Anna Hazare: My fight against corruption will continue

Re-emphasizing his determination to wipe out corruption nationally, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare has said his battle will continue.

Talking to media here, Hazare said nepotism in public life has left the general public discontented.

"I am fighting against the same cause (corruption), they (central government) are a corrupt government and they have troubled the life of the people, and have made their lives difficult. I can't do much, but fighting and following in the footsteps of Lord Ram, and my fight would continue till we end corruption," he added.

Hazare has warned that he will start another anti-corruption movement for the passage of a strong Lokpal Bill before the 2014 general elections.

Hazare has been at loggerheads with the government over the Ombudsman Bill. He has observed four fasts to pressure the administration to take action against the corrupt.

Anna Hazare storms Delhi, warns of August stir

Pushing aside the December debacle activist Anna Hazare returned in full force to Jantar Mantar on Sunday, setting an August deadline for the government to file cases against its 14 "corrupt'' Cabinet ministers. Energized by the surging crowd at his day-long fast, Team Anna also demanded investigation and trial against over 1,300 elected representatives (MPs and MLAs) who are facing criminal charges to be completed within the next six months.

Hazare, who had been battling ill health for over two months, looked sharp and combined the attack against politicians of all hues, with his earthy wit that was met with much gusto and applause.

"FIRs must be registered against the corrupt (Union) ministers by August or there will be 'jail bharo' agitation across the country. We have to be ready for this. A date will be announced later. I will travel across the country after the session ends on May 15 and decide a date," Hazare said.

The floundering Lokpal agitation was accompanied by a pincer attack on politicians irrespective of their ideology and set the agenda for a numerically weak government. Significantly, the activists also appeared to overlook reservations against Baba Ramdev's alleged Hindutva links to announce unconditional support for his black money campaign realizing that their appeal to the middle-class could be strengthened with the mass appeal that Ramdev commanded over north India.

In their provocative speeches Team Anna members named nearly 25 politicians alleging that there were complaints of corruption against them and strong anti-corruption laws or protection could not be expected from such polity. Hazare also appeared to be sensitive to the charge that the group had ``insulted'' Parliament taking the opportunity to emphasis that it was the political representatives with dubious antecedents who had defamed the House.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, who is already battling three privilege notices for calling MPs ``murderers, rapists'' appeared defiant listing out 14 ``corrupt'' cabinet ministers. He argued that allegations against these ministers had been raised in newspapers and TV expose and he had no direct evidence of the wrong-doing but the allegations should be investigated nonetheless.

Among those named included P Chidambaram, Ajit Singh, Farooz Abdullah, G K Vasan, Kamal Nath, Kapil Sibal, Sharad Pawar, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh, M K Alagiri, Virbhadra Singh, S M Krishna and Praful Patel. Naming MPs and CMs from across the political spectrum Kejriwal said that there were allegations of corruption against B S Yeddyuarappa, J Jayalalithaa, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati. TOI does not subscribe to these charges.

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi attacked Team Anna for leveling baseless charges and said they were welcome to file cases if they had any proof.

Hazare, whose last hunger strike in Mumbai in end-December flopped due to a low turn-out, also put the government on notice on Lokpal issue stressing that the agitation was by no means over. "Bring Jan Lokpal or go out of power in 2014 general elections," Hazare said. "We will show what is the power of Jan Lokpal Bill. I am a fakir (saint). I will show them how much strength a 'fakir' like me has," he said.

Team Anna's new game plan was revealed through a series of speeches by Hazare, Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan towards the end of the fast.

Bedi then talked about "getting ready for the fight" during Delhi polls next year followed by Bhushan who said the government fears passing of a strong Lokpal Bill as they don't want to have their own ministers in jail.

Before starting his fast, Hazare, said many people have sacrificed their lives while fighting corruption and the government has not conducted any probe despite some incidents which happened three years ago. ``Their (whistleblowers') mothers, their children, their fathers, their wives are crying for justice. But this government has gone dumb and deaf. It is not listening to the cries of people. This government neither has any intention nor does it have any political will to bring a strong Lokpal Bill. We will not relent. We will have to keep struggling. I am confident that one day they will have to bring the Jan Lokpal Bill," said Hazare.

Asking his supporters to keep up the pressure on the government, he said people of the country have woken up and they will not allow corrupt politicians to "loot" the resources anymore.

Anna Hazare to protest at Jantar Mantar on March 25

 Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Friday warned of a bigger anti-corruption stir if his version of the Lokpal bill is not introduced by the 2014 General Elections.

Addressing a press conference soon after the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to arrive at a consensus on the Lokpal Bill, Hazare said, “Twenty-five people fighting against corruption have been killed. The government is insensitive on this. We will sit on dharna on March 25 at Jantar Mantar to seek protection of whistleblowers.”

While blaming the government of being insensitive, he said that the dharna at Jantar Mantar would seek protection for whistleblowers many of whom have been killed while exposing corruption cases.

Claiming that the present Lokpal Bill was not strong enough to stop corruption, he said that it was sad that the all-party meet failed to break the deadlock over the issue.

We will go to the people and could even protest at the Ramlila Maidan. The Assembly polls in five states are a clear indication about the people's feeling. We will continue our agitation for a strong Lokpal Bill. If required we will sit on fast again," he said.

Hazare further stated that he and his team will build public opinion against the government's "useless" Lokpal bill.

