BREAKING NEWS: ARVIND KEJRIWAL ARRESTED: LIONS NEVER GROVEL THE 7th CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI WAS SENTENCED TO JAIL TILL MAY 23 ON 16 POINTS/ REASONS: 1. IN HIS FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTED LEADERS, KEJRIWAL HAD LISTED OUT NAMES OF THE MOST CORRUPT POLITICIANS IN THE COUNTRY ON JAN 31, 2014. THE LIST INCLUDED SURESH KALMADI, NITIN GADKARI, SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE, BS YEDDYURAPPA, KAPIL SIBAL, MULAYAM SINGH, KAMAL NATH, VEERAPPA MOILY, ANANTH KUMAR, ANURAG THAKUR, SHARAD PAWAR, PRAFUL PATEL, P CHIDAMBARAM, ALAGARI, KANIMOZHI, A RAJA, TARUN GOGOI, MAYAWATI, NAVEEN JINDAL. 2. THE AAP CONVENOR, WHO HAD WON THE DELHI ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS AND LATER RESIGNED FROM THE POST WITHIN 49 DAYS ON FEB 14, HAD VOWED TO REMOVE ALL CORRUPT POLITICIANS. 3. GADKARI ON FEB 1 HAD SERVED A LEGAL NOTICE TO KEJRIWAL STATING THAT THE AAP LEADERS REMARK AGAINST HIM WAS FALSE. GADKARI ALSO CLAIMED THAT KEJRIWAL HAD TRIED TO TARNISH THE BJP LEADERS IMAGE. 4. GADKARI ALSO HAD ASKED KEJRIWAL TO TENDER HIS APOLOGY WITHIN THREE DAYS. THE BJP LEADER HAD ALSO THREATENED TO SUE THE AAP CHIEF IF THERE WAS NO APOLOGY FROM HIM WITHIN THREE DAYS, I.E. FEB 4. 5. GADKARI ON FEB 8 HAD FILED A DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST KEJRIWAL IN A COURT IN DELHI AND HAD CLAIMED THAT KEJRIWAL TARNISHED HIS IMAGE BY CALLING HIM CORRUPT. THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED BEFORE METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE GOMATI MANOCHA. 6. GADKARIS COMPLAINT AGAINST KEJRIWAL SAID, KEJRIWAL HAS DELIBERATELY RELEASED THE LIST OF INDIAS MOST CORRUPT PEOPLE MENTIONING HIS (GADKARIS) NAME IN A GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER. KEJRIWAL HAS DELIBERATELY TRIED TO MALIGN (GADKARIS) IMAGE THOUGH HE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY WRONGFUL OR CORRUPT ACT. 7. GADKARI REQUESTED THE COURT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST KEJRIWAL AND PROSECUTE HIM FOR DEFAMING HIM. 8. ON FEB 28, THE COURT HAD SUMMONED KEJRIWAL AS AN ACCUSED IN THE CRIMINAL DEFAMATION COMPLAINT, OBSERVING THAT STATEMENTS ALLEGEDLY MADE BY THE AAP LEADER HAVE THE EFFECT OF HARMING THE REPUTATION OF THE COMPLAINANT. 9. KEJRIWAL APPEARED BEFORE PATIALA HOUSE COURT ON MAY 21. THE COURT ASKED HIM IF THE AAP LEADER WAS LOOKING FOR SOME EXCEPTIONAL TREATMENT. 10. KEJRIWAL, WHO APPEARED BEFORE THE COURT IN PURSUANCE TO THE SUMMONS ISSUED AGAINST HIM, TOLD METROPOLITAN MAGISTRATE GOMATI MANOCHA THAT HE WAS READY TO GIVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT HE WILL APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT BUT REFUSED TO FURNISH BAIL BOND TO SECURE BAIL. 11. DURING THE HEARING, THE MAGISTRATE OBSERVED, I COMPLETELY AGREE BUT WHY HE (KEJRIWAL) WILL NOT FURNISH BAIL BOND. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROCEDURE AND WHY SHOULD WE FOLLOW DIFFERENT PROCEDURE IN THIS CASE. I AGREE HE WILL APPEAR IN THE COURT BUT THE PROCEDURE IS THAT A PERSON HAS TO FILE BAIL BOND OF RS 10,000. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOME EXCEPTION TREATMENT? 12. KEJRIWAL, WHO ALSO ARGUED IN THE COURT, TOLD THE JUDGE THAT HE DID NOT COMMIT ANY HEINOUS CRIME AND ADDED THAT HE WAS NOT LOOKING FOR ANY EXCEPTIONAL TREATMENT. 13. THIS IS MY PRINCIPLE THAT WHEN I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WRONG, I WILL NOT SEEK BAIL. I AM READY TO GO TO JAIL, HE SAID. 14. ADVOCATES PRASHANT BHUSHAN AND RAHUL MEHRA, WHO APPEARED FOR KEJRIWAL, TOLD THE MAGISTRATE THAT THESE CASES ARE OF POLITICAL NATURE AND AS PER THE PRINCIPLE OF AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP), THEY WILL NOT FURNISH BAIL BOND. BHUSHAN ALSO ARGUED THAT THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY THAT KEJRIWAL WOULD TAMPER WITH THE EVIDENCE OR INFLUENCE THE WITNESSES AND FILING OF UNDERTAKING WAS CORRECT. 15. SENIOR ADVOCATE PINKI ANAND, WHO APPEARED FOR GADKARI, OPPOSED THE CONTENTIONS OF DEFENCE COUNSEL, SAYING THERE WAS NO PROCEDURE IN LAW TO FURNISH UNDERTAKING AND LAW SHOULD NOT VARY FOR ANYONE. 