Earthquake in Sikkim 42 dead across India.

Gangtok:  At least 42 people have died in India, most of them in Sikkim, others in neighbouring Bihar and West Bengal. The earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter Scale and was centred on the Sikkim-Nepal border 64 kilometres north-west of Gangtok, is the region's worst in 60 years. Among the toughest parts of the recovery is the operation to re-open National Highway 31A which connects Sikkim to the rest of the country, and is needed to bring in food and other supplies.

At a hospital in Siliguri, a man being moved on a stretcher says he wants to share his story. "I was driving in my car," he said, "and suddenly there was this jolt. The windshield shattered, pieces of glass were flung at us, and our car started swerving." 12 people have also died in Nepal and Tibet, pushing the death toll to 54. Indian Home Secretary RK Singh said that number may rise as rescue and relief operations progress. Heavy rain in the area caused landslides through the night and much of today, making it tough for doctors and others to reach the Western and Southern districts in Sikkim. Nine helicopters are being used to airdrop food and other supplies to areas like Siliguri. A breakthrough came late this afternoon when the Army was able to clear a crucial road from Siliguri in West Bengal to Gangtok. More than 5000 Army jawans are being used to provide assistance to those affected. 2000 people have taken shelter at Army camps.

In Sikkim's capital, Gangtok, the devastation seems absolute. More than 100,000 buildings have been severely damaged. Government offices and hospitals have been left unusable. The Chief Minister cannot use his office. Water and power supply remain erratic; phone towers have been hit, making communication tough. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is headed to Darjeeling, said that her priority is to ensure that National Highways 31A and 55, damaged by landslides, are repaired urgently so that food and other supplies can be transported. Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua reported that at least seven persons have been killed and 22 others injured in Tibet.Meanwhile, a seismic observatory in Shillong said that an earthquake of 4.3 magnitude on the Richter scale shook parts of Meghalaya today.

Many injured in north Bengal, power supply disrupted.

North Bengal Affairs Minister Gautam Deb said the quake triggered landslides in Kalimpong and Kurseong sub-divisions while several patients in a nursing home in Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district were injured. Many people were injured, power supply was disrupted in parts of northern West Bengal and houses developed cracks as a powerul quake, epicentred in adjoining Sikkim, rocked the region Sunday evening. 'One sub-station has been affected in Siliguri, disrupting power supply. Most of the areas of north Bengal, including Darjeeling district, have been lashed by overnight rains. After the quake, situation has deteriorated with landslides in Kalimpong and Kurseong,' Deb said. 'The impact was more in Cooch Behar district. Jalpaiguri district has also been hit,' he said shortly after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale with its epicentre near the Sikkim-Nepal border hit the state Sunday evening,The Darjeeling district magistrate has been asked to go to the spot to see the situation first hand, the chief minister said. 'The DM of Darjeeling is already on the field assessing the situation but he may not be able to assess the whole situation right now as it is very dark out there. As Darjeeling and Kalimpong are close to the epicentre, that's why it is a bit affected as per initial reports,' Banerjee said.'But there is nothing to panic. The administration is on high alert,' she said. She said she could not contact officials of Jalpaiguri district.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that as per initial reports, power supply has been disrupted in areas near Sikkim like Kalimpong of Darjeeling district, and adjoining Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts. 
'Some houses may have developed cracks in the hills, but we are still awaiting confirmation. We are constantly monitoring the situation. If anybody is trapped, then we should all work together to rescue such people. We will help each other,' she said.
The chief minister said an emergency helpline (03322145486) has been started at the director general of police control room at the state secretariat, Writers' Buildings, in Kolkata.
Weather officials warned of more landslides in the Darjeeling hills following heavy rains.
Panic gripped Kolkata, where Durga Puja shopping was at its peak.'It was very frightful. I never had such an experience. There was an announcement on the public address system to evacuate the floor. I and my sons managed to come out fast. But there was lot of commotion at the exit gate,' said a man in his late 30s who had come to a shopping mall with his two sons.
'Due to heavy rainfall in Darjeeling hills, there are chances of landslides following the earthquake. There may also be aftershocks,' said G.C. Debnath, director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Kolkata.
Shopping malls were evacuated, people rushed to the streets, and the superstitious people blew conches to ward off evil spirit.