Referring to the poll results of five states in which the Congress fared badly, Hazare said the Congress will have to face poor results in the 2014 general elections if the bill is not passed.

"We are not fighting against the government but for the better future of citizens of this country. People want the Lokpal bill and they are enthusiastic about it," he told reporters.

"The government said yes to our bill (Jan Lokpal) in the joint committee, standing committee and even in Parliament, but reversed its decision suddenly," he added.

All-party meeting on Lokpal Bill ended on today

An all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which aimed at bringing an end to the deadlock over Lokpal Bill, ended on today.

The meeting was held to discuss the proposed legislation which could not be passed on the last day of the Winter Session in Rajya Sabha amid pandemonium.

While attending the meet the prime minister said that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is committed to an effective Lokpal to check corruption.

"Our government stands committed to an effective Lokpal legislation," Manmohan Singh said at the all-party meet.

"We look forward to benefitting from the wisdom and guidance of all leaders present here in the task that we have set for ourselves," he said.

Leaders of parties in Rajya Sabha including BJP's Arun Jaitley, BSP's SC Mishra, RJD's Ram Kripal Yadav, SP's Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP'S Tariq Anwar and CPI's AB Bardhan met at the Prime Minister's residence to discuss the controversial bill, to which 97 amendments have been moved by Opposition members in the Upper House.

Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram, AK Antony and Salman Khurshid were among those present at the meeting.

Opposition parties have moved 97 amendments to the Bill in Rajya Sabha some of which were contentious and the meeting would discuss ways to evolve consensus on them, sources said.

Some of the amendments, the sources said, are for bringing the Prime Minister's Office under the Lokpal, seek exclusion of Lokayukta from the Bill, abolition of minority quota and inclusion of Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha as one of the members of the selection committee.

Government is keen on passing the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha even as the opposition and social activist Anna Hazare have renewed pressure on the issue.

Hazare has said he will go on a fast from March 25 if the Bill is not passed while BJP has said in the Upper House that the debate and amendments to the Bill should be taken up from where they were left on the night of December 29 when the House was adjourned amid a din.

Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.

Under the renewed effort, the government is planning to drop the clauses in the Lokpal Bill pertaining to setting up of Lokayuktas in states, a provision that faced stiff opposition from friends and foes alike.

The fresh consultation is aimed at ensuring that the anti-graft Bill is passed in the first part of the Budget Session which ends on March 30.

PM Manmohan Singh has called an all-party meeting on today

 In a fresh bid to end the deadlock over Lokpal Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called an all-party meeting on today to discuss the proposed legislation which could not be passed on the last day of the Winter Session in Rajya Sabha amid pandemonium.

The meeting will be held at Singh's residence at noon on today. The Parliament will not meet on that day due to festivals like Gudi Padwa and Ugadi.

Government is keen on passing the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha even as the opposition and social activist Anna Hazare have renewed pressure on the issue.

Hazare has said he will go on a fast from March 25 if the Bill is not passed while BJP has said in the Upper House that the debate and amendments to the Bill should be taken up from where they were left on the night of December 29 when the House was adjourned amid a din.

Lok Sabha has already passed the Bill.

Under the renewed effort, the government is planning to drop the clauses in the Lokpal Bill pertaining to setting up of Lokayuktas in states, a provision that faced stiff opposition from friends and foes alike.

A senior minister had said recently that the government was contemplating the move that would help clear the obstacles in the way of its easy passage in Parliament as also dismiss the opposition campaign that Congress was against the measure.

The fresh consultation is aimed at ensuring that the anti-graft Bill is passed in the first part of the Budget Session which ends on March 30.

The status of the Bill in Rajya Sabha is still unclear. Congress has maintained that amendments moved in the Winter Session have lapsed and members will have to give fresh notices on the Bill.

However, the opposition insists that government had sought adjournment of the House on December 29 on the grounds that there were as many as 187 amendments and it needed time to go through it. Now that the government has had sufficient time, the proceedings should begin from where they were left.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the government has studied the amendments moved by opposition and UPA allies.

"We want to bring the Bill within this part of the session itself," he said in Rajya Sabha last week.

His statement marked a change of stand by the government as the minister had at a session-eve press conference said it would be difficult to take up the Bill in the first part due to financial business.

Anna Hazare will start anti-Congress campaign for 2014 polls, Government's intention on Lokpal not clean

  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that today's Question Hour be suspended for a discussion on the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha. And Team Anna is once again keeping a close eye on the proceedings in Parliament. However, they are not too hopeful.

Anna Hazare believes that the government has no intention of passing a strong Lokpal Bill and he and his team are preparing for an-anti Congress movement for the 2014 elections.

"We won't approach the government again. We have been doing that for the last one year. Their intentions with the Lokpal is not clean. They have been fooling the people again and again. Why go to them once again? We are now preparing for 2014. The Parliament elections are going to happen. I am going to start travelling across the country within a month or two and would instigate people against the government," said Anna Hazare.

However, Anna's close aide Arvind Kejriwal believes that the Congress-led UPA may have learnt its lesson after the recently-concluded state elections.

"We hope that the government will learn its lesson from what happened in the elections in these five states. We hope that they would withdraw this bad and dangerous Lokpal Bill which would only increase corruption. We want them to prepare a good Lokpal Bill and get it passed as soon as possible," Mr Kejriwal said.