16. THE COURT FINALLY SENT KEJRIWAL TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY FOR TWO DAYS AND HE WILL BE PRESENT BEFORE THE COURT ONCE AGAIN ON MAY 23. CM: KEJRIWAL WAS IN OFFICE AS CM OF DELHI FROM 28TH DECEMBER 2013 TO 14TH FEBRUARY 2014 [49 DAYS] PRECEDING SHEILA DIKSHIT & SUCCEEDED by PRESIDENTS RULE SINCE FEB 15. PERSONAL DETAILS: BORN 16 AUGUST 1968 (AGE 45) AT SIWANI, HARYANA, INDIA. POLITICAL PARTY AAM AADMI PARTY=AAP SPOUSE: SUNITA KEJRIWAL CHILDREN: 2 RESIDENCE: GHAZIABAD, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA ALMA MATER: IIT KHARAGPUR AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS: 1) RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD 2) ARVIND KEJRIWAL (BORN 16 AUGUST 1968) IS AN INDIAN POLITICIAN AND FORMER CIVIL SERVANT. 3) SERVED AS THE 7TH CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHIFROM 28 DECEMBER 2013 TO 14 FEBRUARY 2014. HE IS THE LEADER OF THE AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP). 4) KEJRIWAL IS A GRADUATE OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR. 5) HE WORKED FOR THE INDIAN REVENUE SERVICE (IRS) AS A JOINT COMMISSIONER IN THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT. 6) HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS EFFORTS TO ENACT AND IMPLEMENT a) THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT (RTI) AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL b) HIS ROLE IN DRAFTING A PROPOSED JAN LOKPAL BILL. c) IN 2006, KEJRIWAL WAS AWARDED THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOR EMERGENT LEADERSHIP RECOGNISING HIS INVOLVEMENT IN PARIVARTAN. d) GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT (PARIVARTAN) USING RIGHT-TO-INFORMATION LEGISLATION IN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORRUPTION. e) THE SAME YEAR, AFTER RESIGNING FROM THE IRS, HE DONATED HIS MAGSAYSAY AWARD MONEY AS A CORPUS FUND TO FOUND THE PUBLIC CAUSE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO). f) IN 2012, HE LAUNCHED THE AAM AADMI PARTY, AND DEFEATED CHIEF MINISTER SHEILA DIKSHIT IN THE 2013 DELHI LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTION. g) FOLLOWING THE ELECTION, HE TOOK OFFICE AS THE CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI ON 28 DECEMBER 2013. HE RESIGNED 49 DAYS LATER, ON 14 FEBRUARY 2014, STATING HE DID SO BECAUSE OF HIS GOVERNMENTS INABILITY TO PASS HIS PROPOSED ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION BILL JANLOKPAL DUE TO A LACK OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES. PERSONAL: KEJRIWAL WAS BORN IN A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY IN SIWANI, BHIWANI DISTRICT, HARYANA ON 16 AUGUST 1968, THE FIRST OF THE THREE CHILDREN OF GOBIND RAM KEJRIWAL AND GITA DEVII. HIS FATHER WAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER WHO GRADUATED FROM THE BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MESRA, AND WHOSE WORK LED TO MANY CHANGES IN THE FAMILYS RESIDENCE. KEJRIWAL SPENT MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN NORTH INDIAN TOWNS SUCH AS SONEPAT, GHAZIABAD AND HISAR. HE WAS EDUCATED AT CAMPUS SCHOOL IN HISAR AND AT A CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SCHOOL AT SONIPAT. KEJRIWAL GRADUATED FROM THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN KHARAGPUR, MAJORING IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. HE JOINED TATA STEEL IN 1989 AND WAS POSTED IN JAMSHEDPUR. KEJRIWAL RESIGNED IN 1992, HAVING TAKEN LEAVE OF ABSENCE IN ORDER TO STUDY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION. KEJRIWAL SPENT SOME TIME IN KOLKATA, AT THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION IN NORTH-EAST INDIA AND AT NEHRU YUVA KENDRA. EARLY CAREER: KEJRIWAL JOINED THE IRS IN 1995 AFTER QUALIFYING THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION. IN 2000, HE WAS GRANTED TWO YEARS PAID LEAVE TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION ON CONDITION THAT UPON RESUMING HIS WORK HE WOULD NOT RESIGN FROM THE SERVICE FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THAT CONDITION WOULD REQUIRE HIM TO REPAY THE SALARY GIVEN DURING THE LEAVE PERIOD. HE REJOINED IN 2003 AND WORKED FOR 18 MONTHS BEFORE TAKING UNPAID LEAVE FOR 18 MONTHS. IN FEBRUARY 2006, HE RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION AS A JOINT COMMISSIONER OF INCOME TAX IN NEW DELHI. THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA CLAIMED THAT KEJRIWAL HAD VIOLATED HIS ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BY NOT WORKING FOR THREE YEARS. KEJRIWAL SAID THAT HIS 18 MONTHS OF WORK AND 18 MONTHS OF UNPAID ABSENCE AMOUNTED TO THE STIPULATED THREE YEAR PERIOD DURING WHICH HE COULD NOT RESIGN AND THAT THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO MALIGN HIM DUE TO HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH TEAM ANNA. A STRAND OF THE INDIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT. THE DISPUTE RAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL, IN 2011, IT WAS RESOLVED WHEN HE PAID HIS WAY OUT OF THE SERVICE WITH THE HELP OF LOANS FROM FRIENDS. ACTIVISM: CHANGE: ACHIEVEMENTS: KEJRIWAL BELIEVES IN THE DICTUM THAT CHANGE BEGINS WITH SMALL THINGS. IN DECEMBER 1999, WHILE STILL IN SERVICE WITH THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, HE HELPED FOUND A MOVEMENT NAMED PARIVARTAN (WHICH MEANS CHANGE), A. PARIVARTAN FOCUSED ON ASSISTING CITIZENS IN NAVIGATING INCOME TAX, ELECTRICITY AND FOOD RATION MATTERS IN PARTS OF DELHI. THE PARIVARTAN ORGANISATION EXPOSED A FAKE RATION CARD SCAM IN 2008 BUT, ACCORDING TO A FOUNDER MEMBER, DID NOT HAVE A GREAT IMPACT GENERALLY AND WAS LARGELY CRUMBLING BY 2012. IT WAS FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH PARIVARTAN THAT KEJRIWAL HAD BEEN GIVEN THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD FOR EMERGENT LEADERSHIP IN 2006. THE AWARD CITATION NOTED PARIVARTAN AND THAT THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOGNIZES KEJRIWALS ACTIVATING INDIAS RIGHT-TO-INFORMATION MOVEMENT AT THE GRASSROOTS, EMPOWERING NEW DELHIS POOREST CITIZENS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION BY HOLDING GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE. B. RIGHT TO INFORMATION TOGETHER WITH MANISH SISODIA AND ABHINANDAN SEKHRI, KEJRIWAL ESTABLISHED THE PUBLIC CAUSE RESEARCH FOUNDATION IN DECEMBER 2006, DONATING THE PRIZE MONEY HE HAD RECEIVED FROM THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD AS A SEED FUND.[13] THIS NEW BODY PAID THE EMPLOYEES OF PARIVARTAN.[12] KEJRIWAL HAS USED THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT IN CORRUPTION CASES IN MANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT, THE MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF DELHI, THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND THE DELHI ELECTRICITY BOARD. C. JAN LOKPAL BILL MAIN ARTICLE: JAN LOKPAL BILL KEJRIWAL WAS THE CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA TO DRAFT A JAN LOKPAL BILL, FOLLOWING A CAMPAIGN FOR INTRODUCTION OF SUCH LEGISLATION THAT FEATURED ANNA HAZARE. HE HAD BEEN ARRESTED ALONG WITH HAZARE ON DEFYING POLICE DIRECTIVE TO GIVE A WRITTEN UNDERTAKING THAT THEY WILL NOT GO TO JP PARK. HE ATTACKED THE GOVERNMENT ON THIS AND SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR A DEBATE OVER POLICE POWER TO DETAIN AND RELEASE PEOPLE AT WILL. D. POLITICAL CAREER GENERAL: KEJRIWAL ESTABLISHED THE AAP IN NOVEMBER 2012 AS HE BELIEVED THAT ELECTORAL POLITICS WAS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. THIS CAUSED A RIFT BETWEEN HIM AND HAZARE. E. THE PARTY NAME REFLECTS THE PHRASE AAM AADMI, OR COMMON MAN, WHOSE INTERESTS KEJRIWAL PROPOSED TO REPRESENT. HE BECAME THE FIFTH MOST MENTIONED INDIAN POLITICIAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS IN THE RUN-UP TO THE DELHI LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTION OF 2013. F. CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI: IN THE 2013 DELHI LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS FOR ALL 70 SEATS, THE BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY WON 31 SEATS, FOLLOWED BY AAM AADMI PARTY WITH 28 SEATS.