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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Anna Hazare - The Modern Mahatma

Wow! Now 350,000 have signed up, and we are being heard: the Government has been forced to draft the Jan Lokpal bill with civil society! Let's keep it up -- send this to everyone!

Dear friends across India,



Anna Hazare has committed to fast-unto-death -- unless the government agrees to consider apowerful law to rid India of the scourge of corruption. But dirty politicians are trying to squash it. Let's stand with him and ramp up the pressure on Prime Minister Singh to endorse the bill and clean up politics. Sign now and send this email to everyone:

Sign the petition!
Right now, Anna Hazare, a 73-year-old Gandhian, sits fasting in the burning sun, and he will stay until death -- unless the government agrees to consider a powerful law that could rid Indian politics of the scourge of corruption.

This “Modern Mahatma” is taking the utmost act of courage and determination to push through a bill that would give an independent body the power to punish corruption -- even in the Prime Minister’s office. Across the country a movement has exploded, driving a media storm of pressure that’s engulfing Singh. But dirty politicians are desperately trying to water down or kill the law.

For the first time in forty three years, we have the chance to change the way politics is done. Let's join together and stand with Anna Hazare to tackle corruption and clean up Indian politics. We have no time to lose -- sign the petition to be delivered directly to Prime Minister Singh and reported to the media, and forward this email to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_anna_hazare/?vl

Hazare is championing a citizen-developed bill called “Jan” Lokpal that will create an independent body, selected by judges, citizens and constitutional authorities, with enough power to investigate and punish all politicians. No minister or bureaucrat will be able to influence its investigations.

Since 1968, when this bill was first introduced, greedy politicians have thwarted its passing. Now the government is pushing for a watered down Lokpal with no hope of ending fraud, vice and dishonesty -- it gives politicians overriding power to decide who will be investigated, and is a complete sellout.

Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Singh to endorse the "Jan" Lokpal. Members of the opposition party have begun to make the right noises in support of Anna Hazare. And even the National Advisory Council, a powerful advisory body to Sonia Gandhi have come out in favour of the bill. But corrupt politicians and vested interests are doing all they can to kill it.

Anna Hazare has set the example. But only a national citizens movement can ramp up the pressure to get Singh to endorse “Jan” Lokpal and save Hazare's life. Sign the petition and forward it to everyone now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_anna_hazare/?vl

Corruption in politics has become a plague across our country, it is draining our resources and demoralizing our nation. This bill would go a long way to deterring those that steal and undermine the public good. Last year, the Avaaz community in Brazil won an important victory -- against the odds millions of people came together and pushed through a historic anti-corruption law. India has a proud history of people power overcoming oppression -- today if we all stand with one voice we can fight this corruption that is poisoning our political system.


More information:

India Today, "Lokpal vs Jan Lokpal: A study in contrast":
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/134429/latest-headlines/lokpal-vs-jan-lokpal-a-study-in-contrast.html

The Hindu Business Line, "Anna Hazare on fast-unto-death demanding Jan Lokpal Bill":
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article1602555.ece

Times of India, "On day Anna Hazare begins fast, NAC too calls for lokpal debate":
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/On-day-Anna-Hazare-begins-fast-NAC-too-calls-for-lokpal-debate/articleshow/7880511.cms

Tehelka, "Social activists come together to show flaws in Lokpal Bill":
http://tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws050411ACTIVISM.asp

Anna Hazare's fast against corruption strikes huge chord
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/anna-hazares-fast-against-corruption-strikes-huge-chord-96593