Yesterday, on day one of the Budget Session, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked the Opposition to allow Parliament to function. But with BJP's plan set for the second day, it is on a collision course with the government, which wants to discuss the Bill only later in the session. With different agendas on the minds of the government and the Opposition, today's proceedings may well lead to a logjam, once again, due to the contentious Lokpal Bill.

`Gali Gali...` screening in Anna village raises piracy fears

Though Anna Hazare watched ‘Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai’ with much enthusiasm along with other people in his Ralegan Siddhi village Tuesday evening, it`s said some villagers in the audience might have recorded footage of the film, raising fears of piracy.

The social crusader had a ball watching Akshaye Khanna rough up corrupt politicians and bureaucrats in the film which still has three weeks to go for its release.

Apparently, some of the 3,000 members in the audience were spotted recording the footage during the two-and-a-half uninterrupted screening under a massive tent especially erected in the village.

But director Rumi Jaffery is not worried. "Let them pirate the film, if that`s the price for what we achieved on Tuesday evening. Simply seeing Aana Saab sit next to me to watch the film without an intermission, enjoying my film so much, clapping his hands and chuckling at the satire and seeing his face break into a childlike grin was enough compensation for the damage that might be caused to the film`s commercial prospects."

"There`s no film theatre in Anna Saab`s village. Our entire team of Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran, Mugdha Godse, producer Nitin Manmohan and I drove down from Pune to Anna Saab`s village with full equipment and a CD of the film for screening," he said.

"Yes, piracy of my film is now a very real danger. There were nearly 3,000 people watching the film in that tent with Anna Saab. Anyone could have copied the film on a camera. But we`re ready to tackle the risks. At least we did something that no filmmaker has done in our country. We actually showed our anti-corruption film to the crusader against corruption."

Apparently, Hazare had not seen any film for the last 40 years. He was clueless about the identity of the actors.

Says Rumi, "He didn`t know any of us. He just knew we had made a film against corruption. We went to great lengths to get him to agree to see our film. Our team was in Anna Saab`s village for nearly a week making arrangements for the screening. But the effort was worth it."

Anna slammed by political parties for slap comment .

 Anna Hazare’s latest remarks that a person is left with no option other than going for a slap when his power of tolerance towards corruption runs out, has invoked huge criticism from the political circles with leaders, cutting across party lines, slamming the social activist.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh, who has from a long time, accused the social activist of having links with RSS and BJP said that he always considered Anna as ‘Gandhivaadi’, but his latest comments of favouring violence reflects that he is getting influenced by the Sangh Parivar and opposition who have a history of supporting violence.

“Annaji has lost respect in my eyes,” Digvijay said.

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said that Anna and his team are against democracy. The firebrand Muslim leader further quipped that if a leader was talking about violence what could be expected from the team.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said a slap cannot put a halt on corruption.

BJP leader Rajnath Singh too criticised the remarks of Anna saying that he did not support such thoughts.

"When a man's power of tolerance runs out, then whoever is in front of you, if a slap is given, then the brain is put back in place. That is the only road open now", Hazare told reporters after watching the Hindi film 'Gali Gali Chor Hai' based on the common man's fight against corruption.

A special screening of the movie was held for the anti-graft crusader at his native village Ralegan Siddhi last night in the presence of the film's crew.

Anna Hazare: When tolerance runs out, slapping only option

In remarks that could stoke a fresh controversy, Gandhian Anna Hazare Tuesday night said a person is left with no option other than going for a slap when his power of tolerance of corruption runs out.

"When a man's power of tolerance runs out, then whoever is in front of you, if a slap is given, then the brain is put back in place. That is the only road open now", Hazare told reporters after watching the Hindi film 'Gali Gali Chor Hai' based on the common man's fight against corruption.

A special screening of the movie was held for the anti-graft crusader at his native village Ralegan Siddhi tonight in the presence of the film's crew.

On November 24 last year, Hazare had sparked a row by appearing to approve of the slapping of  fight against corruption.by a youth in Delhi. He had, however, later condemned the attack on Pawar.

Anna saw the entire film whose screening ended at around 10 pm and expressed satisfaction over it, Hazare's aide Datta Awari told a news agency.

Actors Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran and Mugdha Godse, all part of the film, director Rumi Jafferey, and producers Nitin Manmohan and Sanjay Punamija, were among those who attended the screening held near the Shantiniketan ground, Awari said.

Team Anna back start its campaign in five poll-bound states from today

Vowing not to seek votes for or against any single party, Team Anna is due to kick-start its campaign in five poll-bound states from Uttarakhand on today.

Members of Team Anna, including Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Kumar Vishwas, will campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill, against corruption and other issues such as caste and religion in the five states. Their first stop is Haridwar in Uttarakhand today.

They will also visit Dehradun, Rudrapur, Almora and Haldwani in the state.

Notably, Anna Hazare will not be taking part in the campaign in all five states.

On Friday, Team Anna released a campaign pamphlet for the upcoming polls in which it attacked the Congress accusing it of betraying the country on Lokpal issue.

The four-page pamphlet, titled 'Your Vote can Change the History of India -- Betrayal by Central Government on the Country', also targeted Rahul Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati to question them on Lokpal and land acquisition.

The BJP was also posed questions. However, Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan told a press conference that their campaign is not against or in favour of a party but on "important" issues like corruption, Lokpal and land acquisition.

When pointed out that the title of the pamphlet betrays the claims of not targeting a party, Kejriwal shot back, "Hasn't the government cheated the whole country?" Bhushan said they will raise the issues on Lokpal and what all parties did to the Lokpal Bill.