[20] KEJRIWAL DEFEATED INCUMBENT CHIEF MINISTER SHEILA DIKSHIT OF THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS IN HER CONSTITUENCY OF NEW DELHI BY A MARGIN OF 25,864 VOTES AAP FORMED A MINORITY GOVERNMENT IN THE HUNG ASSEMBLY, (CLAIMING SUPPORT FOR THE ACTION GAUGED FROM OPINION POLLS) WITH OUTSIDE SUPPORT FROM THE EIGHT INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESSMLAS, ONE JANTA DAL MLA AND ONE INDEPENDENT MLA G. KEJRIWAL WAS SWORN IN AS THE SECOND-YOUNGEST CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI ON 28 DECEMBER 2013, AFTER CHAUDHARY BRAHM PRAKASH WHO BECAME CHIEF MINISTER AT THE AGE OF 34 HE WAS IN CHARGE OF DELHIS HOME MINISTRY, POWER, PLANNING, FINANCE, VIGILANCE MINISTRIES H. HIS RESIGNATION ON 14 FEBRUARY 2014 HE RESIGNED AS CHIEF MINISTER AFTER FAILING TO TABLE THE JAN LOKPAL BILL IN THE DELHI ASSEMBLY. I. HE RECOMMENDED THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY. J. KEJRIWAL BLAMED THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS AND THE BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY FOR STALLING THE ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION AND LINKED IT WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO REGISTER A FIRST INFORMATION REPORT (FIR) AGAINST INDUSTRIALIST MUKESH AMBANI, CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RELIANCE INDUSTRIES. 2014 NATIONAL LS ELECTIONS: KEJRIWAL SAID IN JANUARY, PRIOR TO HIS RESIGNATION AS CHIEF MINISTER, THAT HE WOULD NOT CONTEST A SEAT IN THE 2014 LOK SABHA ELECTIONS.[29] LATER IN THAT MONTH, PARTY MEMBERS PERSUADED HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND, [30] AND ON 25 MARCH, HE AGREED TO CONTEST AGAINST THE BJP PRIME MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE, NARENDRA MODI, [31] FROM VARANASI,[32] BUT LOST TO MODI. PERSONAL LIFE: KEJRIWAL IS MARRIED TO SUNITA, HIS BATCHMATE FROM NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ADMINISTRATION IN MUSSOORIE AND THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DIRECT TAXES IN NAGPUR. THE COUPLE HAVE TWO CHILDREN. KEJRIWAL IS VEGETARIAN AND HAS BEEN PRACTICING VIPASSANA FOR MANY YEARS. KEJRIWAL IS KNOWN TO BE AVERSE TO CEREMONY AND DOES NOT CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY. HE IS DIABETIC. K. INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION:FROM WIKIPEDIA, THE FREE ENCYCLOPEDIA: INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION: TYPE: PEOPLES MOVEMENT: KEY PEOPLE ARVIND KEJRIWAL AREA SERVED INDIA FOCUS ANTI-CORRUPTION INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION (IAC) WAS A POPULIST ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT IN INDIA IN 2011 INDIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT AND 2012 INDIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF FIGUREHEADS IN THE IAC MOVEMENT WAS THAT IT HAD NO FORMAL ORGANISATION BEYOND A 24-MEMBER CORE COMMITTEE. IN 2011, THE MOSTLY MIDDLE-CLASS ORGANISERS OF IAC DETERMINED TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO MOBILISE THE MASSES IN SUPPORT OF A DEMAND THAT THEY HOPED WOULD HELP TO BRING ABOUT A CORRUPTION-FREE INDIA. THEIR PROPOSAL FOR THE CREATION OF A LOKPAL (OMBUDSMAN) WHO WOULD HAVE HAD POWERS TO ARREST AND CHARGE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF CORRUPTION. THEY APPROACHED RAMDEV, A POPULIST YOGI WITH MILLIONS OF SUPPORTERS AMONG THE MIDDLE-CLASSES OF SMALL-TOWN INDIA, TO BE THE FIGUREHEAD FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. HIS CONNECTIONS TO THE RIGHT-WING SANGH PARIVAR THREATENED TO DAMAGE THE CREDIBILITY OF WHAT WAS NOMINALLY AN APOLITICAL MOVEMENT. HISTORIAN AND COMMENTATOR RAMACHANDRA GUHA HAS QUESTIONED THE IMAGE THAT HAS BEEN PORTRAYED OF IAC AND OF HAZARE. ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HAZARE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN CAMPAIGNS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REFORMS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN HIS NATIVE MAHARASHTRA AND THAT THE IAC CAMPAIGN OF 2011 HAD AN IMPACT, GUHA DOUBTS THE CLAIMS THAT THE 2011 AND 2012 PROTESTS OVERWHELMINGLY ENGAGED THE MASSES. HE NOTES THAT LIBERALS WERE CONCERNED WITH A PERCEIVED ANTI-DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC WHILE SOCIALLY OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS THE DALITS AND OTHER BACKWARD CLASSES, WERE WORRIED THAT THE HINDU-LED MOVEMENT WOULD UNDERMINE THE GAINS THEY HAVE MADE THROUGH LEGISLATIVE REFORMS, SUCH AS THOSE RESULTING FROM THE MANDAL