Severe earthquake rocks Sikkim, 20 killed.

 An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the richter scale hit North India on Sunday and the epicentre was 64 km from Gangtok in Sikkim at 6:10 pm, causing damages in the area. Mild tremors were felt in Delhi and other parts of North India. Tremors were felt in Patna, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal also.

Reports said that tremors were felt for almost 30 seconds. People in most parts of North and East India rushed out of their homes in panic.

Aftershocks measuring 6.1 and 5.3 on the richter scale were also felt around Sikkim 20 minutes after the earthquake.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, the DGP of Sikkim said that many buildings were damaged. He also said that roads were blocked and people were stranded on roads. He said that the Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has called for an emergency meeting.

Arvind Kumar, Principal Resident Commissioner of Sikkim said that there was excessive damage in the northern parts of Sikkim. He also said that the rescue operations had started in the area.

The Chief Secretary of Sikkim Karma Gyatso said that there were reports suggesting that one child succumbed to injuries after the earthquake.

There were intermittent power outages.

There were also reports of landslides following the earthquake in areas around Sikkim and also Darjeeling.

The Prime Minister also spoke to the Sikkim Chief Minister and offered all help. The Prime Minister also directed the Cabinet Secretary to call for an emergency meeting.

There were reports of damages from Bihar. Two buildings collapsed in Katihar in Bihar. The NTPC power plant in Kahalgaon in Bihar has also been shut down because of the earthquake following which North Bihar was under power crisis. One person reportedly died in Bihar in a stampede following the Earthquake.

Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi who was staying in a hotel in Bhutan said that there were minor cracks in the hotel.

RS Dattatreya, Director, Seismology in the Met Department said that there were possibility of aftershocks only in the area around the epicentre.

Earthquake News: At least 18 people have been killed - seven in India and five in Nepal - after an earthquake measuring 6.8.

New Delhi:  At least 18 people have been killed, 13 in India and five in Nepal, and over 100 are injured after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale shook Sikkim this evening. Strong tremors were also felt in parts of North and East India and parts of Bangladesh and Nepal, causing widespread panic. The epicentre of the quake is said to be just 64 kilometres North-West of Gangtok. (First Pictures)

Seven people, including two Armymen, were killed in Sikkim and 33 others received injuries there. In Bihar, a seven-year-old girl was among two dead. Four more died in West Bengal. Of the five people killed in Nepal, three casualties were reported from Kathmandu, where the British embassy collapsed and smashed a car. Tremors were felt in Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata, New Delhi and the National Capital Region, which sent thousands of people running out of their homes. (Forum: Did you feel the tremors?)

Three aftershocks, of magnitude 5.7, 5.1 and 4.6 were also felt in Sikkim, says the India Meteorological Department. (Buzz on Twitter)

Many buildings in Sikkim developed cracks, including the Sikkim Manipal University building.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has launched search and rescue operations in the Pegong area of north Sikkim which has been "badly affected." The ITBP rescued 15 foreign tourists and 150 villagers in their operations. They have been moved to battalion headquarters. Rescue operations are, however, being hampered by heavy rainfall and landslides. (Read: ITBP rescue 15 tourists, 150 villagers)

Apart from five civilians, two Army personnel have also died in Sikkim. There has also been extensive damage to Army structures in North Sikkim. One Army bus and several Army vehicles are also missing in the region. Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been rushed to Sikkim and five more teams were being sent from Kolkata, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Kumar Seth told reporters after a meeting of top officials in Delhi convened on the direction of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The PM has also spoken to Sikkim's Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and offered help. (Read: PM orders meeting of disaster authority)    

10 engineer columns are moving from Siliguri to clear the four blockages in the Siliguri-Gangtok route. Large amount of civilians have been accommodated in Kalimpong in West Bengal and other places in Sikkim. There is no electricity in Gangtok and Darjeeling. Telephone lines have also snapped in some parts of Sikkim; phone lines are congested in West Bengal. (Read: Many hurt in Bengal, power supply disrupted)

Five Indian Air Force planes have also been pressed into action for relief operations. Small Army columns in Sikkim have also been mobilised post the earthquake. The quake comes just days after an earthquake of 4.2 magnitude hit Haryana's Sonepat district, sending tremors in New Delhi. (Read: Sikkim quake is India's fourth this September)

Petrol price hike was decision of oil marketing firms: Pranab.

