Anna to meet Irom Sharmila soon

Social activist Anna Hazare will soon visit Manipur to meet civil rights activist Irom Sharmila, RTI activist and Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi said in Guwahati after his return from Delhi. 

Gogoi also said that Anna had extended his moral support to the Iron Lady of Manipur, who has been on hunger strike for over 10 years now, demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in the state.

After being released from hospital, Anna would return back to his village in Maharashtra and post this he would be visiting Assam and the North East to commence the next round of democratic movement.

On the first day of his visit to Northeast, Hazare will join an anti-dam protest in Assam and would visit Manipur the next day, Gogoi said.

 

 

Anna Hazare plans NE trip, focuses on AFSPA

Guwahati | August 29 : After having led the ‘people’s victory’ on the Jan Lokpal issue in the national capital, noted crusader Anna Hazare has put his focus now in the North East India region, thanks to Irom Sharmila of Manipur and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi of Assam.

Anna Hazare, the 74-year-old crusader has decided to take up two seemingly regional issues that “will come to impact all Indians in the long run”. The demand for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 and the campaign against the construction of mega dams are the concerns of Anna Hazare now.
“Hazare has made up his mind to visit northeast soon after recuperating and getting back to work,” said Assam-based RTI activist and Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi here on Monday. “His mission includes rallies against big hydropower projects threatening the existence of people in the Northeast and a trip to (Manipur capital) Imphal to lend support to the cause of Irom Sharmila Chanu.” Hazare’s tour plan, Gogoi added, was drawn up during a recent core committee meeting of Team Anna.

Sharmila, 38, has been fasting since 4 November 2000 after Assam Rifles personnel gunned down 10 civilians at a bus stand near Imphal Airport apparently while chasing rebels. Her crusade has been against the AFSPA, which activists say gives soldiers the license to kill and stage fake encounters.

Sharmila’s cause became a topic of discussion after activists in Manipur underscored the nation’s indifference to her 10-year fast against the AFSPA, “which, like corruption, spares no one.” “Hazare’s proposed visit is an encouragement for us,” said Sharmila’s brother Irom Singhajit, 53. “We hope his involvement will take my sister’s cause to the national stage.”

Team Anna had last week invited Sharmila to be a part of the anti-corruption movement in New Delhi. Sharmila wrote back requesting Hazare to get her released so she could join him. Irom Sharmila also asked Hazare to visit Manipur to lend support to her cause.

Anna Hazare wins, Parliament passes resolution on Lokpal Bill

NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament on Saturday passed a resolution conveying the sense of the House on the Lokpal Bill, paving the way forAnna Hazare to break his fast.

On a motion moved by Pranab Mukherjee, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha passed a resolution conveying the sense of the House on the Lokpal Bill.

After the passage of the resolution, Speaker Meira Kumar adjourned the Lok Sabha till Monday.

There was some confusion over whether the resolution was passed by a voice vote or not. Apparently, no voice vote took place.

"Thumping of the desk is akin to passing a motion by voice vote," Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar told Times Now.

After the passage of the Lokpal resolution in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha also passed the resolution.

Team Anna welcomes the passage of the Lokpal resolution, Kiran Bedi said.

Some of the important points of the Lokpal resolution passed by Parliament are:

*An effective Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states be set up.

*Employees of centre and state governments to be brought under purview of Lokpal and Lokayuktas respectively.

*All government departments to have citizen's charter with timeline.

With a copy of Lokpal resolution and a letter from PM Manmohan Singh, Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh would now go to Ramlila Maidan to meet Anna Hazare.

Earlier, the team Anna said they have received a communication from the government that a resolution carrying their demands on Lokpal Bill will be put to a voice vote, a move which they termed as a "very happy" development.

Fresh trouble emerged this afternoon after government decided only to convey sense of House to Team Anna and not put the resolution for voting, the activists hardened their position saying it was "betrayal" and only a resolution which will be put to vote will be acceptable.

This forced the government to change its stand. The activist's camp said they have received the communication from the government about its decision to put the resolution to voice vote.

The 74-year-old Gandhian has been on fast for the last 12 days, demanding the passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill by Parliament.

'Govt agrees to a voice vote on Lokpal debate in Parliament'

NEW DELHI: There will be a voice vote on a resolution after debate on the Lokpal issue in Parliament, Times Now reported. There will be no division on the voice vote.

Team Anna aide Arvind Kejriwal said that they are happy with the government's decision to have a voice on the Lokpal debate.

Once the resolution is passed, Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, along with a letter from PM Manmohan Singh, would go to meet Anna Hazare.

The government is working on a draft of a resolution to be adopted by both houses of Parliament on Saturday in a bid to break the logjam on the Lokpal issue so that Anna Hazare could end his 12-day-old fast.

Hectic discussions within government and between government and opposition parties were on to finalise the resolution that could be taken up at the end of the discussion in both the Houses for adoption.

Finance minister and leader of the house in the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee had a meeting with BJP leader and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and is understood to have discussed the contents of the resolution.

Mukherjee also met senior ministerial colleagues including law minister Salman Khurshid and parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Bansal. He is also expected to have consultation with government allies and leaders of other parties.

The finance minister is also expected to meet Team Anna members, including Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal.

Sources said the resolution is expected to make a reference to three issues raked up by Anna Hazare -- coverage of entire lower bureaucracy under Lokpal, passage of a bill on creation of Lokayuktas in states and citizens charter for redressal of grievances.

The resolution would recommend that these issues be considered by the standing committee before which already the official bill introduced by the government and the Jan Lokpal bill have been referred for in-depth consideration.

Hazare had demanded that the Parliament should accept the three key demands of the civil society for him to end the fast.

Anna writes to PM, says will end fast after Parliament passes resolution

NEW DELHI: Fasting Gandhian Anna Hazare has written yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In his letter, Anna Hazare has promised to end his fast if the Parliament passed a resolution on three issues highlighted by him that would help lessen the sufferrings of the common man against corruption.

The three issues are appointment of Lokayuktas in state, preparation of citizens' charter by each government department and inclusion of lower bureaucracy under the ambit of Lokpal.

Anna Hazare hoped that no political representative would have problem supporting the three issues as it concerned the common man.

However, he made it clear that his agitation against corruption will continue till all the demands of the Jan Lokpal Bill were met.

Thanking the Prime Minister and the Parliament for their praise of the Jan Lokpal movement on Thursday, Anna Hazare said like the government he was also working to end corruption.

Striking a conciliatory note, he said he is ready to express regrets if anyone from his team had hurt the PM or any other leader with their remarks.

Stating that he was not fighting for any personal gains, Anna urged the PM that he should not hesitate in changing laws to end corruption.