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 Following intensified internal agitation and international sanctions, the apartheid laws began to be repealed in 1986.

Anna Hazare was a catalyst for what needed to be done.

Minister of state for communications and information techno-logy and twice-elected MP from Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot is amongst the Congress's Young Turks. Analysing the Jan Lokpal movement, the nation's mood and the path to reforms, Pilot spoke with Monobina Gupta on challenges the Congress faces: 

How has the Anna Hazare-led Jan Lokpal movement affected the Congress? 

This government has committed itself to implementing the Lokpal Bill and ensuring the institution of a strong Lokpal. As a nation and a democracy, we have been able to reach an understanding. Thousands of victorious people left the Ram-lila Ground, convinced that our Parliament would work towards ending corruption. 

Anna's taking up the issue and getting mass support resonated with the government, the party and Parliament. Rarely does a country with a democracy the size and scale of India take up an issue highlighted by an individual and his team. Rarely does it become a national issue, addressed in such forceful fashion within Constitutional and legislative propriety. Anna, no doubt, was a catalyst for what needed to be done. 

But could the Congress have handled events better? 

From early this year, we were in touch with Anna's team mem- bers and Anna himself. I think a lot of issues were not understood - particularly the timeline Team Anna had in mind. In a democracy, you cannot circumvent certain issues. Anna's team understood this later. Importantly, red tapism and corruption are two different issues. A single Lokpal Bill cannot eliminate all ills. Accountability and transparency are as necessary as e-governance and digitalisation of government services in making a paradigm shift in governance. 

What should the government's relationship with civil society and movements be? 

India is a country where protests, peaceful movements, divergent views have been the norm, rather than the exception. You need multiple voices - which is why our demo-cracy, riding out many problems, has flourished. It is the bureaucrats' job to draft Bills. But this time, we had civil society members as part of the drafting committee which included five ministers as well. Extraordinary circumstances demanded extraordinary measures. 

Government and civil society have always engaged with each other. They should do so more in the future. We welcome suggestions, particularly from grassroots people on improving governance. But the consultative process must also protect the sanctity of Parliament and its legislative prerogative. 

Has Indian democracy emerged stronger ? 

I certainly think so. The process of discussions, negotiations and talks made us more resilient. What could be better than a jubilant people conveying their sentiments to Parliament? It's a great lesson learnt. 

Alongside politics, there are perceptions the Congress is going slow on economic reforms. Your view? 

We require a guarded approach on how quickly and what areas to reform. A lot has been gained from the last two decades of reforms. At the same time, our cautious policies shielded us against global economic meltdown. Reforms are important - but we also must be mindful of tens of millions of people who need the government to reach out to them. Reforms do not mean giving up your constitutional obligation towards the poor. Social welfare and reforms should go hand in hand. 

Those on the socio-economic fringes need support. The Congress needs to focus on them. At the same time, we have to also look after aspiring India - which wants more liberalisation.

Anna’s take on politics simple, simplistic.

Anna Hazare reflects what a majority of Indians feel. He dislikes politicians. He hates corruption. He wants the country to change. And, yes, he thinks Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lacks authority and hardly anybody in the Congress or the government listens to him.

His understanding of things is uncomplicated, an extension of the man himself. Given a chance he would purge all Vidhan Sabhas and Lok Sabha of all corrupt elements. He would not mind throwing his lot behind a political outfit which does not carry the corruption taint. He would even support a political party formed out of honest people from all parties.

“Yes, I will support them, but I will not be a part of the leadership of that party. This is the only way we can save this country,” he said in an interview to the CNN-IBN television channel today.

Girls Simran (2nd L) and Ikra offer coconut water and honey to veteran Indian social activist Anna Hazare (C) after he ended his fast at Ramlila grounds in New Delhi on 28 August 2011. Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The honest intents of the man, who recently led the country’s biggest non-political anti-corruption movement and demolished the big ego of the political class rather ruthlessly, were never in doubt. He personified the collective disgust against corruption and frustration at the politicians. His simplicity was his biggest asset then – it made him an instant hero.

The simplicity is intact. As is the simplistic approach to gargantuan issues. That is a problem. It won’t take him or the country far.

Anna plans to ask people in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, states going to election shortly, not to vote for corrupt contestants.

“Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha are sacred bodies and only sacred people should go in it. If corrupt people go then it is a threat to the democracy. That is why people have to be woken up and have to be told that they should not vote for the corrupt,” he said.

