gave no place to check corruption and that these movements lack of ideological direction. He stressed that the fight against corruption should not try to vitiate the atmosphere against politicians and personalities to open discussion that could be done on the subject.

Professor Afzal Wani, a professor of law at Indraprastha University, said a major factor behind the prevalence of corruption in the country was our failure to become a society that lives by the values ​​given by the Constitution. He said that there was a need to develop a doctrine of separation of functions instead of the separation of powers.

Prominent human rights activist and lawyer Ashok Agrawal said Anna Hazare was a symbol of deep anger of society against corruption. He said his views on Narendra Modi were significant. He said the expression of popular anger against the problems that affect the lives of citizens are legitimate and should be encouraged to strengthen democracy. Deplored the restrictions on public places, especially the prohibition of demonstrations in Boat Club and said such actions by successive governments were directed to limit the popular expression and movement towards a "regulated democracy."

Navaid Hamid, member of National Integration Council, said that the decoupling of the issue of corruption in the fight against communalism had given impetus to the communal forces in the country. He cited the JP movement and the movement VP Singh as examples of such dangers. He said combating communalism should be an integral part of the fight against corruption.

Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, president of All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat, supported the movement against corruption and said the fight must be carried to its logical conclusion by attacking corruption and other forms of discrimination, communalism, etc. He said the government must ensure that the institution of Lok Pal was free and independent. He said: "We must strive to understand the true democracy in the country where all citizens can enjoy equality, dignity and freedom."

Sunday, June 12, 2011

CPI-M to launch movement against corruption, black money

Hyderabad, June 12 - The Communist Party of India-Marxist - Domingo said he will consult the parties have left to start a movement to demand action to curb corruption in high places, to find the black money and bring back the illegal money hidden abroad.

The party's central committee called for a comprehensive set of measures against corruption as Lokpal effective legislation with the prime minister of competition, the creation of a National Judicial Commission to oversee the judicial system, electoral reforms to reduce use of power and money firm action to break the nexus of dominant political big business and bureaucracy.

CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters at the end of the two-day meeting of the Central Committee that the left parties to mobilize people to fight for the measures to curb corruption.

The party said the United Progressive Alliance - The government is to "show a tendency to assault on democratic rights as seen in the way they are trying to suppress protests against corruption and black money."

Warning of the UPA government against another hike in prices of petroleum products, the CPI-M said intensify its campaign against rising prices and a universal public distribution system.

The Central Committee decided to conduct "a vigorous political campaign against all the measures being proposed by the UPA government, which are contrary to the interests of the people and country."

Bring include multinational companies in the retail, continuity of public distribution system as directed against the universal PDS, policies that squeeze the farmers in agriculture and combating land ownership by corporations and property speculators roots depriving farmers of their land.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Indian Americans continue the fight against corruption in India

Houston Hindu leaders still standing in solidarity with a famous yoga guru, Swami even after Baba Ramdev and his supporters in New Delhi were removed by police when he began his fast against government corruption in India on Saturday.

Tens of fasting in the Arya Samaj of Houston, seen in a press conference Ramdev and discussed how the injustice done to him more than help them combat corruption in their country of origin.

"As an American Indian with no real connection other than the dharma or cultural connection with Bharat (Mother India), we have to support the movement for a free Bharat corruption," said Amit Misra, a lawyer in Houston. "Here in the U.S. to live a life free of corruption. Bharat could not be. It's a shame. To live an honest life, the middle class, who are better in the U.S. than in Bharat. It's a shame. "

The Hindu American Federation has also called attention to the incident with Ramdev, and 50,000 fans, as a human rights issue.

"The free, middle-of-the-night attack on Baba Ramdev and tens of thousands of peaceful supporters was disgusting to witness, and a clear attempt to divert attention from an unwillingness of the current government to curb corruption in ranks, "said Jay Kansara, an assistant director of the HAF. Reports say about 40 of Ramdev's supporters were injured in police actions at the weekend.

India has not ratified the UN Convention against Corruption as 140 countries and is being accused of hiding "black money" in foreign banks.

Ramdev, who has visited Houston to lead yoga retreats and working with MD Anderson in yoga as a possible treatment for cancer, has an international following numbering in the millions, thanks to its popular television program.

His last quick Mahtama has been compared to Gandhi, whose nonviolent protests contributed to the struggle for independence from India.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Indian police break up protest yoga guru to fight corruption



Thousands of people gathered in support of rapid Swami Ramdev in New Delhi. Photo: Anindita Mukherjee / EPA

Indian police have used tear gas and batons to disperse a mass protest against corruption led by the guru of India's most famous yoga in the last high-level confrontation between authorities and activists.

At least 30 people were injured, several seriously, in scenes of chaos in the capital, Delhi, after talks between the government and the saffron-robed guru Swami Ramdev to end the protest broke down.

As government officials appeared on television threatens "decisive action", the police showed up and began to disperse tens of thousands of protesters, many from rural areas or small towns, who had gathered under a tent in the center the capital. Some of Ramdev's supporters threw stones at police.

Ramdev, who rose from humble origins to run an empire of 20 million pounds of ashrams and alternative medicine, was arrested while trying to dress up in women's clothes, and was transferred to the northern town of Haridwar, which has its headquarters.

