Anna Hazare To End Fast On 28th Aug

 Anna Hazare will break his fast at 10am on Sunday, according to his close associate Kiran Bedi.

Bedi tweeted that the 74-year-old activist does not break his fast after sunset.

"Anna is known to have never broken his fast after sunset. Recall, he did so even in April fast. This is his decision again. He decides," she tweeted.

Later, Bedi said he will break the fast at 10am on Sunday.

If he breaks his fast on Sunday at 10am, he will complete 288 hours of his hunger strike which began on August 16.

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 for Anna 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.

Appeal from Anna Hazare-Go to MPs homes for peace protest

Dear Indians,

For the first time we are requesting you directly to take some immediate action in the fight against corruption in our country. As by now everyone of you know that the government has rejected "Jan Lokpal Bill". This is a 'U' turn after "All party Meet" at Prime Minister's residence. Why? What has been discussed in this meeting which led the government to boldly change its decision and concern about Shri Anna Hazare? Government says that "let him (Anna) do whatever he does. If Anna wants to continue with his fast, it is his wish".(source Hindustan Times, click here for details)The government which was saying that Anna's health is our first priority suddenly left Anna on his own?

This all happened after all party meet. This means NO PARTY OR POLITICIAN WANTS TO BRING STRICT LOKPAL BILL. Why will they bring this? If a strict Lokpal bill comes in action, "POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT JOBS WILL BE NO MORE LUCRATIVE PROFESSION". We always felt somewhere in our heart that atleast there are few politicians left who want to do good for our country, but we differ on this today.

These ministers and MPs are no special creature but a common person, whom we have elected to serve country. But, they are behaving like dictators. We sincerely request below things:

1st request : Take a leave from your offices, business or any work you are doing. 

2nd request : Go to the homes or offices of the MPs of your areas. 

3rd request : Do not leave the place untill and unless the JAN LOKPAL BILL is passed. 

4th request : In any case do not allow violence to erupt in this movement and abide by law. 

A SELFLESS OLD MAN OF 74 YEARS HAS NOT EATEN FOR PAST 10 DAYS FOR US. GIVE YOUR 10 DAY FOR YOUR COUNTRY, COMING 100 YEARS WILL BE BETTER FOR US. 

Pray for Anna Hazare's health, tweets Kiran Bedi

NEW DELHI: Anna Hazare's health was "reaching a difficult stage", his associate Kiran Bedi tweeted on Tuesday evening.

"Pray for Anna's health. He is reaching a difficult stage. Dr Trehan is on his way," Bedi tweeted.

Tuesday was day eight of nna Hazare's fast against the government's Lokpal Bill.

"While talks will be on we are very concerned of Anna's health. Pray pl(ease)," Bedi said.

The government on Tuesday invited the protesting activists for talks.

Hazare's health condition was said to be fine by doctors Tuesday morning. He has lost 5.5 kg. Ketone particles (created by the body during starvation) have been found in his blood but were said to be in the safe limit.

PM reaches out to Anna: End fast

NEW DELHI: Directly reaching out to Anna Hazare on the eighth day of his fast, a concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to the Gandhian to end his hunger strike with a promise that his version of Lokpal Bill could be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee if rules permit.

Singh wrote to Hazare, saying that he was concerned about his health and that he should end his fast, PMO sources said.

The Prime Minister told Hazare that he shared his concern over corruption and that there was no difference between the government and the activist over the issue.

The government will ask Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and if rules permit, the Jan Lokpal Bill would be referred to the Standing Committee, Singh told Hazare.

The Prime Minister's letter comes at a time when an informal channel of communication has been opened between the government and the Hazare team to end the impasse caused by the civil activist's hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill.

Jan Lokpal Bill: PM appeals to Anna Hazare to end fast, Pranab to talk with Team Anna

NEW DELHI: In the first major breakthrough in the week-long standoff, the government on Tuesday appointed finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as its negotiator for talks with Team Anna Hazare over their demand for a strong Lokpal.

The Prime Minister, who held discussions with Mukherjee and senior ministers A K Antony and P Chidambaram, also wrote a letter to Hazare informing him of the initiative and appealed to him to end his fast, which entered the second week today.

He also told him that the government was concerned about his health.

