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1. We hear that Anna Hazare plans to mobilize a mammoth meeting at the Jantar Mantar grounds in New Delhi on December 11. Are there any similar plans in Mumbai? Also has Hazare got permission for the same as there are conflicting reports.
Intimations-Permissions are under process for Jantar Mantar. IAC always abides by the basic 'rules for common good' even tho we offer 'satyagrah' against systems which were designed by the english about one hundred years back. Yes, there are similar plans for Mumbai too.
2. Do you have permission to demonstrate at Azad Maidan? Do let me know what form this gathering in Mumbai will take? When will it start?
Yes, IAC-Mumbai are planning a 'dharna' at Azad Maidan in the public demonstration zone. Intimation to the relevant Police Station has been made and as has been usual, we do not expect any objection, since this is a common demonstration zone. Our Volunteers wearing Anna Caps, will gather there at about 10AM, to inform the Citizens-public and the Media about the 'breach of faith' the 'dhokha' that the Government has given the whole nation. Full details of the points on which promises have again been broken will be offered. Banners, posters, leaflets, badges proclaiming the above will be offered to the IAC Nagarik Samiti's and city wide citizens from our Citizen Centers at Andheri East, Byculla East and Kurla West. The crowd will disperse in the evening, about 07PM after dark. We expect tens of thousands, more than last time.
3. What is the program exactly for the Mumbai demonstration?
As above. One day fasting will be encouraged by all Volunteers ... except those who are managing the actual event. As has been usual, we expect the police and CID to continue to offer guidance to IAC. We also expect some Groups associated with IAC-Mumbai to conduct their own similar events in far flung areas of MMR, though on a smaller scale.
4. December 11, is a Sunday is it deliberate to stage this protest on Sunday since it is a non-working day?
The presence of citizens on a non-working day is an advantage since they do not have to forego working day salary and wages. The GoI is forcing citizens to upset their routine lives by forcing our hand and we have to accommodate the needs and restrictions on the lives of citizens and their families and work.
5. What kind of crowds are you expecting on December 11?
IAC-Mumbai expects tens of thousands to visit and participate in our day long satyagrah-dharna-fasting.
6. Why are you holding this protest once again, after mammoth demonstrations earlier?
We are now sure that the Standing Committee and the GoI have purposefully broken all the promises made to the nation. The Lokpal Bill to be put before Parliament for debate and passing is so weak that again the citizens will be left with a toothless institution and more pain. The following issues are not resolved, even though promises, 'sense of the house', commitment by INC spokes person, UPA-2, were made:
PM to be covered by the Lokpal
CBI and CVC to be merged with Lokpal
Citizens Charter for all Federal and State departments, covering all services, costs, time lines and regular revision after feedback from all stake holders.
Lower division Officers not covered by Lokpal, but NGOs (registered and unregistered) to be covered. The talk of need of extra staff for the former, is therefore a lie since there are Lakhs of NGOs who will need much processing.
Judiciary corrupt practices not covered by Judiciary Bill or the Lokpal.
Lokpal not independent since it has to work thru CBI, etc who continue to report to PMO.
7. Do you think that the public will respond again?
We at IAC are certain that the citizen of our glorious nation will respond with greater fervor than before. The disgust and rage is palpable. Our meetings at Nagpur, Amraviti, Pune, Nashik, weekly meetings in Mumbai, the eagerness to join our Mumbai IAC Nagrik Samiti's (INS), support this expectation. We have confirmed 85 INS for Mumbai, and the number keeps rising.
8. Hasn’t the Anna Hazare movement lost some of its steam and sheen?
This is really unbelievable. A simple chat with the people on the street in any town, village, city will confirm otherwise. Our movement based on Ahimsa, Satyagrah, avoidance of 3D and confirmation of PAT does not allow goondaism, hulliganism, rabid tactics, etc. We do not instigate common breach of law and order, as can be seen every week, by some political parties and their supporters. We do not call for 'bands' and harassment of citizens. We do not call for flash strikes and hurt the nation and citizens. In our one year of street activity, there has not been even ONE incident of violence or 'situation' for which the security and police have had to act. The satyagrah has been more peaceful and is the first in the whole world. The constant mis-management of the Nation and its economy, the leakage of development funds in Lakhs of Crores, the humongous scams are not forgotten by the citizens. We know they will respond to Annas' and IACs' call ... now it is a 'do or die' struggle. The second freedom struggle is certainly on.
9. first, it was Prashant Bhushan accused of making alleged anti-India remarks, then Kiran Bedi controversy? People are now saying that even if Hazare’s team is accused of corruption then it has lost the moral high ground.
The high or low moral ground of individuals has NEVER been the issue on the table. The one and only item which has been troubling the nation has been a 'strong law against corruption and black money'. This cause is greater than the individual, who so ever it is. This is the principle of the IAC movement. The tainted among the GoI are busy trying to 'divert' the public from the main agenda. The whole nation is reduced to becoming victims of corruption and some projects have reduced the nation to beggary. So who is to choose who will be 'the great deliverer'. The logic that an alleged accused cannot suggest or work for public good is most ridiculous.
