Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Breaking Anna's fast more urgent than good bill: Khurshid

New Delhi, Aug 24 (IANS) The urgency to get Anna Hazare to break his nine-day fast was greater than passing a 'good Lokpal bill', Law Minister Salman Khurshid said Wednesday.

'A good bill can come 10-15 days later but a fast cannot be broken 20 days later. So if we look at the priorities of urgency, then the urgency that the fast must come to an end is far greater, more serious than the urgency to pass the bill,' Khurshid told reporters.

A hectic round of talks between the government and Team Anna have been under way - the latest being between Khurshid and Hazare associates Wednesday morning - ahead of an all-party meeting scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

'The all-party meeting is our sincere attempt to find a common position in parliament. If there is no common position in parliament, to at least try and work towards it,' Khurshid said.

'We are not yet in any position to say that we have agreed to this or that.. it is an urgency and we want to address it. But the urgency to break the fast is not any less than the urgency to bring a good bill,' he added.

Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh added that 74-year-old Hazare's health was an issue of 'major concern'.

'People from Ralegan Siddhi (Hazare's village in Maharashtra) came to meet me...the pressure has been building up. Anna Hazare's health is a major concern...but now we are on the right track,' Deshmukh said.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/breaking-annas-fast-more-urgent-good-bill-khurshid-082736948.html

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Live updates: Anna Hazare likely to leave Tihar soon

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The stalemate between the government and veteran social activist Anna Hazare continues over the proposed Lokpal Bill, with the Anna refusing to leave Tihar Jail till he is unconditionally allowed to continue with his fast unto death at Delhi's Jai Prakash Narain Park.
Yahoo! India News brings you real-time updates on all the action.
Are you attending a protest? Mail us your experience and photos from the protest at indiaeditors@yahoo.in and we will publish it.
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5: 20 pm: Anti-graft rally begins from India Gate.
4: 50 pm: Crowds outside Tihar Jail wait for Anna’s appearance
There was a sense of anticipation outside Tihar Central Jail here on Wednesday afternoon where hundreds of Anna Hazare’s supporters had gathered early, waiting for the anti-corruption crusader and his associates to come out.
The crowds gathered outside the gate of the Director General (Prisons) office shouted slogans, waved the national flag and demanded the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill. Several banners conveyed the anger felt by the supporters of Mr. Hazare, especially towards the manner in which he was picked up from Mayur Vihar on Tuesday morning. Full story on the Hindu
4: 15 pm: Jail is the new epicentre of anti-graft protests: Sisodia

Manish Sisodia, a close aide of social activist Anna Hazare said that in the absence of government permission to hold protests at a public park, they would turn the jail into the new epicentre of their anti-graft protests. Full story
4:10 pm: Anna supporters stop Janta Express train at Pratapgarh-- CNN IBN.
3:40 pm: Team Anna Hazare ready to shift fast venue to Ramlila Maidan but only if they're allowed to protest for a month.
3:35 pm: However, according to NDTV, Team Anna is not accepting Delhi Police's offer of a 5-day fast. Anna and his supporters want a one month permit.
3:30 pm: The protest venue has shifted from JP Park to Ramlila Maidan, reports CNN IBN.
3:25 pm: Anna Hazare not coming out of jail as of now, says Manish Sisodia.
3:20 pm: Full text of PM Manmohan Singh's statement in Parliament

"Hon'ble Speaker,
It is my painful duty to report to this House certain events that took place yesterday in New Delhi. Hon'ble Members are aware that after extensive consultations and discussions, including deliberations in a Joint Drafting Committee and a meeting of all political parties represented in Parliament, the Government has introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha on the setting up of Lok Pal. The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee concerned.
Notwithstanding the introduction of the Bill, Shri Anna Hazare and his supporters have persisted with their demand that the Jan Lok Pal Bill drafted by Shri Anna Hazare should be introduced in Parliament and that the Jan Lok Pal Bill should be the Bill that must be passed by Parliament. In support of this demand, Shri Anna Hazare had announced some time ago that he would undertake an indefinite fast beginning August 16, 2011.
On August 2, 2011, an application was made to Delhi Police by an organisation called India Against Corruption for permission to hold a month-long fast beginning August 16, 2011 at New Delhi. Delhi Police held discussions with the applicants in order to identify a suitable place and to formulate the conditions under which the permission could be granted for holding a fast at that place. Eventually, on August 13, 2011, Delhi Police informed the applicants that permission would be granted for the protest at Jai Prakash Narayan Park, near Ferozshah Kotla, subject to permission being granted by the land owning agency and subject to certain conditions.
Hindustan Times has the complete text of the Prime Minister's statement.

