Oppn blasts Rahul Gandhi speech as divisive

Oppn blasts Rahul's speech as divisive


Opposition on Saturday sought to drive a wedge between the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi, saying the young leader's remarks on Anna Hazare's fast has "poured cold water" on the statesmanship of Manmohan Singh. "Was Rahul Gandhi's speech a Zero Hour intervention or an address to the     nation," asked Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj while initiating a day-long debate in the Lok Sabha on the issues relating to the setting up of a Lokpal. 


The debate was held on a day when Hazare's fast entered the 12th day and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, whose statement formed the basis of the discussion, made a renewed appeal to the Gandhian to end the hunger strike.  Swaraj insisted that Rahul's remarks were the line of the Congress party which "poured cold water on the statesmanship displayed by the Prime Minister on the floor of the House" a couple of days back in a bid to end the impasse.  Amid objections and protests from Congress members, 


Swaraj also took a dig at Speaker Meira Kumar who was in the Chair, for allowing Gandhi to speak for so long while other members are restricted to just three to five minutes during the Zero Hour.  Unruffled by the protests including an objection by Minister Srikant Jena, Swaraj accused the government of failing to come up with a resolution or a statement by a senior minister on Friday which could have facilitated a debate straight away. 


This, she said, was because the government was not ready to make a commitment on the Lokpal issue.

Rahul Gandhi on Corruption

Rahul Gandhi for stronger lokpal, but not by Anna’s way

Rahul Gandhi for stronger lokpal, but not by Anna’s way


Pointing out that Anna Hazare’s continued hunger strike was “a dangerous precedent for a democracy”, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Friday took the debate on corruption a step ahead by suggesting that the lokpal should be a constitutional body accountable to Parliament, like the Election Commission.


Speaking during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Gandhi thanked Hazare for articulating the people’s anger and disillusionment over corruption but said, “Individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process.” 


 “Today, the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow, the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy,” he said, as sister Priyanka watched from the visitor’s gallery.  


“We speak of a statutory lokpal but our discussions cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt. Why not elevate the debate and fortify the lokpal by making it a constitutional body accountable to Parliament, like the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for us to seriously consider this idea,” he said.


Gandhi's "game-changing idea", as he later called it, got the support of social activist Medha Patkar.  But Team Anna called it a long-term solution. "You climb hills before you reach Mt Everest," said Kiran Bedi. "Lokpal is a tall hill that will take you to Everest."   


The BJP, on its part, asked Gandhi to "stop giving sermons" and instead, persuade the PM to bring changes in the Lokpal Bill.  The opposition benches also protested that the MP had raised the issue during Zero Hour without prior notice, prompting an angry response from Congress members. Speaker Meira Kumar put an end to the sparring by saying she had allowed him to speak.  


Sources said the surprise move to let Gandhi speak in the House was decided on Friday morning, to dispel the perception that he was deliberately keeping silent.  Apart from the lokpal, Gandhi said laws addressing issues such as government funding of elections and parties,  transparency in public procurement, proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption (like land and mining), grievance redressal in public service delivery of old-age pensions and ration cards and continued tax reforms were needed to combat corruption.
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Full text of Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament

Full text of Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament


New Delhi:  
Madam Speaker,

I have been deeply distressed at the developments of the last few days. Many aspects of the situation have caused me anguish.

We are all aware that corruption is pervasive. It operates at every level. The poor may carry its greatest burden but it is an affliction that every Indian is desperate to be rid off. Fighting corruption is as integral to eliminating poverty as is Mahatma Gandhi NREGA or the Land Acquisition Bill. Yet it is equally imperative to the growth and development of our nation.

Madam Speaker, we cannot wish away corruption by the mere desire to see it removed from our lives. This requires a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political program supported by all levels of the state from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will.

Madam Speaker, in the past few years I have travelled the length and breadth of our country. I have met scores of countrymen, rich and poor, old and young, privileged and disempowered who have expressed their disillusionment to me. In the last few months, Annaji has helped the people to articulate this same sentiment. I thank him for that.

