News-Social activist Anna Hazare ends his 12 day old fast

Social activist Anna Hazare ends his 12 day old fast

Social activist Anna Hazare ended his fast this morning on the 12th day after Parliament unanimously agreed in principle with his three demands to deal with corruption. The 74-year-old Hazare accepted a glass of tender coconut water mixed with honey from two little girls at the Ramlila Ground to end his fast that began on the 16th of August. Addressing the gathering Hazare said that he has just deferred his agitation but the fight will continue. Outlining his future agenda, he emphasized reforms in election and education systems and working for the betterment of farmers and labourers. He also sought decentralisation of power, saying the real power should rest with gram sabhas. He called upon the people to protect environment and reasonable use of natural resources for the sake of better future of next generation. He thanked all for this victory.

“I thank every body because the victory which has been received regarding the significant three issues in Jan Lokpal, is the victory of every countryman. It is the victory of you people who stood here”

After his brief address, the social activist was taken to a private Hospital atGurgaon for a medical check up and he is likely to remain there for a couple of days . Earlier, one of his close aides Arvind Kejriwal thanked the Parliamentarians and leaders of political parties for their support to the demands made by team Anna. Various political parties welcomed the ending of Anna Hazare's fast. Congress today said it is a "win-win situation" for all stakeholders. Talking to media persons in New Delhi, Union Law Minister and Senior Congress Leader Salman Khurshid said that the government wants a better system in the country to protect the interest of common man. He congratulated Mr Hazare for his totally peaceful and successful agitation. BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said that they will fully support setting up a strong and effective Lok Pal.JD(U) spokesman Shivanand Tiwary said that his party is committed to the eradication of corruption and for a strong Lok Pal.

News- Finance Minister is for a change in the system

Finance Minister says there is a need for a change in the system to fight corruption; Members also call for reforms in Judiciary

Winding up the debate in the Lok Sabha, Mr Mukherjee said there is a need for a change in the system to check corruption and the government is doing so. He, however, said one single law how much strong and empowered it may be cannot completely eradicate corruption.

“Lokpal bill alone cannot root out corruption. We need multi-layer laws to deal with the corruption at various level. In addition to the lokpal bill, we are willing to strengthen the judicial accountability bill, whistle blower's bill and the includes of Shri Anna Hazare and his associates will be taken into consideration. We are also working on a grievance redressal bill to tackle corruption at the local level”

Mr Mukherjee hoped that with the unanimous adoption of the resolution Anna Hazare will break the fast and the agitation will come to an end. Participating in the debate Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj while pledging full support to the three demands of Team Anna called for bringing Prime Minister in its ambit with except for national security and public order and also advocated to bring a separate legislation for setting up the National Judicial Accountability commission.

Sandeep Dixit from Congress strongly supported the points brought into focus by the Finance Minister and pleaded for sometime to prepare the required mechanism for operationalisation of citizen charter. He also stressed the need to create a separate mechanism to deal with malpractices in corporate sectors and NGOs.

In the Rajya Sabha the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Arun Jaitley said that while framing the legislation, care should be taken so that there is no interference or overlapping of powers between the Centre and the States. He opined that the appointment and performance of Judges cannot be left to judges alone. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister and Senior Congress leader opposed the proposal of Prime Minister's inclusion in the Lokpal. Agreeing with the basic premise that Lokayuktas need to be appointed in all States to deal with corruption he said it has to be implemented keeping in view the federal structure of the country. Several other prominent parliamentarians who participated in the in the two Houses, so far they include Mr. Sudeep Bandhopadhyay of TMC, Sharad Yadad , JDU, Revti Raman Singh ,SP, Dara Singh Chauhan, BSP, T.K. S. Elegovan, DMK, Sitaram Yechury, CPIM and Lalu Prassad ,JDU.