3:10 pm:
Scores of protestors on Wednesday defied prohibitory orders imposed at Jai Prakash Narain Park, the proposed venue of Anna Hazare’s agitation, to express solidarity with Anna, PTI reports.
2:55 pm: Anna Hazare likely to leave Tihar soon
Anna Hazare is likely to leave Tihar soon and head to Jaiprakash Narain Park to continue his fast, NDTV reports.
2:40 pm: Jaitley slams PM's statement on Hazare issue

Criticising Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement in Parliament on social activist Anna Hazare, leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said India is exasperated with corruption and the ways of this government.
"The Prime Minister in his statement has posed a question...as to who drafts the laws and who makes the laws of this country. I don't think there is a serious debate inside or outside the House on this. I am left wondering as to who really runs this country, " Jaitley said.
"I don't think there is a serious debate inside or outside the House on this. I am left wondering as to who really runs this country," he added.
2:23 pm: Kiran Bedi, Swami Agnivesh meet Anna in Tihar

Anna Hazare's close aides, including Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh, Wednesday met the civil society leader in the Tihar Jail to discuss the road ahead.
Activist Medha Patkar and lawyer Prashant Bhushan were there as well. A member of Hazare's team said they were discussing the future course of action.
'We have been getting reports of Anna-ji walking out of Tihar from media but we have no confirmation on this,' she said. More on this story
2: 00 pm:
Hazare's attempt to impose Jan Lok Pal Bill totally misconceived: PM
Emphasising that social activist Anna Hazare may be inspired by high ideals in his campaign to set up a effective Lok Pal, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday said the former had sought to impose his version of the Lokpal Bill which was "totally misconceived". Here is the full story

1: 30 pm: Activists divided: For and against Hazare
Social activists are deeply divided over the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. While human rights activist Swami Agnivesh says the movement has a groundswell of popular support, activist and columnist Shabnam Hashmi feels Hazare has adopted an authoritarian attitude and is supported by right-wing groups. Read more

1: 10 pm: Anna Hazare likely to come out of Tihar jail soon: Swami Agnivesh

12: 45 pm: Hazare was arrested as a preventive measure: Manmohan Singh
Justifying social activist Anna Hazare's arrest by the Delhi Police, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said the former was arrested as a preventive measure.
Making a statement on Hazare's arrest in Parliament, Dr. Singh said: "It is my painful duty to report on the events of yesterday. Anna Hazare and six others were arrested as a preventive measure."
Stressing that the Delhi Police "had no choice" but to arrest Hazare, Dr. Singh said: "Team Anna had made it clear that they wanted to defy the law and were refusing to abide by the Delhi Police's conditions." Here is the full story
11: 50 pm: Government had 'bounden duty' to maintain peace: PM
The government had a 'bounden duty' to maintain peace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday, a day after Gandhian activist Anna Hazare was arrested ahead of his planned fast-unto-death for a more powerful Lokpal Bill.
Accepting the demand of the opposition, the prime minister made a statement in the Lok Sabha on the arrest and subsequent release of Hazare. Hazare refused to be released and continued to be inside Tihar Jail. Read more

11: 20 am: PM makes statement on Anna arrest in parliament
Accepting the demand of the opposition, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement in the Lok Sabha on the arrest and subsequent release of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare. He is scheduled to speak in the Rajya Sabha at 11.30 a.m.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 11.30 a.m. when the prime minister will read out his statement. More

11: 00 am:
Congress core committee to meet over Anna issue
With Gandhian activist Anna Hazare refusing to leave the Tihar Jail, the core committee of Congress is to meet to finalise its strategy for dealing with the situation.
The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and will be attended by the party's top leadership, sources said. Full story
10: 30 am:
Ramdev to meet president
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will meet President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to submit a memorandum against the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare.
Ramdev will meet the president at 11.45 a.m., said a statement from the guru. More
10: 00 am:
Anna in Tihar till fast location finalised, says aide
Civil society leader Anna Hazare will not leave Tihar Jail till the location of his fast is finalised, his aide said Wednesday.
'Anna said that I will not go till the issue of location for fast is sorted out because it will be of no use. If I come out, the same problem will be there again where the fast should take place,' Hazare's associate Manish Sisodia said, quoting the activist.
'So he said that tell us what is the status where we will fast, solve the issue,' he told NDTV. More

9: 00 am: Anna Hazare won't get off government's back
Rattled by swelling political and public anger at the preventive arrest of activist Anna Hazare, the UPA government backtracked late this evening and announced his release to a street sensed of victory against a shaken ruling establishment.
But signs that the panicked U-turn will bring the beleaguered government little relief were immediately visible as Hazare refused to leave Tihar Jail, demanding that he be guaranteed permission to fast at central Delhi's Jai Prakash Narayan Park. Full story

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August 16th, 2011
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11: 55 pm: Manish Sisodia: Anna and 7 supporters are still fasting in Tihar

Manish Sisodia says Anna and his 7 supporters are still fasting in jail. Sisodia said he came out of jail to bring Anna's message to the public- that  he won't come out of jail unless govt gives unconditional permission to fast at JP Park.