On the face of it, it is a good idea but in the end impracticable. The obvious questions follow: How do you identify who is corrupt? Who gives you the right to brand someone corrupt? The identification could be based on loose popular perception, which won’t stand legal scrutiny. A campaign of this kind could end up creating more problems than solutions and damaging Anna’s reputation.

The Gandhian holds late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in great esteem. “There was Indira Gandhi who worked for the poor in the country; she was elected as the prime minister. They should look at that,” he said.

The late prime minister was a competent leader but her reputation at tackling corruption certainly left a lot to be desired. That she had to face the Sampoorna Kranti movement of the late Jayaprakash Narayan—a movement similar to that of Anna himself—is testimony to her great failure on this front. Corruption was the dominant theme of that movement too.

The Gandhian wants to remain an outsider in the political process. “If the good people of all parties can come together and I will tell the people of the country to support them, but I will not be a part of the leadership of that party…I don’t have the capacity. I am an ordinary man,” he said.

Such an approach smacks of escapism – a reflection of the popular attitude towards politics. People who criticise the political class for its many failures are reluctant to take up the challenge themselves. Anna, with his popularity, could form a party and participate in elections easily. Admitted, he is not a career politician but the country needs honest men to be at the forefront, in the leadership role.

What Anna does from now on is important. He could stretch himself thin through targeting individuals. The yields from the effort would be insignificant. A much better idea would be if he focuses solely on electoral reforms which stops dubious characters from entering politics.

Anna Hazare trashes 'politics rumour'.

Anna Hazare spoke exclusively to TIMES NOW on Tuesday (September 13) and puts an end to all speculation of him joining politics says such rumours are part of a conspiracy against Team Anna. 

Arnab Goswami : Anna Hazare is speaking to TIMES NOW for the first time after his fast over the Jan Lokpal Bill. Anna Hazareji, thank you very much for speaking with us. 

Anna Hazare : Thank you. 

Arnab Goswami : There have been reports that you will support some political party and fight elections. In response Congress has said that Anna Hazare's movement should not be political one. Please clarify if you contest elections? 

Anna Hazare : We don't attach ourselves with any political party. No political party has a clean image. But, some political parties have got some good candidates. Political parties cannot avoid someone and go ahead. Likeminded politicians should form a separate party and only then the country can be saved. Otherwise, this country today has not good future. We support only the likeminded people, those who are patriotic and understanding. People can be from many parties. 

Arnab Goswami : Are you saying that there will be a new political party? 

Anna Hazare : In any political party, good leaders are very few. Likeminded, clean leaders from all the parties should come out and save this country. We will support such leaders. 

Arnab Goswami : But, likeminded leaders should form a party and not group. 

Anna Hazare : It is up to such leaders whether they form a party of group. Whatever they have to do should be within the governing principles and rules and regulations. All should save this country from danger. But, I doubt it will happen. People who are involved in this movement will identify MPs, ministers who are opposing good things and will do bhajans, dharnas before their residences. The effect of this would be very great. We should not send the politicians who oppose the Jan Lokpal Bill to the Lok Sabha again. 

Arnab Goswami : How will a new political party be formed? When you started all this, your aim was Jan Lokpal Bill. Now, you are going ahead and now saying that political party should be formed. So, people are saying whether politics is the basis of all this. You critics say that politics is the basis of all this anti-corruption movement started by Anna Hazare. How has your stand changed? Have the demands changed? 

Anna Hazare : We are presenting the situation before the people and giving an example. Our entire and only focus is on the Jan Lokpal Bill. At present, we do not have time for any other activity except Jan Lokpal Bill. We are giving an example before the people as to how we can change this country and save it. Good leaders from various parties and groups should also think in such a way and then only the country can be saved. I am not going to think on these terms. What should be done and how it should be done is left for those leaders. We have the issue of Jan Lokpal Bill before us. Till the time Jan Lokpal Bill is formed, this agitation will continue. 

Arnab Goswami : Will this new political party fight the state elections, national elections or local elections? Who will be the leader of this new party? If you are suggesting such an idea, you will have to do this. 

Anna Hazare : No. I won't go into all this. I have presented it before the general public because I have got such an idea. I have also presented the same thing before such good leaders. They will think as to what should be done on this. I don't have experience on this issue. But, I can foresee that only if such thing happens, this nation can be saved. 