The pamphlet has listed "six betrayals" on the issue of Lokpal by Central government while another page titled "Congress' strong Lokpal Bill" cites the "deficiencies" in the anti-corruption law. Six questions were raised to all political parties which include whether they agree that the Lokpal Bill is weak, CBI should be independent of government control and whether they will oppose the bill in Parliament.

The parties were also asked about their stand on land acquisition bill. Making the campaign personal, Team Anna also sought answers from Rahul Gandhi on whether Congress will dare to bring a strong Lokpal Bill on the lines of Lokayukta Act in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand.

Team Anna members would also visit Srinagar on January 24 and a few other parts of the state on January 27 and 28.

Team Anna not to target Congress during polls

Taking cue from past mistakes and fast waning popular support, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday declared that Team Anna will not target the Congress government during its campaign for a strong Lokpal Bill in the five poll-bound states.

The veteran Gandhian also said that team Anna will tour all five-poll bound states extensively to create awareness among people about the Lokpal Bill.

Confirming the development, key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said, “Anna Hazare ji has agreed to the Core Committee’s decision not to target any political party during our campaign for a strong Lokpal bill in five poll-bound states.”

“We have decided to tour all five poll-bound states,” he added.

To a question whether Anna Hazare will also campaign in these states, he said, “Anna has said once he recovers fully from his ailments, he will extend his support to the Lokpal campaign.”

Kejriwal also refuted allegations that Team Anna has suffered heavily due to its aggressive anti-Congress stance by saying, “We were never anti-Congress.”

The decision comes a day after the Core Committee of Team Anna yesterday met in Ghaziabad to assess the political situation and chalk out a plan on how to keep up the pressure over the Lokpal issue without targeting any political party.

The meeting came against the backdrop of poor public response to Hazare's agitation in Mumbai and Delhi in the last week of December and taunts from Congress on its anti-Congress plank.

Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan also travelled to Hazare's village Relegan Siddhi in Maharashtra and apprised him of the outcome of the Core Committee's eight-hour meeting that took place yesterday.

The Lokpal movement has come to a faux pass after the UPA government evaded a vote on Lokpal Bill in Raj Sabha and Anna suspended his Mumbai fast due to ill health and poor public response.

Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha today

Two days after getting the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill passed in Lok Sabha, the UPA government will introduce the same for a debate and approval in Rajya Sabha on Today.

The decision to introduce the Lokpal Bill in the Upper House was taken shortly after President Pratibha Patil gave her approval for the same yesterday.

The President's approval was required for the measure since the Lok Sabha made some amendments to The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 before its passage.

After the Lokpal Bill is tabled in the Upper House, a debate on the same would be held which will conclude with a vote.

The controversial Bill is being tabled in the Upper House amid concerns that the UPA government lacks adequate majority required to get the same passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Uncertainty prevails over the smooth passage of anti-graft legislation in the Upper House since Trinamool Congress – a major UPA ally- has decided to make a key amendment to the legislation adopted by Lok Sabha further complicating the numbers game in the House.

Trinamool Congress, which has 6 members in the 243-member Upper House where the Congress and its allies do not have majority, wants removal of the provisions relating to the setting up of Lokayuktas in the state which is contained in the Bill passed by Lok Sabha yesterday. If the Government accepts the amendments, the Bill will have to be referred to the Lok Sabha again or a joint session of Parliament has to be convened for its clearance.

UPA troubleshooter and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday held talks with leaders of Trinamool Congress, which has strong reservations over provisions in the bill that it considers encroachment on the states’ rights on appointment of the Lokayukta.

Trinamool Congress leaders Mukul Roy and Sudeep Bandopadhayay met Mukherjee after which Roy said the question of creating trouble for the government does not arise. With Mukherjee reportedly ruling out any further amendments, Trinamool Congress has tabled amendments for removal of provisions relating to Lokayuktas that it feels are encroaching on the powers of states.

In a House with an effective strength of 243, the Congress and other allies in the UPA account for 94 and can count on the support of eight nominated members and independents and members of small parties accounting for around 10 MPs.

The Constitution Amendment Bill, an idea of Rahul Gandhi to give Constitutional status to Lokpal and Lokayukta, was also favoured by the Standing Committee which considered the bill.

A Constitution Amendment Bill to be passed should have more than 50 per cent of the members of the House present and of them, two-third support is mandatory.

Concerned about this, MoS in PMO, V Narayanasamy said this morning, “The Congress party had issued a whip asking its MPs to be present and vote in favour of the bill in Rajya Sabha. The party is concerned about the fate of the Lokpal Bill and is determined to get the same passed in the Upper House.”

The minister expressed concerns about the possible absence of its own MPs and those from major allies including NCP, DMK, BSP, SP and RJD during the voting in Rajya Sabha - the absence of some MPs resulted in the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha.

The Congress party has decided to take action against its own members, who staged a walkout or remained absent during the voting on the Constitution Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha earlier.

The government has reasons to worry in case the members of its alliance partners including the DMK. SP, RJD and BSP walk out of the House during voting as they did in Lok Sabha.

In the 245-member House, the Congress and its allies NCP, DMK, Trinamool Congress, LJP and RLD together have 93 members. Parties supporting the UPA from outside - BSP (18), SP (5) and RJD (4) -- account for 27 crucial votes.