11: 50 pm: Delhi Police give two options to Anna

According to Times Now, Delhi Police give two options to Anna- One, he can fast for three days with conditions or option two is for him to leave Delhi. Meanwhile, the police start detaining Anna supporters who've gathered at the JP Park.
11: 30 pm: Restore Anna's rights, Bhopal survivors urge president
About 150 survivors of the world's worst industrial disaster in Bhopal urged President Pratibha Patil to intervene for restoring the constitutional rights of civil society activists Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and others who were detained in New Delhi in the morning. More
11: 15 pm: Anna jailed, freed, but refuses to leave Tihar

Just six hours after he was driven to the Tihar Jail after 3 pm after being sentenced to a week's judicial custody, an unprecedented outburst of spontaneous public anger led Delhi Police to release him. But Hazare, 74, having tasted victory, declined to move until his demands were met. Read the full story here
10:40 pm: Hazare turns down release order, refuses to come out of Tihar

Anna Hazare turned the down the release order, saying he will not move out of the Tihar Jail until he gets unconditional permission to fast.
"Anna Hazare turns down Government's conditional release order. It is said by sources that Anna will not leave Tihar jail until unconditional permission to fast. It is also said that there should not be any conditions for his fast at Jai Prakash Park. It is indicated by sources that Anna will court arrest again but won't bow down," Times Now channel quoted.
10:20 pm:
Anna Hazare's key aide Manish Sisodia has been released from the Tihar Jail. "Anna adamant on continuing fast at JP Park. Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal continue to fast inside jail," said Sisodia after his release.

9: 40 pm: Anna refuses to come out of jail
According to CNN IBN, Anna Hazare refuses to come out of Tihar jail saying he fears he might be arrested again. Jail sources say Anna wants permission to fast at JP Park. The jail authorities were given orders to release the social activist by 9:30 pm.

9: 30 pm: Congress says it walked 'extra mile' to accommodate Anna
The Congress said the UPA govt had walked the 'extra mile' to accommodate the concerns of Anna Hazare in drafting the anti-corruption Lokpal bill.
'No other government involved the civil society in preparing a bill so far. The government walked the extra mile to accommodate the civil society led by Hazare,' Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters. More
9: 00 pm: Sibal faces protest from Hazare's supporters at Delhi seminar
The supporters of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who was arrested ahead of his scheduled indefinite fast, heckled Union Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal during a seminar on Lokpal.
They raised slogans and waved black flags, when he stood up to address the seminar. Police immediately intervened and took the protesters out of the hall. Full story here
8: 30 pm: Anna to be release tonight by 9:30
New flashes on television channels say Tihar Jail authorities have received orders to release Anna by 9:30pm. More here
8: 15 pm: Brinda Karat calls Hazare's arrest a strong attack on democratic rights
Condemning the arrest of Anna Hazare, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat accuses the Congress Party of indulging in corruption.
"It is a strong attack on democratic rights and my party has strongly condemned it. It also reflects the Congress Party's refusal to tolerate any movement against the corruption. One can ask why? Why is Congress leadership is taking this decision? Clearly because their own government is steeped into corruption," said Karat. More
8: 00 pm: BJP terms Hazare's arrest dictatorial
Condemning the arrest of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the former of adopting dictatorial approach and added that it tried to infringe upon the fundamental right of the citizen to protest. More
7: 30 pm: Protests in Anna's village after his arrest
People in Anna's village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar District protested against his arrest in Delhi. Condemning the arrest, many villagers including women and children marched to the local Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus depot and raised slogans against the government.
Jaisingh Mahapari, a villager, said that the whole village supported the movement led by Hazare and that they were ready to get arrested by the police. More
7: 00 pm: Activists for and against Hazare
Social activists are deeply divided over the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. While human rights activist Swami Agnivesh says the movement has a groundswell of popular support, activist and columnist Shabnam Hashmi feels Hazare has adopted an authoritarian attitude and is supported by right-wing groups. More
6: 40 pm: Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan released
'Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan have been released,' Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told reporters. He said theirs was 'preventive arrest'.
Bedi and Bhushan were detained under the Delhi Police Act, on charges of refusing to comply with the directions given by a police officer.
6: 10 pm: Team Anna versus government: Information warfare hots up

A full-blown information warfare has broken out between Team Anna and the government, with both sides deploying social media tools, SMS and e-mail campaigns to drum up support and run down each other - in what is proving to be a serious crisis for the UPA government.
While supporters of Team Anna have launched a SMS blitzkrieg asking people to court arrest and go on mass leave to join the protesters, the government has launched both overt and covert information offensive to undermine civil society activists that sometimes verged on slander and character assassination. More
6: 05 pm: Farooq Abdullah tweets on Anna's arrest
Farooq Abdullah's tweet on the arrest: Anna Hazare in the company of Kalmadi, Raja and Kanimozhi. The lady of justice is indeed blind.
6: 00 pm Hazare faces complaint in Bhopal on flag hoisting
Anna Hazare may face trouble in Madhya Pradesh with a complainant moving court here for action against him for allegedly hoisting the national flag after sunset during a TV show.
'The plea has been accepted and the next court hearing will take place Aug 25,' said R.K. Pandey, lawyer of petitioner Prakash Thakur. More
5: 45 pm: Over 3000 detained in Mumbai after protests over Anna Hazare's arrest
Over 3,000 people were picked on the charges of unlawful assembly from across Mumbai on Tuesday after they held demonstrations protesting against the police action against activist Anna Hazare, hours before he was to launch his fast against corruption, police said. Read more on DNA
5: 15 pm: Anna will share space with Kalmadi, Raja
Sent to seven days' judicial custody, Anna Hazare will share space in Tihar jail with A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi, both accused in high-profile scams.
4: 40 pm: Shanti Bhushan: Architect of Lokpal bill
Saga of the fearless lawyer, who stood against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forty years ago and has now come forward to fight the government against the corruption.