Arnab Goswami : Will you or your team have a role in this political party? 

Anna Hazare : No. We won't have a role in this. 

Arnab Goswami : How will the new party be financed? Who will provide the resources? 

Anna Hazare : Likeminded people should think about it and find out what to do and how to do. I have only presented an idea that I have got. But, I find only this idea if one wants to save the nation from dangers. 

Arnab Goswami : Annaji, until now this movement has been social, and people's movement. And, if political meaning, political purpose come out of this movement, general public will see something else in all this. People will say this anti-corruption movement has become a political movement. 

Anna Hazare : I have given this idea to the good leaders of various parties. We won’t enter into this. We will concentrate on Jan Lokpal Bill now and if a strong bill comes out of this, we will think about other good things. 

Arnab Goswami : You will support such party. 

Anna Hazare : Yes. We will support them. 

Arnab Goswami : Doesn't it mean that you also entered politics indirectly? 

Anna Hazare : No. No. Now, we are supporting good people. Our support will be the same then also. 

Arnab Goswami : Will it be one party, many parties or new parties? 

Anna Hazare : It could be. It may also happen that many parties can combine into one new party. This is the only way if you want to save the country. Now, we are going in our way - Jan Lokpal Bill, changes in Election system. We have presented this suggestion before good people. Such people can give a bright future to this nation. 

Arnab Goswami : You also said you will undertake another agitation and that is on Electoral reforms. How will it be done? Will you sit on another fast for this? Have you thought about it? You pressurized this government twice with your fast. Are you ready to go on fast for Electoral reforms? 

Anna Hazare : The present system is that on these electronic voting machines it is written from which place it has come. At the time of counting of votes, all the contestants go to that place and see from which place how many votes they have got. If the candidates come to know that from particular villages if they have got less votes they will take revenge on those villages. This system should be changed. We have written to the Election Commission, the Government of India to change the system but nothing has been done on this. This is one. Another one is right to reject. If voter says he does not like any candidate in the list, last symbol should be 'no selection'. Voter can put his mark on that if he does not like any one. If majority of votes are on 'no selection' there will be no result of the election. Such election stands cancelled. Contesting candidates spend crores of rupees to fight elections. If they lose after spending money, they will get a lesson. This we want to achieve. 

Arnab Goswami : Do you think the leaders who are corrupt tainted should fight elections? Should they participate in political activities? What should be their role? 

Anna Hazare : Now, rules are not that strong enough to punish corrupt people. Everyone knows corrupt people have entered Parliament. System should be changed. Changes should be brought into the system. Parliament is a sacred place. To this sacred place, corrupt and unholy people have been entering. What will happen if such things happen? We are thinking about this. If all the MPs have given such corrupt and tainted people their support, who am I stop them? 

Arnab Goswami : What do you have to say about Vilasrao Deshmukh? There are charges against Vilasrao in the Adarsh issue. Court has also uttered something against him. There are allegations against him. But still you have entered into a negotiation with him. 

Anna Hazare : I have not talked anything. I have not invited him to talk with me. The Prime Minister has sent him as his representative. I had to talk with him because he has been sent. 

Arnab Goswami : Has any political party tried to talk with you after this recent fast? Has any big politician tried to talk with you? 

Anna Hazare : About which issue. 

Arnab Goswami : Has it happened that any leader tried to talk with you so that you don't say anything against them? They will try to be in touch with you. 

Anna Hazare : Till now, no leaders came to me and nobody will come in the future also. We are fighting against corruption, and even there are good leaders in the ruling class and Opposition but because of corrupt people the political parties, leaders won’t come to me. Everybody knows that I am fighting against corruption for 20 years, so leaders won't come to me. 

Arnab Goswami : There is news that Anna Hazare’s thought and judgement can be controlled by people like Arvind, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan? What is your view? 

Anna Hazare : Such people are ignorant I think so. If you look the world through the colour of eyeglasses, then you can only see through that colour only. I have been doing this movement for 20 years. Six ministers resigned, 400 officers resigned, 7 laws were made and these all are not made with any support. My hair has gone white not because of sunshine but with experience. Whole life I have followed my experience. Why I want to hear somebody? I have all the experience. 

Arnab Goswami : You have this team - Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, etc. Will these people be with you when you proceed further for the other agitations, movements in the future? 