These three parties had walked out of Lok Sabha before voting on the Lokpal Bill last night but their absence did not matter much because the bill required only a simple majority and it was passed by a voice vote.

However, the absence of 42 MPs from these three parties in the Lok Sabha spelt disaster for the government in the Constitutional Amendment Bill, which required a special majority for passage.

Probably, this has triggered concerns in the Congress government, which is making every attempt to ensure that the Lokpal Bill sails through choppy seas in Rajya Sabha.

On Tuesday, Lok Sabha voted on the two bills after a 10-hour long debate that had 38 speakers and saw heated exchanges, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention at 4.40 pm indicated the government's resolve to press ahead despite stiff opposition, primarily on the question of constitution of Lokayuktas in the states.

The opposition proposed nearly 90 amendments in all and the voting process for the three bills went on for nearly two hours, ending close to midnight.

Most opposition members wanted the CBI to be freed of government control, but opinion was divided on whether the agency should be brought under the Lokpal.

Members wanted deletion of Section 24, which requires the Lokpal to send reports on charge-sheeted MPs to the presiding officers of the two houses of Parliament, asking them to take action against the member.

Ending the year 2011 with a smile!

From India lifting the World Cup to Vidya Balan making women feel comfortable in their own skin, 2011 gave us much to smile about. reports

As 2011, four days shy of lapsing into the past, makes way for 2012, we recall the people and events that had us breaking into a smile. A smile, like the Mona Lisa painting has famously taught us, spreads forth from the wellspring of happiness as it does from the depths of despair. Smiles that emanate from the cockles of our heart were aplenty this year, and smiles that say 'serves him well' abounded too. And, best of all, smiles that assured us that all's truly well with the world. Here's our pick...

Anna Hazare: His war cry against corruption and the corrupt galvanised a countrywide movement and mobilised the young and old like never before in post-Independent India. That he refused to be cowed by powerful politicians or critics, who identified with his cause but questioned his means, made him the unyielding crusader whom neither prison nor Parliament could tame.

Virender Sehwag: He gave us a two-ton reason to smile. Kolaveri became Kola-Viru as he, in 219 masterful strokes, erased the ignominy of our England tour. With the World Cup win and Viru's veer double knock against the West Indies, we pretty much owned the game .

Vidya Balan: The actor taught us how to embrace sexuality without being apologetic. With her role in Dirty Picture, she conveyed a message to women that fat and flab were no reasons to feel insecure about or ashamed of their bodies.

Veena Malik: It takes guts to pose the way Veena did on the cover of a magazine. And if you're from the other side of the border, it takes much more than that. Heck, we even sniggered at the ISI stamp inked on her arm.

Kapil Sibal: No one quite knows how and when this once enlightened and suave political figure went senile in his 60s, but advocating for Internet censorship in today's age and time was evidence enough that Sibal is a man far removed from ground realities. He had the country's Netizens laughing away at the absurdity of the state playing net nanny.

Dhanush: The actor gave Tamil and Kollywood a leg-up in a country where Bollywood and item songs rule the entertainment roost. His Kolaveri-di video became such a 'murderous rage' online that many think this could well be the beginning of the end of the north-south divide. Despite some venerable critics slamming the song, its popularity continues unabated. The rip-offs too!

Beti B: Hers was easily the most anticipated delivery of the year. While bookies placed huge bets on Aishwarya and Abhishek's baby, its sex, the due date, and whether it would be a normal or Caesarean birth, Beti B slid forth into this world on a sweet 16 November morning, proving most speculations just that, and also proving that from day one she's very much her own person. She's also become the nation's new blue-eyed (or is it green?) girl.

Sunny Leone: When she made the transition from Karen Malhotra to Sunny Leone, little did we know that one day she'd have us furiously scouring the net to get to know her better. She added luscious variety to a reality show that was becoming jaded and boringly scripted. She raised the show's TRPs and enlarged many an err.. eyeball! The men made sure they had an academic reason to justify their playful pursuits by insisting they were simply 'checking out' the Bigg Boss inmate!

Harvinder Singh: Though some questioned his literally strong-arm tactic, for young India, disillusioned and let down by the political class, the fact that he'd taken on the high, mighty and heavyweight politico Sharad Pawar was reason enough to smile and feel empowered.

Siddhartha Mukherjee: This biographer of cancer put the dreaded C-word centrestage and brought it to the realm of everyday conversation. The Emperor of All Maladies, which won him the Pulitzer Prize, is neither ominous nor reverential or steeped in sentimentality peculiar to diseases that, generally, have a terminal consequence. It is anchored in reality, and narrated in tellingly impactful prose.

William and Kate Middleton: They made us believe in fairy tales and happily-ever-after endings. If Diana had become the people's princess, Kate Middleton arrived as one.

Pippa Middleton: Boy, did she lead from behind! Her pert, firm butt became this year's most photographed and Facebooked posterior. A bottom(less) reservoir of happy smiles!

The World Cup victory: After 28 years, we were holding aloft the Worl Cup. It was full-on celebration unleashed in the entire country. And when teammates lifted Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders and did the victory lap around the stadium, the smile on our lips had the tear in our eye for company.

Formula One: With the fiasco of the Commonwealth Games behind us, we'd lost belief in our ability to pull off an event of this magnitude and sophistication. But we raced to victory with this one!

The world's not coming to an end next year, or indeed in a zillion years, so have yourselves a Happy New Year, and spread the cheer!