 

4: 25 pm: Anna arrest: parties join hands to corner Govt
The UPA Government is finding itself isolated on the issue of arresting Anna Hazare and his supporters with all the opposition parties deciding to form a common strategy to take on the Government.
All the opposition parties met at 2 PM in Parliament and decided on a joint strategy to corner the government. The Left Front proposed that all the opposition parties should boycott Parliament proceedings for the next three days to protest against the arrest of Hazare and his supporters. Full story on CNN IBN

4: 15 pm: FAQ: Why Anna Hazare is wrong and Lok Pal a bad idea
'The Acorn's latest post talks about whether we really need a Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption. Read the full post here.

4.03 pm: Anna Hazare gets 7-day custody, sent to Tihar Jail
A Special Magistrate Court sent the 74-year-old social activist to Tihar Jail after he refused to sign a personal bond. Hazare was asked to sign an undertaking promising that he would not violate Section 144.
The Anna Hazare team earlier in the day said that they will approach the Supreme Court against the detention ahead of the proposed indefinite fast, claiming that the police action was 'totally undemocratic'.
Meanwhile, the BJP demands an answer from the Prime Minister on Anna's arrest. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley says the government can not take away people's right to protest. More here

4.00 pm: Anna Hazare detained, India outraged
Civil society activist Anna Hazare was detained by Delhi Police, shortly before he was to begin an indefinite fast to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, triggering swathes of unrest across the country and pitting the government against not just the opposition but also large sections of the public.
Hazare's associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained along with about 1,000 supporters. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the move smacked of the excesses during Emergency and parliament was stalled, the outrage spread across the country with reports of protests coming in from virtually every corner. Read more

3.30 pm:
Anna detained for his 'madness', says tourism minister
Union Tourism Minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay justified Anna Hazare's detention in New Delhi, saying he was arrested for his 'madness'.
'Anna Hazare was detained due to his madness for being bent upon a fast-unto-death even as his major demands were accepted by the government,' said Sahay, the Lok Sabha MP from this Jharkhand capital. Here is the full story
3.00 pm: Tactics of govt. akin to those of British: Shanti Bhushan
Criticising the government over the detention of Anna Hazare, senior lawyer and social activist Shanti Bhushan on Tuesday said that the tactics of former were akin to those of the British.
"We did not expect to be detained despite not violating any rules. The Government is nervous, it does not want to let go of corrupt practices. They are treating us like the British. Today's government is similar to that of Winston Churchill," Bhushan said. Read more

2.30 pm: Government not against protests: Mukherjee
Every citizen has the right to protest and the government is not against protests per se but the manner of protests, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.
'Everyone has the right to protest but there is a method of protesting,' Mukherjee told reporters.
'It is the legitimate right of every individual to hold protests but at the same time there are certain rules and laws. If police considers that a particular action may lead to law and order problem, then police can impose certain conditions,' he added. More
2.15 pm:
Kiran Bedi says 'emergency' has revisited the country
Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as undemocratic and unconstitutional, civil society activist Kiran Bedi said that emergency has revisited the country.
" This is totally undemocratic and un -constitutional. This has not been done by Delhi Police; somebody else is behind it. Delhi Police is capable enough to handle such peaceful protests," she said. Full story

1.45 pm: Sushma demands explanation from PM on Hazare's detention
Hours after veteran social activist Anna Hazare was detained by the police from Supreme Enclave in Mayur Vihar for defying prohibitory orders and vowing to go ahead with his fast, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj condemned the incident, and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement in Lok Sabha on the issue.
"A statement from the Home Minister on the issue (Hazare) is not acceptable to us. We want the Prime Minister's statement in the House. Whatever has happened, the Prime Minister must explain," Swaraj said. More
1.30 pm: Delhi Police working independently: Ambika Soni
Delhi Police was not acting under political pressure but had detained civil society activist Anna Hazare to maintain law and order, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said. Read more

1.00 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned over Anna arrest
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned amid noisy scenes and arguments between the opposition and treasury benches over the detention of civil society activist Anna Hazare and his associates. More
12.30 pm:  Detention is beginning of India's second freedom struggle: Hazare
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday, described it as the beginning of India's second freedom struggle.
"My dear countrymen, the second freedom struggle has begun and now I have also been arrested. But will this movement be stopped by my arrest? No, not at all. Don't let it happen," Hazare said soon after being detained by the police. Full story


12.15 pm: Hazare detained for wanting to defy order: R K Singh

Home Secretary R K Singh said social activist Anna Hazare was detained because he said he intended to defy prohibitory orders and sit on a fast. "Anna Hazare stated that he will defy the prohibitory orders. So, he has been detained,' Singh told reporters.
Delhi Police had denied permission for his fast after he refused to abide by all the 22 conditions set by them for the agitation. More