I believe that the real question before us as representatives of the people of India today is whether we are prepared to take the battle against corruption head on? It is not a matter of how the present impasse will resolve, it is a much greater battle. There are no simple solutions. To eradicate corruption demands a far deeper engagement and sustained commitment from each one of us.

Witnessing the events of the last few days it would appear that the enactment of a single Bill will usher in a corruption-free society. I have serious doubts about this belief.

An effective Lok Pal law is only one element in the legal framework to combat corruption. The Lok Pal institution alone cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive anti-corruption code. A set of effective laws is required. Laws that address the following critical issues are necessary to stand alongside the Lok Pal initiative:

(1) government funding of elections and political parties,
(2) transparency in public procurement,
(3) proper regulation of sectors that fuel corruption like land and
mining,
(4) grievance redress mechanisms in public service delivery of old
age pensions and ration cards; and
(5) continued tax reforms to end tax evasion.

We owe it to the people of this country to work together across party lines to ensure that Parliament functions at its optimum capacity and delivers these laws in a just and time bound manner.

We speak of a statutory Lok Pal but our discussions cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt. Madam Speaker, why not elevate the
debate and fortify the Lok Pal by making it a Constitutional body accountable to Parliament like the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for us to seriously consider this idea.

Madam Speaker, laws and institutions are not enough. A representative, inclusive and accessible democracy is central to fighting corruption.

Individuals have brought our country great gains. They have galvanized people in the cause of freedom and development. However, individual dictates, no matter how well intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process. This process is often lengthy and lumbering. But it is so in order to be inclusive and fair. It provides a representative and transparent platform where ideas are translated into laws. A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected Government that seeks to undo the checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy.

Today the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy.

India's biggest achievement is our democratic system. It is the life force of our nation. I believe we need more democracy within our political parties. I believe in Government funding of our political parties. I believe in empowering our youth; in opening the doors of our closed political system; in bringing fresh blood into politics and into this House. I believe in moving our democracy deeper and deeper into our villages and our cities.

I know my faith in our democracy, is shared by members of this House. I know that regardless of their political affiliation, many of my colleagues work tirelessly to realize the ideals upon which our nation was built. The pursuit of truth is the greatest of those ideals. It won us our freedom. It gave us our democracy. Let us commit ourselves to truth and probity in public life. We owe it to the people of India.

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Lokpal not one-stop solution to ending corruption: Rahul

Lokpal not one-stop solution to ending corruption: Rahul Gandhi

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today addressed Lok Sabha. Speaking in Zero Hour, he thanked Anna Hazare for raising the issue of corruption, but said that there is no magic solution to corruption. 

he said Hazare's effort to force Parliament to adopt his proposed reform bill sets a dangerous precedent.

Gandhi's comments on Friday were his first on the crisis since Anna Hazare began his hunger strike 10 days ago.

Hazare has called for Parliament to pass Jan Lokpal Bill to root out corruption. Gandhi said the issue was more complex and proposed a wide-ranging set of reform bills including government funding of elections and transparency in government contracts.

He also criticized Hazare's fast as "a dangerous precedent for a democracy."

"There is perception that enactment of single bill will eradicate corruption, I have serious doubts," said Rahul.

He said, "We can't wish away corruption, it will require comprehensive programme of action". We need strong political will to fight corruption, said Rahul Gandhi.

The Lokpal bill was only "one element" to eradicate corruption, Congress MP. The opposition rose in protest, interrupting the speech. "There are no simple solutions to eradicate corruption," Gandhi said.

Anna Hazare has helped articulate public sentiment, I thank him for that, said Rahul.

Rahul called for fortifying the Lokpal Bill by making it a Constitutional body like the Election Commission. We need regulation of sectors that fuel corruption, he said. We must not weaken the democratic process, he said.

Meanwhile, the government and Team Anna are in back channel talks on fresh draft.

