Anna Hazare blames Centre's ‘gang of 4’ for attack on team

Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare blamed the “gang of four” in the Central government for creating hurdles in the path of the Jan Lokpal Bill and the accusations levelled at Team Anna members, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal and Shanti and Prashant Bhushan.
He made these accusations in his latest blog updated on Monday evening. Hazare, however, did not reveal the identities of the “gang of four”.
Hazare sounded the bugle against the Congress and said the party might disintegrate, thanks to its machinations to prevent the strong anti-corruption legislation being passed. Interestingly, Hazare claimed, “This storm will give rise to the birth to Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Congress, Vallabhbhai Patel’s Congress and
Kamraj’s Congress.’’
Hazare announced that he would be writing to prime minister Manmohan Singh asking for the draft of the Jan Lokpal Bill to be put on the web for public viewing.
He hinted that he would ask the prime minister to direct state governors to bring about a strong Lok Ayukta Bill in the states.

Anna Hazare defends Kiran Bedi, says 'gang of four' behind campaign

Anna Hazare on Monday night defended his key associate Kiran Bedi from the allegations of "air travel corruption", pointing fingers at a "gang of four" in the ruling party being behind the campaign against his team.
Observing that to accuse and humiliate seemed to be the mantra of "the few", the anti-corruption crusader said they were afraid of a Jan Lokpal taking shape fearing that the legislation would strip them of power.
With his team members facing allegations of financial malfeasance, Hazare expressed these views in his latest blog posting 'Rise and Fight against 'Gang of Four'.The social activist however did not name the four persons whom he was referring to.
"To accuse and humiliate seems to be the mantra of the few. This is not the first time that such accusations have been levelled against Kiran Bedi. Every member of Team Anna had to face accusations and character assassination by the gang of four. Who are these people? Those are the very same people who are not in favor of Jan Lokpal Bill," he said.
Recalling the formation of the joint committee to draft Lokpal Bill, he said these people did not want the Jan Lokpal Bill passed.
Bedi, a former IPS officer, is under attack for overcharging organisations by inflating her travel bills though she claimed the money went to her NGO. She had offered to return the excess money collected from her hosts."I do not blame all the ministers from the Congress party or the government as a whole. There are some righteous and committed people in the government but they cannot raise their voice because of this 'gang of four'," Hazare said.

Pass Lokpal or face our wrath: Anna to Congress

Two days before Diwali, Anna Hazare on Monday snubbed the government for targeting the member of civil society group. In a blog released typically during prime time TV on Monday evening, Anna has sounded his sternest warning to the UPA Government.

 If the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament, then Hazare will not only tour the election bound states but will campaign against the Congress during the General Elections as well.
Supporting his core team members, Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal who are now facing allegations of financial irregularities, Anna said, "To accuse and humiliate seems to be the mantra of the few. This is not the first time that such accusations have been levelled against Kiran Bedi. Every member of Team Anna had to face accusations and character assassination by the gang of four. Who are these people? Those are the very same people who are not in favor of Jan Lokpal Bill."
In his latest blog Hazare has given a blow-by-blow account of his arrest in the run up to his agitation at Ramlila Maidan squarely blaming what he calls is a 'gang of four' within the govt.
While not naming anyone, Anna went to the extent of calling them ruffians who were killing the voice of the vast majority within the government itself.

"The number of Ministers who are opposing Jan Lokpal Bill in Cabinet is handful. It is similar to a village where there are 2 to 4 goons who hold the entire village to ransom. In government there is a majority of people who are righteous but can't go against these ruffians. Leaving aside these specific four to six people no one points a finger at us," Hazare said.
Recalling the formation of the Joint Committee to draft Lokpal Bill, he said these people did not want the Jan Lokpal bill passed.
Bedi, a former IPS officer, is under attack for overcharging organisations by inflating her travel bills though she claimed the money went to her NGO. She had offered to return the excess money collected from her hosts.
"I do not blame all the ministers from the Congress party or the Government as a whole. There are some righteous and committed people in the Government but they cannot raise their voice because of this 'gang of four'," Hazare said.
And in what could be Team Anna's latest strategy, the man who is being hailed as a modern day Mahatma is now asking people across the country to send 40 lakh resolutions to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament.