The Prime Minister also wrote to Anna Hazare that the government will ask Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar if his version of the Lokpal Bill can be sent to the Standing Committee, which is already examining the government's bill.

Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal announced the government's initiative. Kejriwal along with Prashant Bhushan will meet with Pranab Mukherjee.

The ice-breaking development came during the first direct contact between the two sides at the residence of Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit when law minister Salman Khurshid met Kejriwal and discussed how to go about the issue.

"Just now Salman Khurshid has invited us for discussions. He has said that Pranab Mukherjee has been appointed by the government to talk to us.

"Anna is sleeping now. Once he gets up, he will decide as to who all will represent our team," Kejriwal told Hazare's supporters at Ramlila Maidan, where Hazare is fasting.

He also asked the crowd whether "we should go ahead with talks" and it responded with cheers.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with Manmohan Singh at his residence and discussed the strategy.

Akhil Gogoi, rights activist who attended the meeting with Khurshid along with Kejriwal, said the minister told them that the Prime Minister wants to find a solution through talks and they talked about the process for the discussion with Mukherjee.

After their meeting, both Kejriwal and Khurshid declined to go into the specifics of the discussions they had. Both said just a beginning has been made.

The minister said that there was no discussion on issues, but only an attempt was made to understand what was happening and why they were so much agitated.

Khurshid said that all efforts and contacts should be made at every level as "time is running out."

Earlier, addressing his supporters after a gap of 40 hours, Hazare today stuck to his August 30 deadline for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill and asked his supporters to intensify the protest by gheraoing the houses of parliamentarians if government failed to do so.

Hazare accused government of betraying all along the civil society on the issue of a strong Lokpal Bill.

He said protesters in thousands should protest outside the residences of MPs if the government fails to get Jan Lokpal Bill passed by August 30.

"Now, 25-30 people are sitting on dharnas in front of MPs' residences. If the government does not pass the bill by August 30, we have to intensify the protest. Protesters in thousands should gherao the residences of MPs then," he said.

Alleging that a few people in the government were "betraying" them, he said, "They betrayed us during the meetings of Joint Committee (on Lokpal Bill).

"I feel there are only 5-6 people in the government who are running the country and if such people, who do not have a social or national perspective, run the nation, then what will happen to this country...This is something to worry about," Hazare said.

"Even if Lokpal comes and if such traitors run the country, what will happen. This is the question which is bothering me," the 73-year-old Gandhian said.

He said he was watching for the past four months after the government set up the Joint Committee for drafting Lokpal Bill. "Even there some people in the government were traitors, they tried to betray us," he said. NEW DELHI: In the first major breakthrough in the week-long standoff, the government on Tuesday appointed finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as its negotiator for talks with Team Anna Hazare over their demand for a strong Lokpal.

The Prime Minister, who held discussions with Mukherjee and senior ministers A K Antony and P Chidambaram, also wrote a letter to Hazare informing him of the initiative and appealed to him to end his fast, which entered the second week today.

He also told him that the government was concerned about his health.

The Prime Minister also wrote to Anna Hazare that the government will ask Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar if his version of the Lokpal Bill can be sent to the Standing Committee, which is already examining the government's bill.

Hazare's close aide Arvind Kejriwal announced the government's initiative. Kejriwal along with Prashant Bhushan will meet with Pranab Mukherjee.

The ice-breaking development came during the first direct contact between the two sides at the residence of Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit when law minister Salman Khurshid met Kejriwal and discussed how to go about the issue.

"Just now Salman Khurshid has invited us for discussions. He has said that Pranab Mukherjee has been appointed by the government to talk to us.

"Anna is sleeping now. Once he gets up, he will decide as to who all will represent our team," Kejriwal told Hazare's supporters at Ramlila Maidan, where Hazare is fasting.

He also asked the crowd whether "we should go ahead with talks" and it responded with cheers.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with Manmohan Singh at his residence and discussed the strategy.

Akhil Gogoi, rights activist who attended the meeting with Khurshid along with Kejriwal, said the minister told them that the Prime Minister wants to find a solution through talks and they talked about the process for the discussion with Mukherjee.

After their meeting, both Kejriwal and Khurshid declined to go into the specifics of the discussions they had. Both said just a beginning has been made.