Union Law Minister Khurshid: Anna should decide limits of agitation

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday said all demands of Anna Hazare on Lokpal Bill "cannot be accepted" and the activist has to decide the "limits" of his exercise.

"We have included all good points (suggested by Team Anna) in the Lokpal Bill. But not everything they say we are in a position to accomodate because a lot of other people think differently," Khurshid told reporters on the sidelines of a conference 'Electoral Reforms in India - The Role of Intellectuals' here.

"Anna Hazare has a role to perform and it is a legitimate exercise, but he has to decide what the limits of exercise are," Khurshid said, adding that the government would not advise him on that front.

Asked whether he would appeal to Hazare to not go on fast from December 27, he replied that personally he would not do so, but would if the government takes a collective decision on the matter. "But there is no such decision taken by the government," he said.

Asked whether the Lokpal Bill undermined the autonomy of the CBI, Khurshid said the government and other investigation agencies, including the Lokpal, would not interfere in the probes conducted by the CBI.

"CBI also must know that they would not do all the investigation themselves, Lokpal would be free to give investigation to any other agency if they wished so," the minister clarified.

"I can assure you more than the CBI, the Law Ministry understands the integrity of the investigation. We have vetted it (Lokpal Bill) very carefully and I don't believe we have any problems with it," he added.

Replying to a question, Khurshid said if corruption is encouraged by elections, as alleged by Hazare, there are ways to contain it.

"We cannot sacrifice democracy at the altar of fight against corruption. We will have to find a combined and convergent method to strengthen democracy and weaken corruption," he said.

Khurshid also appealed to the BJP to play a constructive role in passing the Lokpal Bill in Parliament. "If there are differences between the parties, they must be sorted out," he said.

However, "arguing in front of the media and sharing space at the India Against Corruption platform" was not the best way to go about it, he said.

"They are very experienced leaders. I must not be telling them what should not be done," he said.

Reacting to the BJP charge that Congress "propped up" RJD chief Lalu Prasad for derailing the focus of the Lokpal Bill by welcoming reservation for minority quota, Khurshid said, "It will not be fair to say we have propped up or provoked him.

"Laluji is very strong in his opinions and sometimes they might help the government, but sometimes they might hurt," the minister said. "They are his opinions and I think we should respect everybody's opinions".

Asked about Congress leader Digvijay Singh's stance on attacking Team Anna, Khurshid said the party leader is "a warrior".

Court to decide on Anna's fast venue

Although Anna Hazare appears firm about his plan to go on a hunger strike from December 27, the noted social crusader still remains venue-less for his proposed agitation in Mumbai.

The first choice of Team Anna – decided upon on advice of Mumbai Police – was the MMRDA grounds in Bandra-Kurla complex but given the steep rent of Rs 19 lakhs being demanded by the authorities, the venue has turned out to be ‘too expensive’.

India Against Corruption (IAC) demanded from the state government that a waiver be announced considering the fact that the ground is not being rented out for any ‘commercial’ purpose. Anna’s movement is a people’s movement and hence should qualify for an exemption, IAC asserted.

The IAC, in a statement said, "It appears that the CM is not giving Annaji the exemption for MMRDA. Andolan will be at Azad Maidan. IAC is going ahead with providing intimation to concerned authorities."

Importantly, IAC has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the MMRDA and Maharashtra government for not granting the waiver. MMRDA protests site to be given for agitation beginning December 27.

Anna himself is against a ‘five-star’ protest, hence other options are being looked at.

However, the most feasible other option, Azad Maidan, is also not likely to be made available for Anna’s agitation as some portion of it is under control of the state’s Sports Department. However, further complicating things for Team Anna, the Deputy Director of the Sports Department has denied permission to use the ground for Anna’s fast.

Azad Maidan is also inadequate for Anna’s mass movement since the ground can accommodate only 3000-4000 people as compared to an estimated one lakh people that can easily fit into the MMRDA grounds.

With things not falling in line for Team Anna, the social crusader has warned that he will go to jail and launch his agitation from there if he does not get any suitable venue for his fast.

He also accused the government of deliberately complicating things for Team Anna while speaking to reporters today.

Anna Hazare plans to sit on a fast from Dec 27-29 in Mumbai, while the Parliament in Delhi debates the Lokpal Bill. In the eventuality of the bill not getting passed Anna would head to Delhi and launch a’ jail bharo’ andolan.

Anna challenges 'Jail bharo’ protest will outside Sonia’s residence

Unhappy with government’s version of Lokpal draft, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Thursday said that the bill was a betrayal and a cruel joke.

Challenging Congress president Sonia Gandhi to debate government’s Lokpal Bill in public Anna said, “If Soniaji thinks government’s version of draft is strong then she should come in public and have an open debate with Team Anna in presence of media.”

“Let them explain it to the nation how their bill is strong and we will tell them how their version of Lokpal Bill is weak,” Anna added.

Hazare's remarks came as a response to Gandhi's speech at Congress Parliamentary Party meeting yesterday during which she said the proposed legislation was strong and she was ready for a fight for it.

He said he would go on a three-day hunger strike from Dec 27-29 and would launch "jail bharo" struggle. "My jail bharo protest will be outside the residence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," the 74-year-old activist said.

Hitting out at the government, Anna said that the draft makes it difficult for common man to fight corruption.

He said putting CBI out of Lokpal shows how the bill will be "useless".