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Lokpal alone will not help eradicate corruption: Rahul Gandhi

Individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process: Rahul Gandhi. File photo


Lokpal alone will not help eradicate corruption: Rahul Gandhi

Breaking his silence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday asserted that Lokpal Act alone will not help eradicate corruption, and appeared to disapprove of Anna Hazare’s fast, saying “individual dictates” must not weaken democratic process as dangerous precedents could be set.

Agreeing that “corruption is pervasive” which operates at “every level”, Mr. Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha that a set of effective laws along with creation of an statutory institution of Lokpal like the Election Commission would be required to fight the malaise.

“We cannot wish away corruption by the mere desire to see it removed from our lives. This requires a comprehensive framework of action and a concerted political programme supported by all levels of the State from the highest to the lowest. Most importantly, it requires firm political will,” he said during Zero Hour, amid noisy protests from NDA members.

Referring to the anti—corruption campaign of Anna Hazare, Mr. Gandhi said it has “helped the people to articulate” disillusionment and that he “thanks him for that”.

At the same time, the Congress leader said, “individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process....A tactical incursion, divorced from the machinery of an elected government that seeks to undo the checks and balances created to protect the supremacy of Parliament sets a dangerous precedent for a democracy.”

“Today, the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow, the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy,” Mr. Gandhi warned in the House, as his sister Priyanka Gandhi watched from the visitors’ gallery.

“Witnessing the events of the last few days, it would appear that the enactment of a single bill will usher in a corruption—free society. I have serious doubts about this belief,” he said, adding an effective Lokpal “is only one element in the legal framework to combat corruption.”

He maintained that “Lokpal institution alone cannot be a substitute for a comprehensive anti—corruption code. A set of effective laws is required.”

His speech was disrupted by NDA members, who were protesting against his making a statement on the issue during Zero Hour. This triggered a clash with Congress members shouting back.

Speaker Meira Kumar ruled that she had allowed Mr. Gandhi to speak on the issue during Zero Hour after which Mr. Gandhi continued.

“We speak of a statutory Lokpal but our discussion cease at the point of its accountability to the people and the risk that it might itself become corrupt,” the Congress General Secretary told the packed House, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh being among those in attendance.

“Why not elevate the debate and fortify the Lokpal by making it a Constitutional body accountable to Parliament like the Election Commission of India? I feel the time has come for us to seriously consider this idea,” he said.

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Lokpal not enough to fight corruption Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament

Lokpal not enough to fight corruption Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today addressed Lok Sabha. Speaking in Zero Hour, he thanked Anna Hazare for raising the issue of corruption, but said that there is no magic solution to corruption. "There is perception that enactment of single bill will eradicate corruption, I related stories

Rahul Gandhi Meets PM

Lok Pal Bill, 2011 was introduced in Parliament

The Lok Pal Bill, 2011 was introduced in Parliament on 4 August 2011. A copy of the Lok Pal Bill as introduced in Lok Sabha can be downloaded from this page.