Anna Hazare : They will definitely be with me. If the people are not corrupt, they will always be associated with me. The day I have any proof against them as to they were involved in corruption, either I won’t be with them or they won’t be with me. They won’t go far from me if they are clean and clear. 

Arnab Goswami : What do you have to say about Swami Agnivesh? Many people say he is working in favour of the Government irrespective of him being in your team. 

Anna Hazare : I have talked with him twice. I said if he had to say anything to Government, he should first talk with our own committee members. But, he didn’t talk with our own members and directly met ministers and gave assurances. This is not correct. After we take any decision over anything we will first call for a meeting of the committee members, and in the meeting we will decide whether it should be done or not. We have seen this shortcoming on him. So, we have decided that till the time he corrects himself, he won’t be associating us. We will see what to do if he changes himself. 

Arnab Goswami : People say Baba Ramdev supports Anna Hazare and Anna Hazare supports Baba Ramdev. People say Anna does not speak anything against Ramdev even if there are allegations against him. There are allegations against Ramdev recently. 

Anna Hazare : If there are allegations against him, there is law. There will be enquiry against him according to the law. If there is any punishment, it would be given as per the law. But, one thing is clear. Baba Ramdev is fighting against corruption. We are fighting against corruption. We have decided that in this anti-corruption movement, we will support him and he will support us. It is decided that we both won’t occupy same stage. 

Arnab Goswami : Why like that, Annaji? 

Anna Hazare : They can look after over other things if there is a problem. But, on the issue of corruption we have to come together and fight it out. Corruption should be removed from this country. If there is any problem with rules and other laws, they will look over it. We won’t involve in it. 

Arnab Goswami : How do you manage that only clean image people are around you because many kinds of people want to support you? How do you manage all this? 

Anna Hazare : Retired judges of Supreme Court told that they have to give the rest of their life for this activity. Army colonels are all coming forward. Good people are coming forward. We have decided that we will keep a restraint over the people who are willing to join us. We are not taking in people as and when they show interest. Our people will check their background, their work, their sincerity and their patriotism. They will be associating us after all these things. We have not kept a political board where all are invited irrespective of their criminal background. The people will brought into our system only after such background check. 

Arnab Goswami : Have anyone in your team have political ambitions? Do you wish for any direct or indirect political role? Such reports are coming in. Politicians have commented over this today. They are saying it would have been better had Anna Hazare kept himself aloof from politics. Do you want to say anything over this? 

Anna Hazare : We won’t enter politics. I do not want to go into all this mess. If I become MLA, MP or minister, I cannot do what all I have been doing from outside. I won’t be allowed to do what I have been doing from outside. That is the reason why I have been outside and forming a pressure group. 

Arnab Goswami : But, why is it said that either Anna Hazare or his team members have political ambitions? Why is it said that Anna Hazare should slowly come to politics? 

Anna Hazare : The reason for this is that some people want to disturb this movement. That is the reason whey such talk is coming out. They want to deviate the general public from the issue. But, people know very well. General public won’t come into this trap. People have known what is right and what is wrong. There is a conspiracy to malign this movement. They have their own means and ways. They will try to detach the people associated with his agitation. They won’t get any success in this. General public understands what is right. 

Arnab Goswami : Do you think there is a conspiracy going on against you - that you want to see the downfall of this government, and you want to uplift someone? 

Anna Hazare : Even after 64 years of independence, India has been like a big mountain. There is heavy debt on our country. Who is responsible for this? 

Corrupt people are responsible for this. Because of corruption, there is price rise. Why should we send such corrupt people to the Parliament? for ruining this country? We always think for society and nation. We don’t have any interest for any party, group. People have known all this and now the task has become easy. We have the confidence that we can do god for this nation. 

Arnab Goswami : LK Advani is going on yatra against corruption. Do you give issue based support to him? 

Anna Hazare : No. We won’t support it. If LK Advani thinks that he is undertaking rath yatra to fight against corruption, why doesn’t he support us openly? Why doesn’t he openly fight for Jan Lokpal Bill in the Parliament? If you want to remove corruption, then do this. Why don’t you appoint a Lokayukta in the states where you have governance? Lokayukta will try to remove corruption to some extent. 

Arnab Goswami : In Gujarat also there is no Lokayukta. Many people say Anna Hazare is soft on Narendra Modi and that is why you don’t criticise him. 