"The biggest victims of corruption are the poor who have to pay bribes to get any work done. How will the common man live like this? Out demand is that lower bureaucracy be brought under Lokpal," he said.

But, Hazare said the lower bureaucracy is being brought under Central Vigilance Commission which is under the control of government.

"How will the common man get justice. Lower bureaucracy and CBI should be under Lokpal. Only then the bill will be in right form," he said.

Criticising the Grievance Redressal Bill, Hazare said the government does not have the intent to help people fight corruption.

"If a citizen has a complaint regarding a passport, he will have to go to grievance redressal officer. If he is not satisfied, he can approach the senior officer. If he does not get justice then he has to go state level and central level commissions.

"For just a passport, why would anyone take these many rounds of government offices," he said.

Lokpal Bill in Lok Sabha today

The much-awaited Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Today and the anti-graft legislation will be discussed during Parliament's extended session on December 27.

Although, the bill has solid backing of UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, threat of a fast by noted social worker Anna Hazare also looms large on it.

The session, originally scheduled to end on December 22, will now reconvene on December 27-29 to discuss the bill.

However, the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, two parties supporting the ruling UPA from outside, have struck a discordant note, saying the bill would make the local police very powerful.

Meanwhile, Anna, who has already threatened to go on a three-day fast, has rejected the bill as a betrayal of the people and said the legislation would not provide for a strong anti-graft institution.

"People will teach a lesson to this government one day," Anna said yesterday in his Ralegan-Siddhi village in Maharashtra.

He wondered how the proposed bill could be described as strong when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was being kept outside the ombudsman's ambit.

Taking on Anna, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi also said that there was a "deliberate and malicious misinformation" campaign that the Congress was not tackling corruption.

She listed bills on protection of whistleblowers, enhancing judicial accountability, the citizens right to grievance redressal, and the Lokpal bill which will be taken up for discussion from December 27-29.

Stating "she was ready to fight for the anti-graft Lokpal and women's reservation bills in the Lok Sabha" Gandhi dismissed as "rumours" that there were differences between the government and the ruling party.

She urged Congress MPs to be prepared for the battle in the house.

Describing the Lokpal bill as a "pathbreaking" legislation, the UPA chairperson urged the opposition parties and anti-corruption activist Hazare to accept it.

"They must accept it. I am always ready for a fight," said Gandhi.

The government draft bill brings the Prime Minister under Lokpal but leaves out two other key demands of the activist for inclusion of the CBI and the lower bureaucracy.

Interestingly, while MoS Narayanasamy said the "only opposition to the bill was from Anna" both Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal opposed the legislation.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad joined SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in saying there should be "consensus" before the bill is brought to Parliament and a decision on such a major issue could not be taken without giving it a thought. The SP has 22 MPs while the RJD has four MPs.

However, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it will not comment on the bill until the final draft is circulated among MPs.

The remark came a day after several BJP leaders said they will protest the bill and called it "cheating the people."

"Even a full stop or a comma changes the meaning of a sentence... we will see the bill and only then give any comment," BJP leader SS Ahluwalia said.

The BJP said it wants the dissent note on the bill, given by its members who were on the Parliamentary Standing Committee, included.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader LK Advani along with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the bill.

Govt Vs Team Anna on Lokpal Bill

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Wednesday outrightly rejected the Lokpal draft prepared by the government and said that he will go ahead with his fast and 'jail bharo' agitation from December 27.

Speaking to reporters on the Lokpal issue, the 74-old Gandhian said, “The UPA government has cheated all of us on the Lokpal issue and the people of this country will teach a lesson to it for failing to bring a strong anti-graft legislation to curb corruption.”

Anna said the ombudsman would not be strong and effective if the premier investigation agency was not kept under it.

"If the CBI is outside then how will the Lokpal be strong. This system will save corrupt politicians. If CBI comes under Lokpal then P Chidambaram would be in jail. You are saving corrupt politicians and say it is a strong Lokpal," he said.

Rejecting the bill, Anna also took strong exception to government bringing a separate Citizens' Charter Bill, saying a common man will have to run from pillar to post to get his grievances redressed under the proposed system.

"It is cheating people who will teach them a lesson," Hazare said.

"How can the Lokpal be effective when Citizens Charter is out of its purview? A person will have to go through various levels for redressal of his grievances.What to do? It’s like fooling people," he said.

The activist said he will visit all five poll-bound states and let people know about the misdeeds of the government. "Ahead of General Election, we will visit the whole country and tell people about the government," he said.

Endorsing Anna’s viewpoint, his close aide Kiran Bedi said, “By rejecting the demands made by the civil society, which included bringing the PM and the CBI under the purview of the Lokpal, the government has drafted a weak anti-graft legislation that will be of little help.”

The former IPS officer said, “By narrowing the ambit of the Lokpal and changing the charter of the CBI, the government is increasing its discrepancies and making it more vulnerable. So far, we had been demanding the inclusion of the CBI in Lokpal but now onwards we will launch a campaign to save the probe agency.”

Bedi also made a scathing attack on the opposition parties, especially the BJP, for changing its stance on the Lokpal issue.

She also dared the main opposition party to join hands with Team Anna if it is so serious in fighting corruption in public life.

Referring to Advani’s campaign against the black money, Bedi said, “Will Advani ji join his campaign against black money with Anna’s campaign against corruption?”

Clearly, the Team Anna has upped the ante against the UPA government for not delivering what it promised to weed out corruption.