•  The Lokpal Bill, 2011, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2011 by Shri V. Narayanaswamy, Union Minister of State, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.  The Bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.  The report of the Committee is expected within three months.
• The Bill provides for establishment of the Lokpal for inquiring into complaints of corruption against certain public servants.
• The members of the Lokpal shall be appointed by the President on the basis of the recommendations of the Selection Committee.
• The Selection Committee shall comprise of the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leaders of the Opposition in both houses, a Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, one sitting judge of the Supreme Court, and one sitting Chief Justice of the High Courts both nominated by the Chief Justice of India, an eminent jurist nominated by the central government and a person of eminence in public life with knowledge of public administration, policy making, anti-corruption policy, vigilance and finance.
• The Lokpal shall consist of one chairperson and upto eight other members.  The Chairperson shall be a present or former judge of the Supreme Court.  Fifty percent of the other members shall be judicial members (judges of the Supreme Court and Chief Justices of the High Court).  A non-judicial member is required to have 25 years experience in anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance and finance.
• A Lokpal can enquire into offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (PCA) committed by:
  • the PM once he has demitted the office,
  • current and former Union Ministers,
  • current and former MPs,
  • group A officers and above,
  • persons of equivalent ranks in public sector undertakings and other government bodies,
  • officers of organizations having an annual income above a specified amount receiving funds from the government or the public.
• The Lokpal shall be constituted of two wings: the Investigation Wing and the Prosecution Wing.
• The central government is required to constitute Special Courts to hear cases referred to it by the Lokpal under this Bill.  The Lokpal shall recommend the number of such courts.
• A complaint against the specified officials may be made to the Lokpal for actions committed within seven years of the date of complaint.  The Lokpal can ask the Investigation Wing to conduct preliminary investigation of any offence alleged to be committed under the PCA.  The Lokpal shall provide the accused with copies of the complaint and secure him a hearing.  In case a prima facie case is made out it may then conduct a public inquiry.
• If the inquiry concludes that an offence was committed, the Lokpal may recommend disciplinary action to the competent authority.  It can also file a case before the Special Court through its Prosecution Wing.  The competent authority shall within 30 days of receipt of the recommendation initiate disciplinary proceedings and inform the Lokpal of the action proposed or taken.
• The Bill removes the requirement of sanction for initiating investigation and prosecution.
• The preliminary investigation or inquiry has to be completed within a maximum period of three months.    The following inquiry by the Lokpal is to be completed within a maximum period of one year.  The trial before the Special Court is to be completed within a maximum timeframe of two years.
• The penalty for filing false and frivolous complaints is imprisonment for a minimum of two years to a maximum of five years and a fine of Rs 25,000 upto Rs 2 lakh.
• The Lokpal may be removed by an order of the President on the basis of the report of the Supreme Court on a reference by the President.  A reference to the Supreme Court may be made by (a) the President, (b) the President on the basis of a petition signed by 100 Members of the Parliament and (c) the President if he is satisfied on the basis of a petition by a citizen.

Lokpal vs Janlokpal

Lokpal vs Janlokpal

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Govt open to reasoned debate on Lokpal Bill: PM

Throw out power brokers: Congress

Throw out power brokers: Congress

Taking a cue from the massive response to Anna Hazare, the Congress loyalists are mounting pressure on top leaders to get rid of "agents" whose power politics has given the 120 years organisation a bad name.

They say party high command Sonia Gandhi and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi should recognise the virtues of loyalists committed to basic principles of Congress.

The concerns about ideology taking a backseat to accommodate those who promise money and muscle power is being talked in the corridors of power in Delhi and Maharashtra.

A senior AICC functionary told DNA: "Anna's agitation should be a wake-up call for the Congress across the country. The massive mass support against corruption is a signal to the ruling Congress. Unless we take strong corrective measures to revert to the ideology- based politics, we are unlikely to win people's support."

Citing an example a political manager said, "To begin with, we have to put an end to power bargain. When former MPCC chief Prabha Rau inducted Narayan Rane into the Congress, they promised him chief minister's post but later settled to minister of revenue. The party has downsized Rane as minister of industries. They used Rane to harass former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for almost four years. There are several such instances where party leadership has adopted such tricks to humiliate established leaders."

The same is the case in the alliance where Udayan Raje (MP) was inducted to downsize deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. But Raje turned the tables against the NCP top brass. Later, he joined the Congress.

A general secretary said: "When the election tickets are issued, they judge the financial worth of the candidate. And it is passed off as electoral merit. If money is integral to electoral politics, how can we combat corruption?"

After Sonia Gandhi returns to work, the Congress Working Committee is likely to indulge in some brain storming on consolidation of the party.

In Maharashtra, MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre-led team has embarked on a campaign to reconnect with the people to explain the party's commitment to people's welfare.