Anna Hazare : I ask those people - why should Anna Hazare do all the things? Why don’t people become Anna Hazare? Why don’t you become Anna Hazare and do this work? I have no money, no property and no power. Why is there is expectation for anything from Anna Hazare. I ask such people, why don’t you become Anna Hazare? 

Arnab Goswami : Narendra Modi has also not appointed Lokayukta. 7 years have passed by. Opposition says Anna Hazare has gone to his house when he went to Ahmedabad. 

Anna Hazare : It is wrong. They are trying to malign me. I don’t know he resides. Why will I go to his house? I don’t have anything to ask for. I don’t have to take advantage of any party. There is no need for me to go to anyone’s house. It is a conspiracy against me. 

Arnab Goswami : Anna Hazareji, there is not 100 per cent guarantee that Jan Lokpal Bill will be passed in the Parliament. There is a sense of the House but it is not binding. What will you do if this Bill is not passed even in the next session of the Parliament? Have you thought about? Is there any deadline for it? 

Anna Hazare : We have thought about. If anyone in the Standing Committee or any MP in the Parliament opposes it, people will go to MPs’ houses and protest and agitate over it. Will protest outside the houses of all the MPs who will oppose the Lokpal Bill. 2nd we'll request the citizens not to re-elect such people in the next election. What is the need of such people who do not want to fight corruption? 

Arnab Goswami : How long are you ready to wait for the Jan Lokpal Bill? 

Anna Hazare : Now that we have democracy we will wait till the next election and then teach each one of them lesson. 

Arnab Goswami : How? 

Anna Hazare : Whoever has opposed the Bill will be taught a lesson then. 

Arnab Goswami : In Manipur Irom Sharmila has been fasting for more than a decade. After your fast forced the Govt to debate the Lokpal issue, people have been saying how Irom Sharmila has been ignored by the Govt. So why don't you go and support Irom Sharmila? 

Anna Hazare : We have taken a decision on this. Two of our people are going there and enquiring the matter to find out what is the intention behind it, whether it is right or wrong. After the report comes to us our committee will decide. 

Arnab Goswami : But you? 

Anna Hazare : We'll think about that after the report comes. 

Arnab Goswami : You are saying that a new political party should be made. Are you saying that a third Front, besides Congress and BJP, should be supported? Because many small parties will get together and says, don't support Congress and BJP, support us. 

Anna Hazare : This is an idea that I have put in front of the people and all the parties. Many ideas and paths will come out from this and the discussion will proceed, that is fine. I have put forward whatever I feel in front of the parties. I will not lead them but I just gave an idea that i had. They'll decide whether to follow it or not. 

Arnab Goswami : Is there no leader or party in the present who you think is right for leading the country? 

Anna Hazare : There are leaders but no party. It is up to such leaders to decide how to save the country. There is no party at present who can save the country and give it a bright future. 

Arnab Goswami : Would you like to name a particular person who you think is an ideal leader? 

Anna Hazare : There is. Everybody knows it. Why should I name anybody? If I name one, others will immediately come and start questioning. 

Arnab Goswami : When the fast was going on, how were you getting news of people fasting everywhere, joining your movement, and wearing the 'I am Anna' cap? How were you getting the feedback and how were you feeling? 

Anna Hazare : I did not try to find out anything. I only know about the people who were sitting in front of me. Some people came and told me about it but I was not aware of the happenings in the entire country, nor did I want to find out. The lakhs of people standing in front of me inspired me and based on that I continued by revolt.

Anna Hazare Lashes Out

There’s a new found confidence in Anna Hazare, the 74-year-old Gandhian social activist who has captured the imagination of the common man in India with his anti-corruption crusade. And, with his own standing continuing to rise while that of India’s politicians tumbles ever further, an increasingly assertive Hazare is now taking on the country’s top politicians. 

Hazare has given his first interviews to two TV channels – Headlines Today and CNN-IBN – since he abandoned his hunger strike in New Delhi last month. In the interviews, Hazare has taken pot shots at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) patriarch L.K. Advani. He described Singh as ‘a remote-controlled prime minister’ who ‘lacks authority.’ He also said that nobody in Singh’s team listens to him.

He went on to dismiss Advani’s proposed nationwide anti-corruption tour, saying that it is simply a ‘political gimmick’ aimed at garnering votes. ‘I don’t think it is for the good of the country and its people. It is aimed at votes. If it is not so, bring about the Lokpal law,’ Hazare said of the ombudsman bill that he and his followers have campaigned for. ‘Then I will support him (Advani). Our yatra is not for votes. It is for people’s awareness,’ he added.