COMMISSION. L. HE CONSIDERS THAT THE ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE PROTEST BY 24-HOUR NEWS CHANNELS AND INTERNET RESOURCES HAS MASKED THE REALITIES, SUCH AS THAT POPULAR PARTICIPATION AT THE JANTAR MANTAR AND RAMLILA MAIDAN PROTESTS IN DELHI WAS A FRACTION OF THAT EVIDENCED IN KOLKATA IN 1998 WHEN 400,000 MARCHED IN AN ANTI-NUCLEAR MOVEMENT. M. NOTABLE PEOPLE MEMBERS OF IAC/TEAM ANNA PRIOR TO THE BREAKAWAY OF THE AAM AADMI PARTY WERE: • ANNA HAZARE • ARVIND KEJRIWAL • SHANTI BHUSHAN • PRASHANT BHUSHAN • SANTOSH HEGDE • SHAZIA ILMI • MEDHA PATKAR • GOPAL RAI • SANJAY SINGH • MANISH SISODIA • KIRAN BEDI • KUMAR VISHWAS FOLLOWING THE SPLIT WITH THE AAP, NOTABLE MEMBERS WERE: • ARVIND GAUR • SUNITA GODARA • AKHIL GOGOI • ANNA HAZARE • SANTOSH HEGDE • KIRAN BEDI • MEDHA PATKAR SEE ALSO • CORRUPTION IN INDIA: JANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI: DATE 4 APRIL 2011 ONGOING (3 YEARS, 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS) LOCATION INDIA N. CAUSES • GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. • POLICE CORRUPTION. • JUDICIAL CORRUPTION. • CORPORATE CORRUPTION. • KLEPTOCRACY. • ELECTORAL FRAUD. • RED TAPE[2][4] • DISCRETIONARY POWERS OF POLITICIAN. • BLACK MONEY. GOALS: 1) ESTABLISHING STRONG AND INDEPENDENT JANLOK PAL ANTI-CORRUPTION LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT;[5](NOT COMPLETED YET). 2) METHODS NON VIOLENT PROTEST 3) STATUS ONGOING THE 2011 INDIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT WAS A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROTESTS ACROSS INDIA INTENDED TO ESTABLISH STRONG LEGISLATION AND ENFORCEMENT AGAINST PERCEIVED ENDEMIC POLITICAL CORRUPTION.[5] THE MOVEMENT WAS NAMED AMONG THE TOP 10 NEWS STORIES OF 2011 BY TIME MAGAZINE. THE MOVEMENT GAINED MOMENTUM FROM 5 APRIL 2011, WHEN ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE BEGAN A HUNGER STRIKE AT THEJANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI. THE CHIEF LEGISLATIVE AIM OF THE MOVEMENT WAS TO ALLEVIATE CORRUPTION IN THE INDIAN GOVERNMENTTHROUGH INTRODUCTION OF THE JAN LOKPAL BILL. ANOTHER AIM, SPEARHEADED BY RAMDEV, WAS THE REPATRIATION OF BLACK MONEY FROM SWISS AND OTHER FOREIGN BANKS. GRIEVANCES OF MASS PROTESTERS FOCUSSED ON LEGAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES, INCLUDING POLITICAL CORRUPTION, KLEPTOCRACY, AND OTHER FORMS OF CORRUPTION. THE MOVEMENT WAS PRIMARILY ONE OF NON-VIOLENT CIVIL RESISTANCE, FEATURING DEMONSTRATIONS, MARCHES, ACTS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, HUNGER STRIKES, MARCHES AND RALLIES, AS WELL AS THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO ORGANISE, COMMUNICATE, AND RAISE AWARENESS. THE PROTESTS WERE NONPARTISAN AND MOST PROTESTERS WERE HOSTILE TO ATTEMPTS MADE BY POLITICAL PARTIES TO USE THEM TO STRENGTHEN THEIR OWN POLITICAL AGENDAS. 4) ANNA HAZARES HUNGER STRIKE AT JANTAR MANTAR IN NEW DELHI, ON THE SECOND DAY OF HIS FAST ISSUES REGARDING CORRUPTION IN INDIA HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY PROMINENT IN RECENT YEARS. THE COUNTRY WAS SUBJECT TO SOCIALIST-INSPIRED ECONOMIC POLICIES DATING FROM INDEPENDENCE IN 1947 UNTIL THE 1980S. OVER-REGULATION, PROTECTIONISM, AND GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP OF INDUSTRY LED TO SLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, AND WIDESPREAD POVERTY. 5) THE MOVEMENT HAS CONNECTIONS TO SEVERAL ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGNS THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN OCTOBER 2010 AND MARCH 2011. THESE INCLUDED: DATE ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN 29 OCTOBER, 2010 AN ANTI-CORRUPTION PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY NGO INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION[NOTE 1] WAS HELD AT THE PRESS CLUB OF INDIA TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED SHUNGLU COMMITTEE HAD INADEQUATE POWERS TO INVESTIGATE THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCAM. 6) 1 NOVEMBER, 2010 BY ORDER OF DEFENCE MINISTER OF INDIA A.K. ANTONY, THE INDIAN ARMY ESTABLISHES A COURT OF INQUIRY INTO THE ADARSH HOUSING SOCIETY SCAM. 7) 14 NOVEMBER, 2010 AFTER INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION REGISTERS A COMPLAINT REGARDING CORRUPTION IN THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES SCAM, NEARLY 10,000 PEOPLE ASSEMBLED AT THE PARLIAMENT STREET POLICE STATION. 