Amid resentment over the sharp hike in petrol prices, the Government today distanced itself from the decision saying the call was taken by oil marketing firms. "So far as petrol price is concerned, petrol has been deregulated. It is the oil marketing companies' review," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said when asked about the Rs 3.14 per litre hike.


He was talking to reporters after launching Land of Two Rivers, a book written by Nitish Sengupta in New Delhi.  Yesterday the state-owned oil companies hiked petrol prices stating that depreciation of Rupee increased the cost of crude oil imports. This is the second major hike in four months. In May, petrol price was increased by Rs 5 per litre. While the UPA ally Trinamool Congress has already demanded a rollback in the hike, CPI(M) termed it as "callous" and demanded restoration of the administrative regulation of petrol pricing.   The CPI(M) said that the petrol price hike comes at a time when inflation is touching double digits and this would only have a cascading effect on price rise. The RBI in its monetary policy today said that the petrol price hike would push WPI inflation up by 7 basis points. Petrol prices were freed from government control in June last year.

BJP slams govt over fuel price hike, threatens protest.

New Delhi:  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today joined the growing chorus of political outrage over the latest hike in fuel prices. Slamming the government over move, the BJP - the main opposition party - threatened to take to the streets to protest against the hike, saying it would force the government for a rollback in prices. It also rejected the government's argument of the fuel price hike being related to the fall in rupee, saying that it was faulty financial policies of the Centre that was responsible for this move.

"Congress is angry with the common man...that is why the hike", BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said. The party also exhorted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to use her clout in getting the government to reverse its decision.

Ms Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, incidentally has expressed its unhappiness after petrol prices were increases by Rs. 3.14 a litre yesterday. Senior party leader and cabinet minister Dinesh Trivedi said his party was "very upset" but that "the alliance with the UPA is not in trouble, this is a democratic way of expressing dissent." Other allies of the Congress, including the DMK and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) too have criticised the move.With the fuel issue still raging, an impending ministerial meeting to consider making cooking gas more expensive for households had to be called off today.

People's power - Anna Hazare was not the first.

The Magna Carta

In 1215, fed up with King John losing his lands, men and money in France, the barons of England made a deal with him. They wanted to protect their liberties and privileges while limiting the king's powers. It was the first document that English subjects forced on their king. Three of its clauses remain part of the country's unwritten constitution.

Women's suffrage

Women in Europe had been demanding the right to vote since the 19th century. In England, by 1914, the movement turned violent, with window-smashings and arson attacks. World War I, however, put a halt to demands, as the men went off to the warfront and more than a million women took up their jobs.

In 1918, when the war was over, the government granted women above the age of 30 the right to vote. In 1928, the right was extended to women above 21. It, of course, remains debateable if the women's movement proved successful or if the government simply appreciated the women's war efforts.

The African-American Civil Rights Movement.

Between 1955 and 1968, the movement fought to gain voting rights for Blacks in the Southern US states and ban racial discrimination. It included mass action, sit-ins and boycotts — all familiar to us Indians. Several anti-discriminatory laws were passed in these years, including those giving Blacks the right to vote. The hero of the movement was Martin Luther King.

The Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa

What began as a boycott of South African goods in other countries transformed — after the massacre of around 70 blacks in Sharpeville in 1960 — into a global ostracisation of the country's racist regime. Following intensified internal agitation and international sanctions, the apartheid laws began to be repealed in 1986.

Manmohan Singh should learn from Indira Gandhi: Anna Hazare.

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has given his first interview to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai.

Following is the transcript of the interview:

Rajdeep Sardesai: Has the saint of Ralegan become the country's hero?