News- Finance Minister is for a change in the system

Finance Minister says there is a need for a change in the system to fight corruption; Members also call for reforms in Judiciary

Winding up the debate in the Lok Sabha, Mr Mukherjee said there is a need for a change in the system to check corruption and the government is doing so. He, however, said one single law how much strong and empowered it may be cannot completely eradicate corruption.

“Lokpal bill alone cannot root out corruption. We need multi-layer laws to deal with the corruption at various level. In addition to the lokpal bill, we are willing to strengthen the judicial accountability bill, whistle blower's bill and the includes of Shri Anna Hazare and his associates will be taken into consideration. We are also working on a grievance redressal bill to tackle corruption at the local level”

Mr Mukherjee hoped that with the unanimous adoption of the resolution Anna Hazare will break the fast and the agitation will come to an end. Participating in the debate Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj while pledging full support to the three demands of Team Anna called for bringing Prime Minister in its ambit with except for national security and public order and also advocated to bring a separate legislation for setting up the National Judicial Accountability commission.

Sandeep Dixit from Congress strongly supported the points brought into focus by the Finance Minister and pleaded for sometime to prepare the required mechanism for operationalisation of citizen charter. He also stressed the need to create a separate mechanism to deal with malpractices in corporate sectors and NGOs.

In the Rajya Sabha the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Arun Jaitley said that while framing the legislation, care should be taken so that there is no interference or overlapping of powers between the Centre and the States. He opined that the appointment and performance of Judges cannot be left to judges alone. Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Union Minister and Senior Congress leader opposed the proposal of Prime Minister's inclusion in the Lokpal. Agreeing with the basic premise that Lokayuktas need to be appointed in all States to deal with corruption he said it has to be implemented keeping in view the federal structure of the country. Several other prominent parliamentarians who participated in the in the two Houses, so far they include Mr. Sudeep Bandhopadhyay of TMC, Sharad Yadad , JDU, Revti Raman Singh ,SP, Dara Singh Chauhan, BSP, T.K. S. Elegovan, DMK, Sitaram Yechury, CPIM and Lalu Prassad ,JDU.

News- Parliament unanimously agrees on a resolution of Team Anna

Parliament unanimously agrees on a resolution on three demands of Team Anna on Lokpal issue

Prospects of Anna Hazare breaking his 12 day fast have further brightened with Parliament unanimously agreeing to a resolution in principle to their three demands. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha agreed to the resolution conveying the sense of the two Houses on the demands of Team Anna. The demands included setting up of Lok Ayukatas at state levels, bringing lower bureaucracy under the ambit of the Lokpal and the charter that makes response of the government to citizen's issues time bound. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, both Houses also resolved that the resolution will be sent to the Standing Committee now looking into the Lokpal bill for its perusal.

“There is in principle agreement on Citizen's Charter, Lower Bureauracy to be brought under the Lokpal through appropriate mechanism, establishment of a Lokayukta in the states. Having agreed in principle this House, Madam Speaker, I will request you to transmit the entire proceedings of this House, to the relevent standing committee for their perusal to further their recommendations for the bill which will be able to sent to us for consideration at the appropriate time”

News-Rahul Gandhi Calls for Strengthening Lokpal by making Constitutional body

Rahul Gandhi Calls for Strengthening Lokpal by making Constitutional body

AICC General Secretary and Member of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Friday called for a stronger Lokpal by making it a Constitutional body like the Election Commission. He said a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme is essential to deal effectively with the menace of corruption. Rahul thanked, Anna Hazare saying Anna has helped articulate public sentiment against corruption.

Making a statement in the Loksabha on Friday he asserted that the real question before the members of Parliament is to take the battle against corruption head-on. He said, corruption can't be wished away, as it will require a comprehensive programme of action. He said, he had serious doubts about the perception that the enactment of a single bill will eradicate corruption.

Rahul said, Lokpal alone cannot be a substitute to anti-corruption code and a set of effective laws is required covering various fields. He said, these include government funding of elections and political parties, transparency in public procurement, proper regulation of sectors fueling corruption like land in mining, tax reforms and grievance redressal mechanism in public service delivery.