The minister said that there was no discussion on issues, but only an attempt was made to understand what was happening and why they were so much agitated.

Khurshid said that all efforts and contacts should be made at every level as "time is running out."

Earlier, addressing his supporters after a gap of 40 hours, Hazare today stuck to his August 30 deadline for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill and asked his supporters to intensify the protest by gheraoing the houses of parliamentarians if government failed to do so.

Hazare accused government of betraying all along the civil society on the issue of a strong Lokpal Bill.

He said protesters in thousands should protest outside the residences of MPs if the government fails to get Jan Lokpal Bill passed by August 30.

"Now, 25-30 people are sitting on dharnas in front of MPs' residences. If the government does not pass the bill by August 30, we have to intensify the protest. Protesters in thousands should gherao the residences of MPs then," he said.

Alleging that a few people in the government were "betraying" them, he said, "They betrayed us during the meetings of Joint Committee (on Lokpal Bill).

"I feel there are only 5-6 people in the government who are running the country and if such people, who do not have a social or national perspective, run the nation, then what will happen to this country...This is something to worry about," Hazare said.

"Even if Lokpal comes and if such traitors run the country, what will happen. This is the question which is bothering me," the 73-year-old Gandhian said.

He said he was watching for the past four months after the government set up the Joint Committee for drafting Lokpal Bill. "Even there some people in the government were traitors, they tried to betray us," he said.

Who is Anna Hazare

He once contemplated suicide and even wrote a two-page essay on why he wanted to end his life. Anna Hazare was not driven to such a pass by circumstances. He wanted to live no more because he was frustrated with life and wanted an answer to the purpose of human existence.

The story goes that one day at the New Delhi Railway Station, he chanced upon a book on Swami Vivekananda. Drawn by Vivekananda's photograph, he is quoted as saying that he read the book and found his answer - that the motive of his life lay in service to his fellow humans.

Today, Anna Hazare is the face of India's fight against corruption. He has taken that fight to the corridors of power and challenged the government at the highest level. People, the common man and well-known personalities alike, are supporting him in the hundreds swelling to the thousands.

For Anna Hazare, it is another battle. And he has fought quite a few, Including some as a soldier for 15 years in Indian Army. He enlisted after the 1962 Indo-China war when the government exhorted young men to join the Army.

In 1978, he took voluntary retirement from the 9th Maratha Battalion and returned home to Ralegaon Siddhi, a village in Maharashtra's drought-prone Ahmadnagar. He was 39 years old.

He found farmers back home struggling for survival and their suffering would prompt him to pioneer rainwater conservation that put his little hamlet on the international map as a model village.

The villagers revere him. Thakaram Raut, a school teacher in Ralegaon Siddhi says, "Thanks to Anna's agitations, we got a school, we got electricity, we got development schemes for farmers.''

Anna Hazare's fight against corruption began here. He fought first against corruption that was blocking growth in rural India. His organization - the Bhrashtachar Virodhi Jan Andolan (People's movement against Corruption). His tool of protest - hunger strikes. And his prime target - politicians.

Maharashtra stalwarts like Sharad Pawar and Bal Thackeray have often called his style of agitation nothing short of "blackmail".

But his weapon is potent. In 1995-96, he forced the Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra to drop two corrupt Cabinet Ministers. In 2003, he forced the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state government to set up an investigation against four ministers. In April this year, four days of fasting brought thousands of people out in support of his crusade against corruption. They also made the government realise it could not be dismissive about Anna Hazare and his mass appeal. 

His relationship with the UPA government continues to be uneasy. The truce of April was short-lived. An exercise to set up a joint committee made up of equal numbers of government representatives and civil society activists, including Anna Hazare came to naught when the two sides failed to agree and drafted two different Lok Pal Bills. The government has brought its version in Parliament and Team Anna is livid.

The Gandhian is soldiering on. From one battle to another in his war against corruption. He fought from the front to have Right to Information (RTI) implemented. He is now fighting for the implementation of the Jan Lokpal Bill, the anti-corruption bill drafted by his team of crusaders.

This year, more than 30 years after Anna Hazare started his crusade, as the 74-year-old plans a second hunger strike in Delhi against large-scale corruption at the national level. Nothing really has changed except the scale of his battle.