10. Is the Anna Hazare team riddled with infighting and controversy?
Any national movement will have persons coming in and going out. This is so for all times. Each capable person will have their own strengths, but they all believe in the common public cause. Only those who want the 3D effect (Deny, Divide & Divert) will emphasize the alleged weakness of one or more of the IAC teams. Does the fact that some in the team have different opinions, change the main agenda or the need for a strong law? Is the possibility that one person being wrong today, mean that the nation should not consider something pending for over 43 years? What have the political parties being doing, except passing bills to improve their own benefits? Witness the fact that each MP costs the citizens at least 62 Lakhs per year. They do not even take feed back from the citizens of their constituency as our common referendums have shown time and again.
11. History has shown that movements like the support Anna movement start off with a bang but gradually fizzle out. People do not have the strength or the time to continue. Would this one be different?
Its only when arm chair activism overtakes grass root action, that the above happens. IAC has found the right cause affecting each and every citizen of this great nation. Even the politicians agree in private that they support a strong law against corruption since urgent reforms do not work anymore due to the constant bleeding of resources. The same support has been expressed by the police and their branches and officers. The peaceful nature of each and every activity speaks of the sincere purpose; never has any activity been hijacked by 'self-seekers' or trouble makers, though attempts have been made to bring ridicule on the movement and its key supporters. None of such attempts have succeeded.
12. The last time Anna Hazare held his demonstration and similar movement happened in Mumbai, there were actors, performers etc who supported him. I think a choreographer even did some dance at the Azad Maidan. Was all this for publicity or do you think what he said resonated with everyone?
IAC movement does not promote: netas, abhinetas and any self-seekers. Like any citizen, they are welcome to visit and promote the national IAC cause. IAC has never hired choreographers professionally, however some came and offered to bring in talent to promote the INDIA TEAM public cause led by AnnaJi. Even some Bollywood personalities came in support as did senior Advocates of the Mumbai High Court. We have not stopped politicians from openly supporting the IAC cause, however they have not brought their party culture or ideology to our stage and platform. After all they too are citizens of India. In each case, they have avidly supported the public cause of 'strong law against corruption'. IAC does not support publicity stunts and stings. This movement is too serious and Indias' existence is at stake.
13. Why do you think NGOs (like yours) and the media (like this one) should not come under the ambit of Lokpal?
These are mostly not working with Public Taxes or public money. They are anyway required to file elaborate annual statements and undergo regular audit. Peer pressure exposes any wrong doing. This is not found with Low Level Government Officials and Public Servants who have been kept out of the ambit of the Lokpal. With the Media, its independence and episodic misdeeds, hardly require any special treatment, the current laws and the Media over sight is sufficient. The common citizens are not affected by any episodic event of the Media. Focus on making the law citizen centric needs to be maintained.
14. do you see the second round in Mumbai at least growing into a mass movement like the first?
Sorry ... this is the fifth round: the first was at Nare Park, Lalbaug, on 03rd April when over 8,000 citizens sat for three hours peacefully and listened to five 'dharma gurus' and many IAC key Volunteers. The second was the 'fasting' from 05th Apr onwards at Azad Maidan when over 10,000 visited daily and which culminated in a victory car rally attended by over 150 vehicles on the 09th April. The third was again the unbroken fasting from 16th Aug. at Azad Maidan when over 2,400 offered themselves for arrest on the first day, and daily 15,000 visited the Maidan and where over one hundred Groups, Schools, Unions and Associations signed in. There was also the MahaRally from Bandra West Rly Stn via Juhu Beach ending at the Juhu Circle (over 10 KM) on 27th August attended by over TWO LAKH citizens, without any incident or 'situation' and with hardly any police presence. Every time the movement has grown and the constant 3D, which seems to be the only weapon of GoI, has stopped working.
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The India Against Corruption (IAC) movement is based on ...
1. Ahimsa in Thought, Word & Deed. While the last two might be easy and are generally practised by an overwhelming majority of Volunteers, it is the Ahimsa of Thought that is to be achieved by all, in order to reach higher Conscience.
2. Satyagrah against existing Systems and Processes of the Government (at all levels) which are based or copies of what the extortionist English left behind and which do not reflect the current and future needs and wants of the Citizens of India. We must not forget that a simple inquiry will demonstrate that none in the current and the past three generations have been asked what 'systems and processes of governance' are desired. No explanation has been offered and no feedback is sought even today, unless under pressure.
3. Avoidance of trap of 3D (which is Deny, Divide & Divert) which has been practiced by all invading powers and adopted by the democratically elected Government at all levels in the nation. The last, that is Divert is like a Bhramaastra, most citizens easily become emotional and get carried away by peripheral issues forgetting the central issue for which an agitation is launched.
4. Persistent and consistent use of PAT (Participation, Accountability & Transparency) in all social transactions, such as meetings, activities and agitations.
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