8) 24 NOVEMBER, 2010 THE CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS ARRESTS OF SEVERAL SENIOR BANKERS UNDER ALLEGATIONS OF RECEIVING BRIBES TO ISSUE CORPORATE LOANS IN THE 2010 HOUSING LOAN SCAM 9) 10 DECEMBER, 2010 THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF INCOME TAX (INVESTIGATION) FILE A DELAYED JOINT AFFIDAVIT TO THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA DECLARING THE NOVEMBER 2007 WIRETAPPING OF CORPORATE LOBBYIST NIRA RADIA IN THE RADIA TAPES CONTROVERSY. 10) 22 DECEMBER, 2010 A 20,000-PERSON ANTI-CORRUPTION PROTEST IN RESPONSE TO THE 2G SPECTRUM SCAM HELD AT NEW DELHIS RAMLILA GROUND. 11) 17 JANUARY, 2011 THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRITICISES THE ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSING INDIAN NATIONALS NAMED ON RUDOLF ELMERS BLACK MONEY LIST DISCLOSED BY JULIAN ASSANGES WIKILEAKS. THE INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT ISSUES SUMMONS AND ARREST NOTICES TO MANY TAX EVADERS. 12) 18 JANUARY, 2011 THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF AN ANTI-CORRUPTION OPEN LETTER FROM AZIM PREMJI, KESHUB MAHINDRA, AND OTHER LEADING INDIAN INDUSTRIALISTS DEMANDING REFORM OF THE WIDESPREAD GOVERNANCE DEFICIT IN ALMOST EVERY SPHERE OF NATIONAL ACTIVITY, COVERING GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND INSTITUTIONS. 13) 29 JANUARY, 2011 FORMER CHIEF MINISTER CHANDRA BABU NAIDU ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF HIS WAR ON CORRUPTION THROUGH HIS NTR MEMORIAL TRUST AND JANA CHAITANYA VEDIKA. 14) 30 JANUARY, 2011 THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHED AGAINST CORRUPTION IN MORE THAN 52 CITIES IN INDIA AND ABROAD. COPIES OF THE CVC ACT, THE CBI ACT, I-T ACT, AND THE GOVERNMENT’S LOKPAL BILL WERE TORN UP BY THE THOUSANDS, SENDING A STRONG MESSAGE THAT THE PEOPLE LACK FAITH IN THE INEFFECTIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES. 15) FEB–MAR, 2011 THE CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS AND INCOME TAX DEPARTMENTS ARRESTS OF CO-CONSPIRATORS IMPLICATED IN THE 2G SPECTRUM SCAM. 16) 30 MARCH, 2011 FAMOUS CRICKETER KAPIL DEVS LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH, COMPLAINING OF THE INADEQUACY OF COMMONWEALTH GAMES CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS AND PETITIONING FOR THE JAN LOKPAL BILL. 17) HAZARES HUNGER STRIKE AT JANTAR MANTAR HOW CAN THE GOVERNMENT STOP ANYONE FROM PROTESTING? THE LAND IS NOT THEIR FATHERS PROPERTY. THE CITIZENS ARE THE MASTERS OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE MINISTERS ARE THEIR SERVANTS. – ANNA HAZARE (WHEN ASKED BY A PRESS REPORTER HOW COULD HE PROTEST AT JANTAR MANTAR IN SPITE OF PROHIBITORY ORDERS) 18) HAZARE BEGAN HIS HUNGER STRIKE ON 5 APRIL 2011 AT JANTAR MANTAR IN DELHI. THIS WAS IN REACTION TO THE REJECTION BY PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA MANMOHAN SINGH OF HIS REQUEST FOR THE FORMATION OF A JOINT COMMITTEE COMPRISING GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES. HAZARE HAD WANTED THE COMMITTEE TO DRAFT AN ANTI-CORRUPTION BILL CONTAINING STRONGER PUNISHMENTS AND GIVING MORE INDEPENDENCE TO THE LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTAS (OMBUDSMEN IN THE STATES).[40] HE SAID THAT HE WOULD CONTINUE THE FAST UNTIL THE BILL WAS PASSED[41] AND ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE SUPPORT, INCLUDING FROM 150 PEOPLE WHO JOINED HIM IN FASTING.[42] PROMINENT AMONG THE SUPPORTERS WERE MEDHA PATKAR, ARVIND KEJRIWAL, KIRAN BEDI, KUMAR VISHWAS AND JAYAPRAKASH NARAYAN.[43][44]HAZARE WOULD NOT ALLOW POLITICIANS TO SIT WITH HIM AND THOSE WHO TRIED TO JOIN, SUCH AS UMA BHARTI AND OM PRAKASH CHAUTALA, WERE TURNED AWAY. PROTESTS SPREAD TO BANGALORE, MUMBAI, CHENNAI, AHMEDABAD, GUWAHATI, SHILLONG, AIZAWL AND A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES IN INDIA.[46] THERE WERE ALSO GATHERINGS IN SOLIDARITY AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING WASHINGTON DC, LONDON, GLASGOW, LOS ANGELES, ARTESIA, NEW JERSEY, STOLBERG, PARIS AND HOUSTON. 19) GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO HAZARE THE HUNGER STRIKE CAUSED THE RESIGNATION ON 6 APRIL OF AGRICULTURE MINISTER SHARAD PAWAR FROM THE GROUP OF MINISTERS THAT HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH REVIEWING THE DRAFT BILL.[ ON 8 APRIL, THE GOVERNMENT STARTED SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THE DEMANDS OF THE PROTESTERS. THE GOVERNMENT STATED THAT IT WOULD TABLE THE BILL IN PARLIAMENT IN THE UPCOMING MONSOON SESSION ON 9 APRIL, THE GOVERNMENT FINALLY AGREED TO HAVE A 50:50 DISTRIBUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY ON 13 MAY, PM MANMOHAN SINGH STATED THAT THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT HAD COMPLETED THE RATIFICATION OF THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION. 20) AUGUST PROTESTS: BACKGROUND: ON 18 JULY 2011, HAZARE SAID THAT HE HAD TOLD THE PRIME MINISTER OF HIS DECISION TO GO ON AN INDEFINITE FAST FROM 16 AUGUST AT JANTAR MANTAR. HE SAID THAT HE WAS WILLING TO BE ARRESTED AND THAT THE POLICE HAD ALSO BEEN INFORMED. ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE MUMBAI TAXIMENS UNION PROPOSED TO SUPPORT HIM BY WITHDRAWING OR LIMITING LABOUR AND THE MUMBAI CHAPTER OF INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION CLAIMED IN LATE JULY THAT NEARLY 44,000 PEOPLE HAD SHOWN INTEREST IN JOINING THE FORTHCOMING PROTEST.[106] LAWYERS OF ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT HELD PROTESTS IN SUPPORT OF HAZARE AND PLEDGED TO GO ON HUNGER STRIKE IN SUPPORT FROM 16 AUGUST. THE VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD ALSO CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF HAZARES MOVEMENT, SAYING THAT FOR A STRONG LOKPAL BILL, PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOULD SUPPORT HIS CAMPAIGN. IN A POLL CONDUCTED BY INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION IN KARNATAKA, ABOUT 94.3% OF CHIKKABALLAPUR CONSTITUENCY AND 79.7% OF BANGALORE SOUTH WANTED TO BRING THE PRIME MINISTER UNDER THE AMBIT OF THE JAN LOKPAL BILL. 21) LEADER L K ADVANI SAID HE WAS NOT SURPRISED AT THE DETENTION OF MR HAZARE AND HE CHARGED THE GOVERNMENT WITH LOOKING FOR SCAPEGOATS AND STOPPING PEACEFUL PROTESTS INSTEAD OF FIGHTING CORRUPTION. ARUN JAITLEY, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE RAJYA SABHA, SAID, THAT IT WAS A VERY SAD DAY FOR INDIAN DEMOCRACY, WHERE THE RULING GOVERNMENT TOOK AWAY THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AND THE RIGHT TO DISSENT. 22) PARLIAMENT DEBATE: 27 DECEMBER 2011 ALSO SAW LOK SABHA DEBATING ON LOKPAL BILL IN THE PARLIAMENT. THE DEBATE SAW BHARTIYA JANATA PARTY LEADER SUSHMA SWARAJ PUNCHING HOLES IN THE GOVERNMENTS LOKPAL BILL. SHE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN COMPELLED TO INTRODUCE THE BILL THAT ENVISAGES THE SETTING UP OF AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-GRAFT OMBUDSMAN.[130] THE DEBATE RESULTED IN LOKPAL BILL BEING PASSED TO RAJYA SABHA, HOWEVER WAS NOT GIVEN CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS AS EXPECTED. THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE GRANTED THE LOKPAL CONSTITUTIONAL STATUS FAILED AS THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT MANAGE THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY[131] OF MPS PRESENT AND VOTING ON TWO OF THE THREE CLAUSES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL. ITS NUMBERS DID NOT CROSS 273 WHICH IS JUST PAST THE HALF-WAY MARK OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SEATS IN THE LOK SABHA. BOTH CONDITIONS NEED TO BE SATISFIED TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.[132] THE LOKPAL BILL WAS SENT FOR REVIEW TO INDIAN PRESIDENT PRATIBHA PATIL THE NEXT MORNING, ON 28 DECEMBER 2011. THIS IS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ANY LEGISLATION THAT WILL HAVE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS. SHE LATER GAVE HER ASSENT FOR THE BILL TO BE TABLED IN THE RAJYA SABHA, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR DISCUSSION TOMORROW. 