11.50 am: Advani slams Govt. over Anna's detention
Slamming the government over the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani said instead of dealing with the problem of corruption and owning responsibility, the former is trying to find scapegoats and is stopping peaceful protests.
"I am not surprised at this development. This is the direction in which this government is moving," NDTV quoted Advani as, saying. More

11.30 am: Shutdown in Hazare's village, protests in Pune, Mumbai  
Residents of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi took to the streets to protest the detention of the anti-corruption crusader in New Delhi. There were demonstrations in Pune and Mumbai too. Read more
11.00 am: Team Anna to move Supreme Court against detentions  
Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as totally undemocratic, senior lawyer and member of the committee constituted for the Lokpal Bill, Prashant Bhushan said they will approach the Supreme Court.
"The action showed that the government has no regard for fundamental rights of the citizens. We will move the Supreme Court," said Bhushan. "Time has come to rise up against this government. We appeal to people to protest against the government peacefully," he added. More
10.30 am: Demonstrations in Lucknow against Hazare's detention 
People across various age groups and different walks of life held demonstrations in this Uttar Pradesh

 

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capital to protest the detention of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare in New Delhi. Read more
10.00 am: Activists fast in Himachal to support Anna
Several activists began an indefinite hunger strike in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal bill and express solidarity with civil society leader Anna Hazare, who was detained early morning in the national capital. More
9.30 am: Manmohan Singh convenes CCPA meet over Hazare's detention 
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh convened an emergency meeting of Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) to discuss the strategy after crackdown on Team Anna. As per reports, Home Minister P Chidambaram is meeting the Prime Minister ahead of the CCPA meet. Full story
9.00 am: BJP condemns Hazare's arrest 
Condemning the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said the government would learn its lesson 'the hard way'.
'It is regrettable and condemnable. This government is bent upon crushing anyone who wants to protest against corruption,' BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. More

8 am: Delhi Police arrest Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal

On Tuesday morning, over a dozen plain-clothed policemen landed at lawyer Prashant Bhushan's house in Mayur Vihar, where Hazare was staying, and detained the Gandhian activist minutes before he was to set out for Rajghat, from where he had planned to head to the Jai Prakash Narain (JP) Park to begin his fast. Here is the full story
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August 15th, 2011
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8.00 pm: Hazare calls for jail bharo after ban orders

Anna Hazare paid a surprise visit to Rajghat and meditated for a while, causing tension to the police, addressed a press conference in the evening. He said there was need for struggle to fight corruption and change the existing 'anti-poor system'. The social activist declared he was ready to go to jail and called for a 'jail bharo' agitation. Full story
7.00 pm: Team Anna, government headed for showdown
Team Anna Hazare and the government were Monday night set for a showdown after Delhi Police refused to let them hold a fast from Tuesday for a stronger Lokpal Bill and the social activist declared he was ready to go to jail. More

 

6.00 pm: Ban orders imposed at Hazare protest venue
The Delhi Police Monday night imposed ban orders at JP Park here where social activist Anna Hazare is to hold a protest fast from Tuesday morning.
The development came even as a large number of Hazare's supporters started gathering at the park with candles and flaming torches in their hands.
The police have imposed Section 144 - that bans the gathering of five or more people - at the park, near Ferozeshah Kotla ground, the venue that the police had earlier told Hazare he could hold his protest fast in. Read more
5.00 pm: Hazare to court arrest; calls for struggle to change system
Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the 'anti-poor' system, social activist Anna Hazare said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle.
'We will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or more people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare told mediapersons here. Here is the full story
3.30 pm: Team Anna dares Govt., to move court if stopped from protesting
Terming the decision of the Delhi Police as 'unconstitutional' and 'undemocratic', Supreme Court lawyer and member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, Prashant Bhushan, said the civil society activists would move the court if they were stopped from protesting. Read more
2.00 pm: Govt. always suppresses anti-corruption crusaders, says Ramdev
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev accused the Central government of trying to suppress anti-corruption movements in the country.
Addressing mediapersons Ramdev said: "The government maligns the image of hose who raise their voice. People in the country must understand the intention of the overnment, even if it is Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Balakrishna."
"Earlier, even leaders like Jai Prakash Narain and even during the time of emergency, hoever dared to raise their voice was crushed by the government. This is still going on fter 64 years of independence," he added. More
1.00 pm: Kejriwal asks people to switch off home lights
Just after activist Anna Hazare addressed a conference here Monday evening to announced his anti-corruption strategy, his team member Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people to switch off lights in their homes for an hour as a mark of support for their cause.
People were asked to switch off lights for an hour starting 8 p.m. Monday. Kejriwal said: 'I asked people to switch off the lights for one hour, as the kind of independence we have today in our country is incomplete.'
'Nothing has been left untouched by corruption. Unfortunately, the government seems to be promoting it rather than preventing it. The government's Lokpal bill is a complete eyewash and will shield corruption,' he said. Full story
12.00 pm: We are ready to go to jail: Anna
Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the existing system, social activist Anna Hazare Monday said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle
'We will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or more people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare said. More
11.00 am: Want strong Lokpal, don't fast: PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government wants a 'strong Lokpal' and those who don't agree with some aspects of a proposed legislation 'should not resort to hunger strikes'.
'We want a strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places. We have recently introduced a bill in parliament to achieve this,' said Singh in his address to the nation's 65th Independence Day. 'Now only parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation should be enacted,' he said from the ramparts of Red Fort. Here is the full story

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/lokpal-bill--anna-hazare-detained-ahead-of-mass-fast---live-updates.html

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

England seize control of Edgbaston Test

by Julian Guyer

BIRMINGHAM, August 10, 2011 (AFP) - England enjoyed an excellent opening day in the third Test against India as they pursued a win that would see them replace the tourists at the head of the ICC's Test Championship table.