Hazare also launched a frontal attack on union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for ‘masterminding’ his arrest on August 16 and sending him to Tihar Jail, claiming that the government had planned to pack him off to his village in a helicopter.

The diminutive old man is essentially trying to convey to everyone who will listen – and particularly to his detractors – that he is nobody’s man and keeps his own counsel. ‘I am not connected to any party, nor will I ever be a part of any political party,’ he told the two media outlets. He argued that he is willing to extend support to, and campaign for, any political grouping that is corruption-free and belongs to the non-Congress and non-BJP fronts. But in the same breath, he also made it clear that he himself wouldn’t join up with any party.

‘Yes, I will support them, but I will not be a part of the leadership of that party,’ he said. ‘This is the only way we can save this country.’

Why Hazare has waded into the political arena right now, and decided to attack both the government and the main opposition in the process, is unclear. It also remains uncertain whether his latest comments are likely to pave the way for his own political ambitions. High-profile public campaigners like Baba Ramdev and Swami Agnivesh have openly flirted with politics in the past, but Hazare has so far been careful to avoid any such suggestion.

Ironically, Congress leaders may actually have welcomed Hazare’s latest remarks. After all, the BJP had been keen to fan the Anna Hazare fire when it saw him taking on the government head on. Now, though, Hazare doesn’t need any party’s backing. He has, in some ways, become bigger than his makers.

Don't vote MPs who have opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Making it clear that there will be no let-up in his crusade against corruption, Anna Hazare on Sunday asked people not to vote for MPs who have opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill in the next general elections and "gherao" their houses even as he announced to undertake a nationwide yatra including states where assembly polls are due.

"Watch the MPs on television and note those, who have opposed the Jan Lokpal bill in Parliament, and later 'gherao' their houses chanting bhajans in a non-violent protest," he said at the end of the two-day meeting of the core committee of his anti-corruption movement, the first since he called off his 12-day fast at Delhi's  Ramlila Ground on August 28.

"People should stage a sit-in in front of their houses and chant Raghupati Raghav Rajaram," he said adding he would campaign against MPs opposing the Jan Lokpal Bill in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Resolving to intensify his fight to ensure passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, the 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader said he would embark next month on a nation-wide tour for the cause.

"I will tour constituencies where the MPs, who have opposed the Jan Lokpal Bill, will seek re-election and urge people not to vote for them, The government Lokpal Bill is fraudulent. Corruption will only increase if a legislation is passed based on Government's draft," he said.

Hazare said he would prefer to travel by train rather than plane so that he can interact with the general public. "A plane takes you from one place and lands within a short time at another place. There is no interaction with common people during this kind of travel. I'll also travel by plane, there will not be any difference between me and the ministers," he said

Briefing the media after the core committee meeting, Kejriwal said Anna Hazare would also take out a 'yatra' in the states, where the next assembly elections are due and people would be informed about the stand taken by various parties on the issue of Jan Lokpal bill, leaving it to their discretion as to for whom they should vote.

"We will tell people about the stand taken by political parties on the Jan Lokpal bill without supporting any particular political party. Let the voters make their choice in the elections," he said making it clear that the anti-corruption movement would not be supporting any candidates during their campaign to inform the people.

Kejriwal strongly refuted the charge made by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh  that he and some other members of the movement had a link with the RSS, which had arranged for refreshments for agitators on Ramlila Maidan. "Singh is haunted by the ghost of RSS but we are not afraid of RSS," he quipped.

Kejriwal told reporters that in order to remove any possible misunderstanding in the minds of people, the core group of the movement would initiate legal proceedings against certain publications carrying articles alleging a nexus between its members and RSS."We will send a defamation notice seeking their apology," Prashant Bhushan, a member of core committee added.

Kejriwal said, in view of the allegations of corruption being made against Hazare and his team, the cre group has decided to constitute a 3-member committee of three retired high court or supreme court judges, who would investigate any such charges. "These judges will be of impeccable integrity," Bhushan added. Bhushan also appealed to the people to verify credentials of those, who are collecting donations using the name of Anna Hazare or India  against Corruption. As part of its efforts to ensure transparency, the core group members would put up a list of their assets on website and all audited accounts by October 15, Kejariwal said.