Anna Hazare: I am a simple worker. It is not proper to call me a saint, otherwise people will just come to visit me and not do any work.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Did you ever imagine 5-6 months back that your fast at Jantar Mantar would have such a huge impact? You have been fasting since 1986. You have sat on 11 fasts. Did you ever think this fast would have such an impact?

Anna Hazare: I too sometimes think of this. Why did the country rally behind a Fakir like me. Perhaps it is God's wish that I have to do something good for this country, that he has created me.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you think you would have managed such a support had you done this agitation in Ralegan or in Mumbai?

Anna Hazare: This is true. Delhi is India's capital and the media helped in taking the agitation to every home in the country.

Rajdeep Sardesai: What is the biggest achievement of this agitation?

Anna Hazare: The biggest achievement of this agitation is the rise of the youth, because of their fervour it is now a matter of time before India gets rid of corruption.

Rajdeep Sardesai: But corruption cannot be eradicated by mere sloganeering. Corruption cannot be rid only by wearing Anna's cap.

Anna Hazare: This I have said earlier also. One does not become Anna by merely writing 'I am Anna' on the cap. To become Anna you have to have high morals, be ready to sacrifice, be prepared for humiliations and continue to burn like a lamp.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you agitate again if the standing committee does not accept your suggestions in the Jan Lokpal Bill?

Anna Hazare: Yes we will agitate, but this time not against parliament. We will identify parliamentarians in the standing committee who oppose the bill and sing bhajans in front of their houses and during elections go to their constituencies and prevail upon the voters not to vote for such people.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Does this mean you are slowly moving towards politics?

Anna Hazare: There is no politics in this. We are against corruption which is ruining this country and making the common man miserable. This is an effort to make the country a better place to live in.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Your opponents may say that if you insist on only your version of the Jan Lokpal Bill, it will amount to blackmail?

Anna Hazare: We are not saying accept our version of the Bill as it is. But we want a good Bill in the interest of the country.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Are you ready to accept suggestions from activists like Jayaprakash Narayan and Aruna Roy who too have their own versions of the Jan lokpal Bill.

Anna Hazare: Absolutely.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Are you ready to compromise on the Jan Lokpal Bill?

Anna Hazare: If there are good suggestions we will accept them.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So you are ready to talk to other activists.

Anna Hazare: Yes.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You are not insisting that only your version of the Bill is acceptable to you?

Anna Hazare: No. That will be like dictatorship.

Rajdeep Sardesai: This is not dictatorship?

Anna Hazare: No.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you campaign against corrupt politicians in next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab? Will you in some form connect your movement against corruption with elections?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely.Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha are sacred temples of democracy. Only sacred people should go to such places. If non sacred people go to such places it is a threat to democracy. Today so many parliamentarians are criminals. It is important to make people aware that they should not send such corrupt people to parliament.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you campaign against candidates who are corrupt and have a criminal record?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So is this not politics?

Anna Hazare: How is this politics? It is our duty to make people aware if wrong-doers are elected.

Rajdeep Sardesai: But don't' you feel some political party will try to take advantage of this. Nitin Gadkari has said he is ready to support you if you go along with his party. LK Advani too is going on a yatra.

Anna Hazare: That will happen. This has happened many times in the past. When I protested during the Congress rule, BJP-Shiv Sena people tried getting close to me. Their government came to power and they went a step ahead of them. The cycle of agitations continued.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So you will not associate yourself with any political outfit.

Anna Hazare: Absolutely no.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You will not associate yourself with any political yatra like LK Advani's.

Anna Hazare: My point is if the BJP leaders say they are ready to support me then why don't they first bring the Lokayukta Bill in the states they are in power. They must first act in people's favour.

Rajdeep Sardesai: People think BJP is using you as a pawn against the Congress. Are you completely denying this allegation?

Anna Hazare: If Congress feels like this then why is it misleading us. Since the beginning of this agitation they have been lying. I was put in jail as part of a conspiracy.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Who do you think was behind this conspiracy? You had earlier taken Chidambaram's name. Do you think the PM was misled?