They closed on 84 without loss in reply to India's modest first innings 224, a deficit of 140 runs, at Edgbaston here on Wednesday.

England captain Andrew Strauss was 52 not out and fellow left-handed opener Alastair Cook 27 not out in front of a sell-out 25,000 crowd at Warwickshire's headquarters, redeveloped at a cost of GBP 32 million (USD 52 million).

Their unbroken stand rounded off a good day for England, already 2-0 up, as they pursued a victory that see them take the four-match series and go to the top of the Test standings.

Strauss, in what was his best Test score this season, set the seal on a fine first day for England shortly before stumps by completing a 76-ball fifty including 10 fours.

Earlier seamers Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, England's heroes with both bat and ball during their crushing 319-run second Test win at Trent Bridge, shared eight wickets.

Broad took four for 53 in 17 overs, with the fast-medium bowler dismissing both Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar as the India stars managed just one run between them.

Meanwhile Bresnan, recalled at Trent Bridge in place of the still-injured Chris Tremlett, had four for 62 in 20 overs.

India have yet to post 300 this series but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni prevented total embarrassment with a swashbuckling 77 after a top-order collapse reduced his side to 111 for seven.

Together with the resourceful Praveen Kumar, he added a run-a-ball 84 for the eighth wicket.

Dhoni, whose previous best score this series was 28 in the opener at Lord's, launched James Anderson for a straight six and also clubbed Bresnan high over long-on as he at last found his form with the bat.

Kumar was no silent partner, hitting a six and four fours in his 26 before, trying to hook Bresnan, he was caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Dhoni was evenually out when an edged drive off Broad was held by first slip Strauss to end a 96-ball knock featuring three sixes and 10 fours.

Injury-hit India, after losing the toss in overcast, seam bowler friendly conditions, slumped to 75 for four at lunch with Rahul Dravid, a century-maker at Trent Bridge, brilliantly bowled by Bresnan for 22 off the last ball before the interval.

India then lost their next three wickets for just 19 runs, with Bresnan again exposing Venkatsai Laxman's vulnerability against the short delivery when the elegant batsman didn't get over a pull short and holed out straight to Broad at long leg for 30.

Broad had previously struck first ball to remove dynamic opening batsman Sehwag for a golden duck.

Sehwag, playing his first match of the series after shoulder surgery, tried to sway out of the way of a short ball but gloved to Prior, with a review overturning Davis's initial verdict as it also did when Kumar was dismissed.

Bresnan then ended a stand worth 51 when left-hander Gambhir inside-edged onto his stumps for 38.

Gambhir's exit brought in Tendulkar who received a standing ovation as he walked out in pursuit of an unprecedented 100th international hundred.

But Tendulkar made just one before he was lured into playing a Broad delivery outside off-stump he might have left and edged to third slip Anderson.

Source:
http://cricket.yahoo.com/cricket/news/article?id=item/2.0/-/story/cricket.yahoonews.com/england-seize-control-edgbaston-test-20110810/

Will India survive the crisis this time?

The global crisis induced by downgrading of U.S's sovereign rating and Europe debt crisis has once again flared up the discussions of Indian economy's extent and impact of coupling with the global economy. The BSE Sensex' slide on account of adverse developments in the global economy has been a reality check for Indian stock markets. The central bank (RBI) has adopted a cautionary tone. It has suggested that India is not insulated from what is happening around.

Let us take a look at how the Indian economy gets affected by the US crisis. The U.S debt downgrade and the resultant slowdown in global economies have spelt trouble for export oriented domestic companies. More so for the IT sector where 80% of the revenues are dollar denominated. The domestic demand is not promising either, thanks to the continuous rate hikes taken by central bank. The same has rendered domestic borrowings unviable due to which the corporates resorted to cheaper foreign funds. The recent turn of events will take away that advantage as well.

So what will be the fate of Indian economy from here? The fact that Indian economy grew by 6.8% even in the last financial meltdown is testimony to high resilience of Indian economy. Further, those who can read between the lines will be able to see a silver lining in the clouds. The slowdown in the global growth will bring commodity prices to more affordable levels. This will be a breather for central bank that has gone for frequent rate hikes in the past on concerns of high inflation. A break from the tightening cycle will also support growth. However, we need to be especially watchful of global developments and the macroeconomic stability. While some hit is obvious, the recent events may turn out to be an opportunity in the making. What with the Indian economy becoming more attractive with a turn in the macro cycle, affordable prices, attractive valuations and expected policy reforms?

By Equitymaster – India's leading 'independent' equity research initiative. Trusted by over a million members all over the world, Equitymaster is known for its well-researched, unbiased and honest opinions on the Indian stock markets.