Hazare above Parliament, says Arvind Kejriwal

BJP president Nitin Gadkari had assured Hazare of support for his Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament. Campaigning against the Congress in Hisar, Kejriwal warned the BJP of similar treatment against it in Uttar Pradesh — which goes to polls next year — if it fails to keep its word.
Countering the anti-Congress campaign in Hisar, party general secretary Digvijaya Singh said at a public function in Agra: “I have heard the BJP has told Anna Hazare he could be an all-party candidate for the 2012 presidential election.”
Kejriwal responded: “Anna Hazare does not want to become President. He only wants to make India a corruption-free country.”
Seeking a clarification from Hazare, Singh accused the social activist of being a “mask” for anti-Congress parties. “Hazare is appealing to voters to defeat the Congress knowing full well the credentials of the other parties’ candidates,” he said.

The war of words came after the Centre said it would make the joint drafting panel’s deliberations on the lokpal bill — contained in nine audio tapes — public. The panel comprising ministers and Team Anna members had ended work in acrimony in June-end over differences on three contentious issues — inclusion of the PM, higher judiciary and all public servants under the proposed lokpal.

Anna factor adds to Cong woes in Hisar

HISAR, 9 OCT: An otherwise listless contest for a Lok Sabha by-election in the Haryana pocketborough of a former Congressman has come to life with Anna Hazare's campaign to defeat the Congress on the Lokpal issue. With three political heavyweights locked in a triangular contest, the battle for the Hisar seat has turned fierce, but ruling Congress worries have increased as it has to fight not only its opponents but also tackle Team Hazare's campaign against it. Congress has fielded three-time MP from Hisar, Mr Jai Prakash (58). He is pitted against Haryana Janhit Congress Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi (42) and main Opposition INLD's Mr Ajay Singh Chautala (50).
In all, there are 40 candidates, mostly Independents, in the fray for the 13 October by-poll in the parliamentary constituency which has approximately 13.32 lakh voters, including 7.29 lakh males. HJC founder and former chief minister Mr Bhajan Lal, a veteran non-Jat politician whose death in June necessitated the by-election, had got 2.48 lakh votes in 2009 Lok Sabha poll, with Mr Sampat Singh (now a Congress leader) coming in the number two spot with 2.41 lakh votes and Mr Jai Prakash of Congress finishing third with 2.04 lakh votes. Ajay, at present MLA from Dabwali in Sirsa district, is son of INLD president and former CM Om Prakash Chautala while Mr Bishnoi is hoping to cash in on the good image his father late Bhajan Lal. HJC president Mr Bishnoi recently weaved an alliance with the BJP. Team Anna members have been criss-crossing the constituency distributing Hazares CDs and holding public meetings urging voters not to vote for the Congress as it has failed to bring Jan Lokpal Bill.

Anna Hazare not Shiv Sena's 'right' man

Continuing with his attack on anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray on Friday advised the Gandhian "not to pick a fight" with the party.
Issuing a media release, Thackeray (85) said, "I am getting old, but Anna you are younger to me. These childish acts don't suit you. Don't unnecessarily pick up a fight with us."
"I did not speak anything against you. I just said corruption will not end by fasts," Thackeray said referring to his Thursday's statement wherein he had criticised Hazare's anti-corruption campaign, which he had earlier supported through several statements and editorials in the party mouthpiece Saamna.
He said "somebody has filled Anna's ears". In a word of caution to Hazare, Thackeray said, "I can answer back to Anna comments because I am not a Gandhian."
Addressing his party's annual Dusshehra rally at Shivaji Park on Thursday Thackeray had said: "While he was on hunger strike, over 35,000 people were being fed twice daily. Even visitors and guests were lavishly hosted at the venue. Anna, corruption cannot be stopped like this."

Congress approached Anna: Kejriwal

Activist Arvind Kejriwal Sunday claimed the Congress has been approaching Anna Hazare to seek an end to the ongoing tussle between the two sides on the Hisar by-election in Haryana.
"Nobody has approached me but I think some people (from Congress) have been approaching Anna ji and some people went to meet him yesterday (Saturday)," Kejriwal told reporters here.
Kejriwal, who has been campaigning against Congress in Hisar, denied any kind of compromise between the two sides until the Congress commits to pass the Jan Lokpal bill.
"There can't be a compromise as we need a strong Lokpal Bill," he said, adding that Team Anna is treating Hisar by-election as referendum on Lokpal Bill.
"I appeal to people of Hisar to give befitting reply to Congress in the by-election," he added.
The by-election to the Hisar seat, to be held Oct 13, was necessitated after former chief minister and sitting MP Bhajan Lal's death in June.
Hazare has appealed to voters not to vote for Congress as it is not ready to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in winter session.