Anna Hazare: I think Manmohan Singh is not the only PM. There are many people who think they are the prime minister.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you think the PM was misled?

Anna Hazare: Who listens to the PM? He is remote controlled by many people.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Sonia Gandhi wanted you to join the drafting committee when you started the fast in April. Do you think Sonia Gandhi was also misled or do you think that she is a part of this conspiracy?

Anna Hazare: Whether it is Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh, they feel they have to take such leaders along if they want to run the government. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister not because of Congress workers, but because she worked for the poor.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Are you saying that Manmohan Singh should learn from Indira Gandhi?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You are referred to as a Gandhian, but a few days back you said that the corrupt should be hanged. Gandhi never said that anybody should be hanged to death.

Anna Hazare: That is why I took those words back. But there should be life imprisonment for such corrupt people and the money they had appropriated should be seized form them.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Your movement has been accused of having a dubious source of funding, and authors like Arundhati Roy have also brought up this issue. Does this worry you?

Anna Hazare: This is no cause for worry for me. There is no question of black money in my movement against corruption

Rajdeep Sardesai: What will you do if you discover that black money is funding your movement?

Anna Hazare: If I get to know that black money is involved, I will back out of the movement. I will run this movement till there are no allegations against us. Those who make such charges are not always above suspicion themselves

Rajdeep Sardesai: Have you told your team members Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia to ensure that the funding for this movement is not from dubious sources, or from industrialists who are associated with black money?

Anna Hazare: I have warned my team mates. I have asked them to hire a Chartered Accountant to audit the finances of the movement April onwards. I have asked them to give me a copy and send one to all the core committee members as well.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was one of the negotiators during your August fast, has been named in the Adarsh scam. This gives an impression that you are negotiating with tainted ministers.

Anna Hazare: He was the Prime Minister's representative, I never called him. Vilasrao Deshmukh hasn't become any less tainted just by meeting me.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Do you really believe that India can have a political party comprising of non-corrupt people?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely. All parties have some non-corrupt leaders. If all those politicians come together, a good party can be formed.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You have said that you don't want to lead such a party, but will you encourage Arvind Kejriwal or Kiran Bedi to be part of one?

Anna Hazare: I don't want that. This party should have non-corrupt people with political knowledge and experience. If Arvind or Kiran become a part of such an outfit, people will level allegations against me.

Rajdeep Sardesai: There is an allegation that this is a middle-class movement and that the rural population isn't involved with the Anna movement. Do you believe this is true or is it just propaganda?

Anna Hazare: There are people who will always criticize. They have not seen the fact that we got a lot of support at the local level.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Some people who gave speeches at Ramlila Maidan were of questionable intent. Will you keep such people away from your movement?

Anna Hazare: Some people want to use me to gain political mileage, but I have never trusted them. People who are part of the movement should have a clean image and our funding should also be clean.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Medha Patkar, for example, has said that you should include the Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis in the movement. She says it's not enough to break your fast at the hands of a Dalit or a Muslim girl. Do you agree?

Anna Hazare: I agree with this. This is why we have decided to double the core committee's strength and include people from all communities.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So the core committee will not become like a political party?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely not.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So the core committee won't be limited to just 4-5 members?

Anna Hazare: Yes. During the fast we noticed that Hindus, Muslims and Christians participated equally. The communal divide is fuelled by politicians, and we want to unite everyone and move ahead.

Rajdeep Sardesai: The government has sent members of your team Breach of Privilege notices. Do you think this was fair?

Anna Hazare: Congress' intention is not right. They gave notices to Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, tomorrow they will also send me a notice.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You say that Parliament is supreme, then doesn't it have the right to send a Breach of Privilege notice?

Anna Hazare: We trust Parliament, but not these parliamentarians. So we will never go against Parliament.

Rajdeep Sardesai: But you will go against the very same Parliament if they don't pass the Jan Lokpal Bill?

Anna Hazare: We will sing bhajans in front of houses of Parliamentarians who oppose the Bill.

Rajdeep Sardesai: People have started to feel that all politicians are corrupt. Do you agree?

Anna Hazare: That's not true. All politicians are not corrupt. But the few corrupt ones have managed to defame the others.