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Friday, April 8, 2011

A Mahatma announces fast unto Death


Anna Hazare has given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister
Dr Manmohan Singh to enact stringent anti-corruption law
– the peoples “Jan Lokpal Bill”! Jail to the corrupt must
happen! We have been betrayed by those that are leading us!
a mahatma announces
When & Where? 5th April at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Who is Anna Hazare? A soldier, lone survivor in his unit in 1965 Indo-Pak
war, Anna dedicated his life to the well-being of society. A bachelor, an ascetic, he has no
possessions, no bank balance and lives in a temple. He is a living Mahatma Gandhi!
In Maharashtra, Anna has single handedly transformed barren and dry regions into green
and food surplus areas. He has fasted unto death on several earlier occasions. He forced
the Maharashtra government to dismiss the corrupt - 6 ministers and 400 officers. Due
to his fast, the govt enacted the Maharashtra RTI Act. In 2006, when government of India
tried to amend the Central RTI Act, he again went on an indefinite fast and forced the
Indian government not to amend RTI Act.
Leaders, organizations and the common man from across India will be with him.
This is a do or die moment – let us make it happen!
Across India, join Swami Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Swami Agnivesh, Arch Bishop
of Delhi Vincent Concessao, Mahmood A Madani, Kiran Bedi, J M Lyngdoh, Shanti
Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mufti Shamoom Qasmi, Mallika
Sarabhai, Arun Bhatia, Sunita Godara, All India Bank Employees Federation, PAN IIT
Alumni Association, Common Cause and many other prominent organizations and
leaders, as India comes out on the streets! 100+ CITIES WILL RALLY BEHIND ANNA!
India Against Corruption: A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP | 09718500606
www.indiaagainstcorruption.org | indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com | facebook.com/indiacor
To stay updated about movement, either send a missed call at 02261550789 or send us your email ID
fast unto death
This is a defining
moment for India that
can give our children
a better future! Let
us unite and stand by
him! Thousands will be
there to support him.
Will you be there?
Come and stay
with Anna at Jantar
Mantar for a few days
from 5th April.
Join me in fasting for one, two, three or whatever number of days you can comfortably fast.
Along with fast, please pray to God (whoever you believe in) for better and corruption free India.
Collective prayers from all the people of India would definitely have a huge impact.
Write an impassioned plea to our Prime Minister that we look upon him to pass “Jan Lokpal Bill”,
else we will be compelled not to vote for his party in next elections.
Remain calm and peaceful and develop the courage to go to jail, if required, in this next freedom movement.
When I sit on fast from 5 April, I urge my fellow countrymen to
Anna’s appeal to the people:
Please take copies of this pamphlet and spread the message1. An institution called LOKPAL at the centre and
LOKAYUKTA in each state will be set up
2. Like Supreme Court and Election Commission,
they will be completely independent of the
governments. No minister or bureaucrat will be
able to influence their investigations.
3. Cases against corrupt people will not linger on
for years anymore: Investigations in any case
will have to be completed in one year. Trial
should be completed in next one year so that
the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent
to jail within two years.
4. The loss that a corrupt person caused to the
government will be recovered at the time of
conviction.
5. How will it help a common citizen: If any work
of any citizen is not done in prescribed time
in any government office, Lokpal will impose
financial penalty on guilty officers, which will
be given as compensation to the complainant.
6. So, you could approach Lokpal if your ration
card or passport or voter card is not being
made or if police is not registering your
case or any other work is not being done in
prescribed time. Lokpal will have to get it
done in a month’s time. You could also report
any case of corruption to Lokpal like ration
being siphoned off, poor quality roads
been constructed or panchayat funds being
siphoned off. Lokpal will have to complete
its investigations in a year, trial will be over
in next one year and the guilty will go to jail
within two years.
7. But won’t the government appoint corrupt
and weak people as Lokpal members?
That won’t be possible because its
members will be selected by judges,
citizens and constitutional authorities and
not by politicians, through a completely
transparent and participatory process.
8. What if some officer in Lokpal becomes
corrupt? The entire functioning of Lokpal/
Lokayukta will be completely transparent.
Any complaint against any officer of Lokpal
shall be investigated and the officer
dismissed within two months.
9. What will happen to existing anti-corruption
agencies? CVC, departmental vigilance
and anti-corruption branch of CBI will
be merged into Lokpal. Lokpal will have
complete powers and machinery to
independently investigate and prosecute
any officer, judge or politician.
Salient features of Jan Lokpal Bill
Drafted by Justice Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal, this
Bill has been refined on the basis of feedback received from public on website
and after series of public consultations. It has also been vetted by and is
supported by Shanti Bhushan, J M Lyngdoh, Kiran Bedi, Anna Hazare etc. It was
sent to the PM and all CMs on 1st December. However, there is no response.
JAN LOKPAL BILL will act as deterrent and instill fear against corruption
(This movement is neither affiliated nor aligned to any political party)
India Against Corruption: A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad, UP | 09718500606
www.indiaagainstcorruption.org | indiaagainstcorruption.2010@gmail.com | facebook.com/indiacor
To stay updated about movement, either send a missed call at 02261550789 or send us your email ID