He urged public representatives to work together to ensure parliament functions at its optimum capacity and enacts these laws in a just and time bound manner.

He cautioned that a tactical incursion divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and balances to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy.

He reminded that today it is a proposed law against corruption, tomorrow it can be an issue that attacks the plurality of the society and democracy. He called for moving democracy deeper into villages and cities and urged the members to commit themselves to truth and probity in public life.

Speaking to reporters outside parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that his proposal to set up an Election Commission like body to deal with the menace of corruption is a game changing idea.

News- Parliament likely to discuss various versions of Lokpal Bill

Parliament likely to discuss various versions of Lokpal Bill today; Anna Hazare fast enters 11^th day

Parliament is likely to discuss the Lokpal bill today. Talking to reporters after a high level meeting at Prime Minister's residence, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government has decided to put all the drafts proposed for Lokpal bill for discussions in Parliament including Jan Lok Pal bill and the document prepared by Aruna Roy and others for a stringent anti-corruption bill.

He added that government is exploring options to hold discussions on a three sticky points emerged in the talks with team Anna. These points include discussions on adoption of citizen charter, establishment of state Lokayukta and inclusion of lower bureaucracy under the ambit of Lokpal.

Meanwhile, hectic parleys are on to break the logjam over the shape of the Lokpal Bill. Four rounds of talks have already been held between Team Anna and the Government. Union Minister of Science and Technology Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh met Anna Hazare to break the impasse.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and leaders from all other political parties in the Lok Sabha requested Anna Hazare to end his fast. Dr. Manmohan Singh said that Anna Hazare has registered his protest and he should end his fast.

The BJP, after initial reluctance, announced its support to the Team Anna Lokpal bill. Senior party leader Arun Jaitley after meeting with representatives of Anna Hazare last night said that his party also want strong Lokpal bill but it should be adhered to the constitution.

After a high level meeting at New Delhi on Thursday night, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the dialogue with team Anna will continue and requested social activist Anna Hazare to end his fast as requested unanimously across the spectrum.

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said that with the approval of Parliament the full draft of the Lokpal Bill will be sent to Standing Committee for its consideration so that a strong Lokpal bill can be formed having maximum consensus.

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare's fast has entered 11th day today. However, the health condition of Anna Hazare is stable. Dr. Naresh Trehan, who is monitoring his health, informed last evening that Anna has lost over six kgs. of weight.

News- Government calls all party meet to solve Lokpal issue

Government calls all party meet to solve Lokpal issue

Government has convened an all-party meeting tomorrow to find a way to solve the Lok Pal issue. Leaders of all political parties have been invited to attend the meet scheduled for 3.30 pm tomorrow. No headway has been made so far in the talks between the government and the Civil Society activists in the behind the scene talks. Official sources said, government is of the view that some of the demands put forth by Hazare and his associates, require a wider political consensus before a decision could be taken. In a related development, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today held a detailed meeting with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, looking into the Lokpal Bill. Singhvi had yesterday said that difference between the government and Hazare on Lokpal Bill were more to do with methodology rather than content and said, the Committee is open to all kinds of opinions and inputs to send a strong and acceptable Lokpal Bill back to Parliament. Congress Member Praveen Singh Aron has already submitted a copy of Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill for consideration of the Committee.

A close aide of Anna, Arvind Kejriwal has suggested that government should either withdraw the official Bill or amend it by including provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, he said, Hazare has not insisted that he will talk only with Prime Minister or Congress.

The fast of Anna Hazare entered the 8th day today. Doctors have advised him not to venture into the sun as it could have a negative impact on his health.

Nine non-BJP, non-Congress, political parties are observing a nationwide protest today against the government's version of the Lokpal Bill. The Members of Parliament belonging to these parties held a protest demonstration in front of the statue of Mahatama Gandhi in Parliament complex this morning. They were demanding an effective legislation to end corruption in high places.