Rajdeep Sardesai: When, at Ramlila Maidan, Kiran Bedi makes fun of politicians and Om Puri calls them 'illiterate and backward', do you think that is right? Won't people stop believing in democracy?

Anna Hazare: I keep telling people not to blame all politicians. I feel that all the non-corrupt leaders from BJP and Congress should come together and form a new outfit.

Rajdeep Sardesai: If non-corrupt people from all parties join hands to form an outfit, will you support them?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely, I will support them.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you lead such an outfit?

Anna Hazare: No, I will not lead them. But I will support them and I will tell people to vote for them.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So you are saying that you will support such a party that non-corrupt politicians form?

Anna Hazare: Absolutely, because that is the only solution left to save the nation.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Why don't you lead such a party?

Anna Hazare: No, I am a simple man.

Rajdeep Sardesai: But you are now a hero for many. If you lead such a party, people will be drawn to vote. You had earlier told me that you don't believe in elections, because you feel people only win after luring voters with money and alcohol. Have you changed your mind?

Anna Hazare: No, I'm not a hero. So many people support me, but I still sleep on the floor in the temple. I still live in an 8x10 room.

Rajdeep Sardesai: You say your next fight will be about electoral reforms. You talk about 'Right to Recall' and 'Right to Reject'. Do you think they are practical options?

Anna Hazare: Yes, they can be implemented. Our citizens have become aware now.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Is it practical to hold elections again and again?

Anna Hazare: Why not? Let it happen. If a small expense is going to save all the crores wasted in corruption, won't it benefit the nation?

Rajdeep Sardesai: If the government doesn't agree on these reforms, will you again go on a fast?

Anna Hazare: We are ready to discuss these issues with the government. I am going to write a letter to the Prime Minister and urge him to initiate a discussion on these reforms. If they are not interested, then we will protest again.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Some people consider these protests a form of blackmail. What would you say to them?

Anna Hazare: In 1950, Indian citizens became the rulers of our nation, and they have sent their servants to Parliament to implement beneficial laws. When Parliamentarians don't do their work, then their bosses, i.e. the citizens, have a right to pressurise them.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Activist Irom Sharmila has been on a fast for the last 12 years. Her supporters have invited you to Manipur. Do you want to be associated with that protest, or do you only want to focus on corruption?

Anna Hazare: Two of our representatives will go to Imphal, understand their issues, and then we will discuss it for sure.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Will you join other movements or only focus on corruption?

Anna Hazare: For the wellness of the society and the nation, we must support all the good movements happening around the country.

Rajdeep Sardesai: So you will go to Khairlanji if atrocities are committed on Dalits?

Anna Hazare: Yes, definitely.

Rajdeep Sardesai: If there are Hindu-Muslim riots, will you go there to help maintain peace?

Anna Hazare: Yes, absolutely. We will go.

Rajdeep Sardesai: In just 6 months you have become a national hero. Do you agree that your life has changed?

Anna Hazare: I don't agree with that. I don't like the word 'hero'. I am the same person who still lives in a temple. Till the time I live, I will remain the same. I do not need any security. Did Bhagat Singh, Rajguru ask for security? If they did, would we have gained independence. I have written a letter to the Home Minister saying I don't need security. Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi were given security, did they not die?

Rajdeep Sardesai: What about TV cameras?

Anna Hazare: That is why I told the media I won't talk to them. I don't want to become a hero. This fame is what creates ego.

Rajdeep Sardesai: Some people criticised you for going to a five star hospital instead of a government one. What will you say to them?

Anna Hazare: It doesn't matter to me. Those who want to point fingers, can keep doing so. If people at Medanta care for me and don't charge a penny, why shouldn't I go there?

Rajdeep Sardesai: What is your message for the people of Ralegan Siddhi? Some people still have to pay bribes for getting work done. What will you tell the common man who doesn't have the strength to fight a mighty government?

Anna Hazare: Yes, I know some people are forced to pay bribes. If they want to stop this, they have to come forward and join our movement. They have to be ready to take a beating, and also to go to jail.