"I could not imagine a more clumsy handling government," said Professor Jayati Ghosh, an Indian economist and respected analyst.

Ramdev, which attracts television audiences of up to 30 million euros and international network of ashrams which includes one on an island in Scotland, had begun his fast "unto death" on Saturday morning.

The incident is likely to further embarrass the government into crisis Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and fuel public anger over a series of huge corruption scandals.

Corruption has long been a problem in India. Payment of bribes is a small part of everyday life and ministers, bureaucrats, military and other officials repeatedly found to have made large sums of money illegally.

The issue has become a focus of frustration with the current government, a coalition led by the Congress Party. A recent scam may have cost the country up to £ 25 billion.

The leaders of the main opposition party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attacked the Congress party and said the police action was "a shameful chapter in democracy of this country."

Ramdev criticized the Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Italian origin, saying that she did not seem to love the Indians, a charge often made by right in India.

Congress party figures said that Ramdev was linked to opposition parties, including extremist Hindu nationalist groups.

Digvijay Singh, a senior Congress leader had earlier questioned Ramdev luxurious lifestyle and called his campaign a "five star" of protest, accused the guru of inciting people.

"We can not allow people like Ramdev run riot in a capital city like Delhi. Some laws, some rules must be followed," said Singh. "And while he has been allowed to yoga Shivir [field], what was he doing there?" He was trying to agitate people. "

Political analysts say the recent campaign against corruption has, in part, met the public support because they exist outside the established policy. However, both Ramdev and Anna Hazare, a veteran social activist who launched a similar protest against corruption in April, are deeply conservative views on a wide range of issues.

Ramdev does not like Coca-Cola and Western clothing, believes that the World Health Organization is a Western conspiracy and is openly homophobic. Hazare is a strict teetotaler, he believes in flogging and prohibited snuff, beef and cable television in the town where he lives near the center of the city of Pune. Both men favor the death penalty for crimes of corruption.

"Ramdev and Hazare are fundamentally very popular," said Garcia. "They are authoritarian, with a simple message and are very socially and politically conservative. Figures are presented as moral, but are not."

Both men also oppose the political arena itself, a possible reason for the increased intensity of their activism.

Hazare on Sunday pledged to fast again. So did Ramdev, who plans to launch a political party to participate in the general election of 2014.

"My hunger strike is not over. I will continue the fast," Ramdev told a news conference.

The guru, who has made a fortune through alternative medicine, has asked the government to pursue billions of dollars in illegal funds abroad. Huge amounts of money have disappeared from India, one of the fastest growing economies in the world in recent decades.

Ramdev also called for a ban on high-denomination notes - 500 and 1,000 rupees (£ 7 and £ 14) - representing a huge amount of money for the hundreds of millions of people in India living on less than £ 1 day.

Corruption is said to be present at such a large scale in India, threatening the continuity of the country's economic success, pushing the stock market and investor concern.

Analysts are concerned that recent examples of corruption in the new post of fundamental reforms aimed at boosting foreign investment and improve the deplorable infrastructure in India, many projects which have been repeatedly postponed, partly due to opposition protests over the corruption that causes the parliamentary deadlock.
Corruption in India

Recent high-profile scandals in India have included corruption scam 2G - the name of the mobile phone technology in India which reportedly sold off at cut-rate price in exchange for bribes - and complaints of fraud in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi. 2G The scam is believed to have cost the country up to £ 25 billion. An investigation has resulted in the jailing of a former minister and daughter of a political leader in southern India. An investigation into the 2010 Games is ongoing, but has led to the arrest of senior positions in the ruling Congress Party.

Other scandals have included a luxury development built for the widows of war heroes was appropriated by politicians, senior officials and bureaucrats in the commercial capital of Mumbai, and the revelations of corruption in state programs subsidized food distribution the poor. In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where 200 million poor people live mainly in the extent of corruption and the scope of the program, potentially the largest single instance of corruption in the world, with tens of thousands of officials, thousands of politicians and more than £ 30 billion dollars in aid involved.

Few sectors have been touched. A recent scandal was less cash to influence. A series of wiretaps released to the media revealed the corporate lobbyists, apparently discussing the appointment of cabinet ministers and journalists. There are scandals regularly over "paid news" by the newspapers which accept cash to run particular stories. Senior bank officials have been accused of accepting bribes for granting loans to companies. Many senior judges are alleged to be corrupt. A former chief justice is investigating.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Shoot the corrupt: Baba Ramdev

Those found guilty of corruption should be shot dead, the yoga guru Baba Ramdev said Sunday during a protest at Bharat Swabhiman his political party against alleged graft in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games. "India needs to run atleast 20 corrupt officials to terrorize the corrupt min
isters who have made a fortune at the expense of taxpayers, "he said, referring to the alleged corruption surrounding the Games.

"We must follow the Chinese example of shooting to death those found guilty of corruption. India can not emerge financially to politicians, bureaucrats and officials to defraud Indian taxpayers are punished," said Ramdev, addressing supporters at his rally of protest in Jantar Mantar in central Delhi.

Ramdev went to the concentration after returning from the Police Station Parliament Street, where, along with former police officer Kiran Bedi and the right to information (RTI) activist Arvind Kejriwal Sunday filed a first- information against the alleged corruption in the 3 to October 14 games.