Anna Hazare to campaign against MPs opposing Jan Lokpal Bill in 2014 general election.

 Hoping to carry his anti-graft campaign forward, Anna Hazare on Sunday announced that he would travel across the country to educate the people about the various provisions of the Jan Lokpal bill and also exhort them to vote against the MPs opposed to their version of the legislation during the next general election. 

"The government Lokpal draft was fraudulent.Corruption would increase if a legislation is passed on the basis of government's draft,'' the Gandhian, who had in August undertaken a 13-day-long fast at the Ramlila Grounds in the Capital to press for the acceptance of the Jan Lokpal bill, told newspersons in his village, Ralegaon Sidhi, in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra at the conclusion of two-day meeting of his core committee members. "We will also see which member of the Standing Committee opposes the Jan Lokpal bill," Hazare said, adding that houses of such members would be gheraoed. The standing committee on law and justice, which is headed by Congress Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi, is presently studying the various versions of the Lokpal bill. "People should stage a sit-in in front of their houses and chant Raghupati Raghav Rajaram, he said, adding he would campaign against MPs opposing the Jan Lokpal bill in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. "I will tour constituencies where these MPs will seek re-election and urge people not to vote for them,'' Hazare said. Reiterating that that the second battle for Independence had begun, Hazare expressed confidence that, "eventually, victory will be ours." "It is not Hazare, but God who was behind the success of the anti-corruption agitation," he observed and urged his supporters not to let the torch of this anti-corruption agitation douse till the country is rid of corruption,'' he said. Hazare also announced that he will undertake a countrywide tour next month after his health improves. Talking about his fast at the Ramlila Maidan, he said, "There were five to six people in the UPA government to consider themselves as Prime Minister. During my 12-day fast, there was nobody to take decision. Sonia Gandhi had gone abroad. The government's position had become weird. Aiming at devising a strategy for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament, the two-day meeting of the core committee of Team Anna began in Ralegan Siddhi on Saturday.


Key members of Team Anna -- including Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Manish Sisodia -- are present in the meeting, which is being described as the first formal engagement after Hazare's fast in New Delhi last month. The meeting commenced at 11:30 am. Before commencement of the meeting, Hazare told PTI that he core committee will discuss the outcome of the agitation and also decide on the future course of action.


"People must ask the parliamentarians about their role in the Jan Lokpal Bill movement. People must be careful while electing the MPs in future. Those MPs who are either against the Jan Lokpal Bill or passive about it must not be given a second chance. The fight against corruption would continue till India is freed from corruption," he said.


According to insiders, the meeting will also discuss ways to further mobilise public opinion in favour of the Jan Lokpal Bill to make it an instrument for achieving the goal of a corruption-free India.

Government planned to crush my agitation: Hazare

Anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday said the Union government had planned to crush his agitation, by putting him under house arrest in his village Ralegan Siddhi, right after he came out of Tihar Jail.

Mr. Hazare said the Centre had also kept an Air Force plane ready at the Delhi airport.

Addressing visitors in Ralegan Siddhi, Mr. Hazare said: “The idea was to airlift me from Delhi airport, where an Air Force flight was waiting, to Pune. From Pune, they would send me to Ralegan Siddhi, where I would not have been allowed to go anywhere.” He called the government's plan a part of a “betrayal.”

The Delhi Police had arrested Mr. Hazare on August 16, hours before his slated hunger strike for the Jan Lokpal Bill at the JP Park. Within hours, the police withdrew the charges against Mr. Hazare, who however refused to leave the jail premises demanding unconditional permission to fast on the Ramlila grounds.

The activist earlier alleged that his arrest was planned at the Home Ministry level, even as the government denied the charge.

Commenting on Parliament members allegedly taking money for vote during the confidence motion, Mr. Hazare said they should be “hanged.” “If anyone in the Assembly or Parliament takes money for asking questions or casting votes, there should be stringent punishment for them. In fact I feel they should be hanged.”

Mr. Hazare refuted charges levelled by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh that Mr. Hazare was a “mask for the RSS.”

Mr. Singh said in Jammu that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party used Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare as their mask, to divert people's attention from the arrests of RSS activists in terrorism and corruption cases.

Reacting to Mr. Singh's comments, Mr. Hazare said, “Those who are making allegations should first produce evidence.”