Source:
http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/Will-India-survive-crisis-equitymaster-1421981510.html

Violence flares outside London but capital calm

Britain's worst riots in decades raged into Wednesday as youths ran amok in Manchester and the industrial Midlands but London was quiet with 16,000 police swamping the streets to stem violence.

In Manchester, Britain's third-largest city, youths smashed shop windows and looted shops and chased photographers away from the scene in what police described as the city's worst violence in 30 years.

Elsewhere, hooded rioters set fire to buildings in West Bromwich and Wolverhampton in central England and a police station in nearby Nottingham was firebombed, although there were no reported injuries.

Looters also targeted shops in the second city of Birmingham for another night and 200 rioters pelted police with missiles in the northwest city of Liverpool as the nation faced up to a fourth day of unrest.

But in London there was no repeat of the wave of violence which left parts of the capital in flames on Monday night, as vigilante mobs took to the streets to defend their communities.

Police were bracing for more trouble after what they said was the worst night of disorder in living memory in the British capital, and their numbers were ramped up from 6,000 to 16,000 on Tuesday night as Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to do "everything necessary to restore order to the streets".

Shops in many parts of London closed early and put down their shutters on the advice of the police.

Scotland Yard said early Wednesday that 768 people had been arrested in London for violence, disorder and looting.

The focus of Tuesday's violence was Manchester in northwest England, where police were driven back by gangs of hundreds of youths who covered their faces with scarves and ski masks.

Gangs smashed their way into shoe shops and set fire to a girls' clothing store in the city centre.

Two raiders smashed the glass entrance of the Arndale shopping centre, central Manchester's main shopping mall, allowing hundreds of youths to pour into a shop and emerge with armfuls of clothes and shoes.

Looters cleared out an electrical store as powerless police watched on while other gangs squared up to officers and shouted obscenities in their faces, an AFP correspondent reported.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan of Greater Manchester Police, who joined the force after moving to the city in 1981, called the scenes "senseless violence and senseless criminality on a scale I have never witnessed before."

There were similar scenes in Birmingham, and in the neighbouring town of Wolverhampton youths clashed with riot police brandishing shields.

West Midlands police, which arrested 109 people over Tuesday's disturbances, said it was investigating reports that a shot had been fired during the disorder.

Despite the unrest, police and cricket officials announced that the Test match between England and India, due to take place at the nearby Edgbaston ground, would begin as planned on Wednesday.

In London, hundreds of Sikhs camped out overnight Wednesday to defend the community of Southall in the capital's west.

The group, some dressed in traditional clothing, organised motorcycle patrols and monitored the train station for troublemakers.

Similar mobs of football supporters congregated in Eltham, south London, in an effort to deter looters.

An AFP reporter witnessed a gang of around 150 men running down a street in Enfield, at the centre of much of the previous trouble, shouting "England, England, England".

In a development which will do nothing to calm tensions, Britain's police watchdog said it found no evidence that Mark Duggan -- whose shooting by police last week was the catalyst for the riots in London -- had fired a gun at officers.

In a pre-planned operation, armed officers stopped the taxi in which Duggan, 29, was travelling in the multi-ethnic district of Tottenham in north London. Shots were fired and Duggan died at the scene.

Duggan's family said they were "completely gutted" by the findings and called for "answers" from the police.

Despite the controversy surrounding the shooting, Cameron warned rioters: "You will feel the full force of the law."

Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stephen Kavanagh said the rampage by hundreds of hooded youths was "unprecedented" and police resources were stretched "to an extent I have never seen before".

He said plastic bullets -- used during sectarian unrest in Northern Ireland but never before in mainland Britain -- have been considered to stem the tide of unrest.

The violence has raised questions about security ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and it prompted the cancellation of Wednesday's friendly between England and the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium.

A 26-year-old man found with a gunshot wound to the head in a car in Croydon died in hospital on Tuesday, police said, becoming the first fatality of the riots.

Source:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/flames-rioting-engulf-london-third-day-024822837.html

Monday, August 8, 2011

S&P: Asia would be hit harder by a second global crisis

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A new global financial crisis would hit Asia harder than the last one, especially nations heavily exposed to offshore markets or still repairing budgets from the 2008-2009 crisis, credit ratings agency Standard and Poor's said on Monday.

The agency, which incurred Washington's wrath at the weekend by cutting its AAA rating by a notch to AA+, said it was not predicting a rerun of the credit crisis that crippled markets and tipped the world economy into recession three years ago.

But it warned of more sovereign downgrades in Asia next time around, if its assumptions turned out to be wrong.

"If a renewed slowdown comes, it would likely create a deeper and more prolonged impact than the last one," S&P said in a statement.

"The implications for sovereign creditworthiness in Asia-Pacific would likely be more negative than previously experienced, and a larger number of negative rating actions would follow. We wait to see."

S&P said it assumed Europe's debt crisis and Washington's debt problems were unlikely to lead to "abrupt dislocations" in the financial systems and economies of major developed nations.

On that basis, it added, its historic downgrade of the U.S. credit rating would have no immediate knock-on impact on sovereign borrowers in the Asia-Pacific.