Another key Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal also slammed the government for drafting a weak Lokpal Bill.

“The draft bill prepared by the government will do more harm than good. A weak Lokpal will be of no help to the common man. All efforts should be made to block its passage in the Parliament,” he said.

Kejriwal also charged the government to be involved neck-deep in corruption so it lacks the will to fight corruption.

“The government’s decision to bring a separate Citizen Charter proves the point that it is not serious in fighting corruption. The CBI should have been brought under the purview of the Lokpal, but the government is not willing to do so. This means its intentions are not clear,” the RTI activist concluded.

Reactions from Team Anna came shortly after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Congress president Sonia Gandhi batted for the anti-graft legislation cleared by the Union Cabinet and asked the civil society and the Opposition to accept it.

Union Cabinet to fine-tune Lokpal Bill today

The Union Cabinet is expected to consider Monday the much-awaited Lokpal Bill that is likely to bring Prime Minister under the proposed anti-graft ombudsman with certain conditions and provide for creation of an independent prosecution directorate.

The bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament before the end of the current session, is being fine-tuned by an informal group of ministers comprising Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister Salman Khurshid and MoS Personnel V Narayanasamy.

The Cabinet, which met last night, saw some deliberations on the legislation but the detailed note on the subject is expected to formally come up before Cabinet meeting today, possibly in the evening.

Prior to that, the ministers concerned are expected to brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the changes being made in the Lokpal Bill, sources said.

While the bill will see incorporation of recommendations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee which examined it, the government has made it clear that it was open to other ideas that emanated at the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

"You all know that how many days are left (for Parliament session). We have literally worked day and night to ensure that we meet the deadlines," Law Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters today.

"Let us just get the Bill done and bring it to the Cabinet so that it can be brought before Parliament as quickly as possible," he said amid the looming threat of Anna Hazare to go on hunger strike from December 27 if the legislation is not enacted by then.

Referring to the various proposals floating around, Khurshid said, "the Government is not taking up anything as outstanding view but fine-tuning keeping in mind the basic structure of the law... to ensure that we take public confidence with us because we are also determined and committed to a very powerful Lokpal Bill."

Notwithstanding the demands for bringing CBI under Lokpal, the government is averse to this and instead is contemplating a provision for creating an independent "Directorate of Prosecution", carving it out from CBI.

Accordingly, the Bill is likely to suggest that the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act be amended, sources said.

The bill is also expected to provide for removal of the Lokpal Chairman or member if a joint complaint is made by at least 100 MPs.

The legislation also is likely to provide for 50 per cent reservation to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, minorities and women in the Lokpal bench on the lines of demand raised by almost all the parties, except BJP, at Wednesday's meeting, the sources said.

With regard to demand for inclusion of Group 'C' employees, the sources said discussions are underway to create an "appropriate mechanism" for this.

One of the suggestions in this regard is placing them under the purview of the CVC who would be asked to report the progress on anti-corruption cases to Lokpal. The Parliamentary Committee had recommended reservation for SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women in the Search Committee which will assist the Selection Committee to select Lokpal. However, it was silent on reservation in the Lokpal.

If reservation is provided in the Lokpal panel, it will become the first Constitutional body to have the provision.

On the issue of PM, the Standing Committee had refused to take a position but recommended three options – inclusion without exception and qualifications, inclusion with no exclusionary caveats but after demitting office and inclusion with exclusions on issues like national security and foreign affairs and some others.

Making CBI, or its anti-corruption wing, a part of Lokpal still remains a contentious issue.

The Lokpal Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha in August this year says that "Lokpal shall constitute an Investigation Wing for the purpose of conducting investigation of any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988."

Several parties, however, are insisting that CBI's anti-corruption wing should be under Lokpal to give it teeth. On the inclusion of group C employees under the ambit of Lokpal, one of the options with the government is recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee which had recommended a "broad supervisory fusion at the apex level" by some changes in the CVC Act.

"The CVC should be made to file periodical reports, say every three months, to the Lokpal in respect of action taken for these class C and D categories.

"On these reports, the Lokpal shall be entitled to make comments and suggestions for improvement and strengthening the functioning of CVC, which in turn, shall file, appropriate action taken reports with the Lokpal," it had recommended. It had also recommended "appropriate increase" in the strength of the CVC manpower.

Katrina most searched person online, Anna Hazare second

Leaving behind anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has emerged as the most searched person online in the country this year, says a report by search engine giant Google.

The report released by Google on Friday has come up with the topics and persons that Internet users in the country searched the most in 2011.

Katrina Kaif topped the chart in the category of 'Top Searched People' online. Hazare came second.

Hazare was at the top position in the category of 'Fastest Rising People', which is the list of people that have gained interest of Internet users. Strip-fame model Poonam Pandey is second in this list.

Among the news items, cricket league IPL tops the chart while the current hot topic in Indian news media 'Lokpal Bill' is the fifth most searched subject online.

In sports, Cricket World Cup 2011 emerged as the most searched sporting event, while Sachin Tendulkar was the most searched sports person.

Ironically, competitor Facebook is at the top of 'Top Searches' on Google, followed by its own video-sharing service YouTube.

Interestingly, the report noticed that for the first time Internet moved out of the realm of the metros, which was the trend until last year.

"Over 70 per cent of search happened in non-metros and a lot of Internet usage moved to mobile phones," Google India Head of Products Lalitesh Katrgadda said.