23) 4 APRIL 2011 HAZARE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD COMMENCE HIS FAST UNTO DEATH AND THAT THIS WOULD LAST UNTIL A COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE TO TACKLE CORRUPTION WAS INTRODUCED. HE CLAIMED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD EXCLUDED CIVIL SOCIETY FROM THE PANEL SET UP TO DRAFT THE JAN LOKPAL BILL, AND IMPLIED THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS TO BE ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE – SHARAD PAWAR – MIGHT BE UNSUITABLE FOR THAT ROLE BECAUSE OF HIS LARGE LANDHOLDINGS. KIRAN BEDI AND SWAMI AGNIVESH VOICED THEIR SUPPORT FOR HAZARE. 5 APRIL 2011: PROTESTERS HAVE COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF ANNA HAZARE THAT THE GOVERNMENT ENACT A BILL HAD ATTRACTED BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 SIGNATURES BETWEEN 3 AND 5 APRIL. HAZARE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH IAC, A GROUP ESTABLISHED BY VARIOUS PROMINENT ACTIVISTS WITH THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ACHIEVING THE LEGAL ENACTMENT AND SUBSEQUENT ENFORCEMENT OF A STRONG VERSION OF THE JAN LOKPAL BILL.[135] 7 APRIL 2011 PROTESTS HAVE CONTINUED AS THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO OFFER BETTER TERMS TO THE ACTIVISTS 1] LOK AYUKTA • INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION • RIGHT TO PUBLIC SERVICES LEGISLATION • SOCIO-ECONOMIC ISSUES IN INDIA • LIST OF SCANDALS IN INDIA • CORRUPTION IN INDIA • CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX • LICENCE RAJ • MAFIA RAJ • RENT SEEKING • UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION • CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX • INTERNATIONAL ASSET RECOVERY • 2013 SAVE RTI MOVEMENT IN INDIA 24) KEJRIWALS ARREST ON MAY 21st TO MAY 23rd IS BRINGING BACK THE SAME RESULTS AS THAT OF ANTI-CORRUPT[ON BILL ON JANLOKPAK AMONGST THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT LARGE ESPECIALLY OF DELHI, PUNJAB, & THE AAPIANS. 25) THE COURT RECORDED THE STATEMENT OF GADKARI AND TWO OTHER WITNESSES. THE COMPLAINT SAID THAT ON JANUARY 31, KEJRIWAL HAS DELIBERATELY RELEASED THE LIST OFINDIAS MOST CORRUPT PEOPLE MENTIONING HIS (GADKARIS) NAME IN A GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER.KEJRIWAL HAS DELIBERATELY TRIED TO MALIGN (GADKARIS) IMAGE THOUGH HE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY WRONGFUL OR CORRUPT ACT, THE COMPLAINT STATED, REQUESTING THE COURT TO ACT AGAINST THE AAP CHIEF AND PROSECUTE HIM FOR DEFAMING THE FORMER BJP PRESIDENT.GADKARI TOLD THE COURT THAT THE FALSE, BASELESS, SCANDALOUS, AND DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AND NEWS ITEMS BY KEJRIWAL AGAINST HIM HAVE BEEN WIDELY PUBLISHED, CIRCULATED AND READ BY PUBLIC AT LARGE AND HAVE LOWERED HIS DIGNITY IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC.HE HAD ADDED THAT SUCH DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS WERE MADE WITH ULTERIOR MOTIVE AND WRONGFUL INTENT TO MALIGN AND TARNISH HIS IMAGE.BEING THEN A CHIEF MINISTER, KEJRIWAL FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE POST BY MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT AGAINST A RESPONSIBLE AND HIGHLY RESPECTED PUBLIC FIGURE, THE PETITION SAID, FILED BY COUNSEL AJAY DIGPAUL.HE ADDED THAT THE ACT WAS DONE WITH INTENTION TO HARM THE REPUTATION OF GADKARI, WHICH WOULD HELP KEJRIWAL TO ADVANCE HIS POLITICAL AGENDA AND GAIN MEDIA ATTENTION. THE COMPLAINANT ALSO MENTIONED THE NAME OF ASHUTOSH, NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON OF AAP, FOR REITERATING KEJRIWALS STATEMENT WITHOUT VERIFYING THE CORRECTNESS OF ALLEGATIONS, IANS ADDS. FOR MORE NEWS ON twitter @indiatoday AND ON FACEBOOK AT facebook/indiatoday. FOR NEWS AND VIDEOS IN HINDI, GO TO AAJTAK.IN. ताज़ातरीन ख़बरों और वीडियो के लिए आजतक.इन पर आएं. READ MORE AT: indiatoday.intoday.in/story/arvind-kejriwal-arrested-in-defamation-case/1/362908.html PATIALA HOUSE COURT ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 SENT AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP) LEADER AND FORMER DELHI CHIEF MINISTER ARVIND KEJRIWAL TO TIHAR JAIL ON MAY 21, TILL MAY 23.
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 04:20:03 +0000
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