It cited the Asia Pacific region's sound domestic demand, relatively healthy corporate and household sectors, plentiful external liquidity and high savings rates -- though it listed New Zealand, Japan and Vietnam as exceptions to this.

The S&P statement took on a much darker tone when considering the possibility that its assumptions were too rosy, noting that Asia still relied heavily on exports to the West.

"Given the interconnectivity of the global markets, an unexpectedly sharp disruption in developed-world financial markets could change the picture," it said, noting that the U.S. and European economies could again contract or stagnate.

"In this scenario, the experience of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009 shows that export-dependent economies with large exposures to the U.S. and/or Europe would feel the most pronounced economic impacts," S&P said.

"It's not likely things would be very different this time."

The agency listed those countries particularly vulnerable to disruptions in offshore capital markets as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Indonesia.

It also said several nations, again including New Zealand, were also still repairing their government finances and could be more constrained in responding to a fresh global crisis.

"The adverse impact on Asia Pacific in that scenario would likely require governments to use their balance sheets to support their economies and financial sectors once again," S&P said.

"And in our opinion, most governments would promptly oblige. But some of them continue to bear the scars of the recent downturn -- the fiscal capacities of Japan , India, Malaysia, Taiwan and New Zealand have shrunk relative to pre-2008 levels."

(Reporting by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Balazs Koranyi and Ramya Venugopal)

Source:
http://in.finance.yahoo.com/news/S-P-Asia-hit-harder-second-reuters-1803524115.html

Thursday, August 4, 2011

9 things you should never say to your hubby

Atlanta, August 2 (ANI): Do you fake an orgasm when you actually didn't? Or find faults with the your husband's way of handling the kids, or pester him to find a new job? If yes, you may be making irreparable damages to your relationship.

Following is a list of nine statements compiled by Judy Ford, psychotherapist and author of 'Every Day Love' that you should never utter to your significant other, reports the Mother Nature Network.

First comes: "Yes, I had an orgasm."

Another statement that is a strict no-no is "You're just like your father." It's nasty and belittling, says Ford.

The third forbidden statement is actually very common: "When are you going to find a new job?"

The fourth hurtful statement is: "My mother warned me you'd do this!"

The fifth line, which is never a good idea to say, is "Just leave it - I'll do it myself!" Just because he's doing something differently than you would doesn't mean that he's doing it wrong.

The sixth statement, which can be heart breaking, is "You always... [fill in the blank]" or "You never... [fill in the blank]"

Then seventh statement that can be a serious blow is "Do you really think those pants are flattering?"

Saying so, you're insulting his looks without showing any genuine concern for his health, according to Ford.

Then eighth harsh statement is "Ugh, we're hanging out with him again?, which is an insult to your man's choice of friends.

The last but not the least is "Please watch the kids. But don't do this, take them here or forget that..." Let Dad-be-dad. (ANI)

Source:
http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/9-things-never-hubby-094028536.html

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Agitated Yeddyurappa smashes laptop, slaps minister

Bangalore: After being demoted to the status of caretaker chief minister of Karnataka and not being able to choose his successor, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa vented his anger by smashing former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu’s laptop, Times of India reported.

According to India Today, Yeddyurappa wanted Naidu to sign a letter supporting him but when the latter refused, the ex-chief minister in a fit of rage grabbed Naidu's laptop and smashed it on the floor.

However, Venkaiah Naidu denied the report that Yeddyurappa smashed his laptop when asked to tender his resignation saying he doesn't carry a laptop, reports Hindustan Times.

The incident unfolded at a party meeting at the Lalit Ashok hotel, where Naidu and other BJP leaders had been demanding Yeddyurappa’s resignation.

But a disgrunted Yeddyurappa was not finished at this as he slapped a fellow party member who had gone to meet him at his residence.

Both the incident happened in the presence of party members. In the past, on several occasions Yeddyurappa behaved badly with party official and has been advised to by BJP senior leaders to control his temper.

His three year rule was troubled. The list of problems is endless - three rebellions, corruption charges such as favouring kin with prime land in and around Bangalore, turning a blind eye to rampant illegal iron ore mining, allowing his sons to financially benefit from firms involved in illegal mining; and luring Congress and JD-S legislators to defect with offer of money and plum posts.

At the height of attack on him for allotting prime residential and commercial land to his sons, daughters, sister and her kin in and around Bangalore early this year, BJP president Nitin Gadkari came to his rescue saying what Yeddyurappa has done may be 'immoral' but not 'illegal'.

The 'illegality' was established by Hegde, a retired Supreme Court judge, in his voluminous report on illegal mining and how Yeddyuappa's family had made money from it.

Last Wednesday Hegde released his report and recommended Yeddyurappa's trial for graft under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Yeddurappa's attempt to fob off the report as nothing but repletion of old charges was not bought by even Gadkari and Thursday the marching orders were out.

Though the party's parliamentary board wanted Yeddyurappa to quit immediately, he bought time using the Hindu calendar according to which the inauspicious month of Ashada was to last till July 30.

Source:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/agitated-yeddyurappa-smashes-laptop--slaps-minister.html