Insiders in the party said: "What is bothering the top leadership is how to overcome Team Anna's August 30 deadline. If we survive that, then we can prepare ourselves for the bigger battle in 2014."

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Mahi

Sonia Gandhi ranked 7th in most powerful women list

Sonia Gandhi ranked 7th in most powerful women list

Congress party President, Sonia Gandhi, has been ranked the seventh most powerful woman of the world in the latest list published by the Forbes magazine. 

Gandhi, 64, is recouping from unspecified surgery in a US hospital. She is ranked seventh just ahead of US First Lady, Michell Obama.

"Lauded for overseeing heavy economic growth, she is also criticized for tolerating political corruption and failing to forge connections with India's fastest-growing demographic-younger voters," Forbes said about Gandhi.

"Gandhi is an avid scholar of the arts, and holds a degree in oil painting conservation. She recently underwent surgery in the US," it added.

Chandra Kochhar of ICICI Bank (43rd) and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon (99th) also figure in the Forbes list.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been named the most powerful woman in the world, according to Forbes magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential females in the world.

Merkel, the leader of Germany - Europe's largest economy - is considered the undisputed leader of the European Union. She is the first female leader of a major continental European power.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came in second. President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi and Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, rounded out the top 5.

US First Lady Michelle Obama, who was ranked first in last year's list, came in eighth this year. Irene Rosenfield, the CEO of Kraft Foods and Oprah Winfrey - who came in second and third in 2010 - also dropped to a lower ranking.

Forbes' powerful ladies include political figures, business leaders, media moguls and entertainers. Nearly half the women in the top 100 list are new comers.

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Mahi

Rahul Gandhi today said that he was concerned over

Rahul Gandhi today said that he was concerned over the logjam in the wake of Anna Hazare's agitation against corruption.

"Of course I am concerned," was his brief response when asked whether he is concerned about the standoff on the Lokpal issue and Hazare's refusal to end the fast.

The AICC general secretary made the remark after coming out of the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting during which Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee briefed party leaders on the Hazare issue.

Though Gandhi did not speak in the meeting, a number of party MPs including some young leaders made their suggestions and put questions to Mukherjee.

A number of Congress MPs had earlier disagreed with the way the Hazare issue was handled.

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Mahi

Rahul Gandhi likely to hoist flag at Congress HQ on Aug 15

New Delhi, Aug 9: With Sonia Gandhi, Congress President still undergoing medical treatment in the US, Rahul Gandhi is likely to unfurl the national flag in her absence on Aug 15 at Congress Headquarters.

It will be first time for a 41-year-old to unroll a flag if Rahul hoists the flag.

Rahul Gandhi, who is still in the US with his mother will be back by this weekend, said sources.

Sonia Gandhi who underwent a surgery on Aug 4 has been moved out of the ICU and her condition is said to be stable.

Sources also informed that if the AICC President fails to return back before Aug 15, then other senior party member like Motilal Vora is likely to unfurl the flag.

Sonia's surgery successful; Cong says respect her privacy

Sonia Gandhi surgery successful; Cong says respect her privacy


Congress president Sonia Gandhi has successfully undergone surgery and is presently in the intensive care unit of a hospital, her party announced on Friday. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi issued a brief statement saying that Gandhi, 64, underwent a surgery on August 4 and the Surgeon has indicated it had been successful.

The statement did not disclose what was the surgery was and where it was performed. Gandhi's children, party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are accompanying her. Priyanka's husband Robert Vadra is with them, said Dwivedi.

The party statement requested that Gandhi's privacy be respected. "This is a personal matter that pertains to her health and medical treatment. Her family requests that her privacy be respected," Dwivedi said.

Not only the nature of the surgery, even Sonia's itinerary, including the duration and place of stay (surgery) is being kept under wraps on the advice of the special protection group (SPG) mandated for her security.

Gandhi has deputed a group comprising Rahul, senior party leaders AK Antony, Ahmed Patel and Dwivedi to manage party affairs in her absence.

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