Itself the outcome of a bottom-up movement, the Jan Lokpal bill ironically proposes a centralised framework against graft. Without checks and balances. There was never any doubt that India needs a strong Lokpal Act. The protest has paved the way for its enactment. With the exultation over the anti-corruption campaign’s ‘victory’ quieting down, it’s time to take stock. Nuanced arguments—and indeed substance—have to recover lost ground to take the discourse...
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Akhil released after ‘arrest’
Peasant leader and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi’s long drawn campaign against corruption reached a crescendo today with police detaining him for violating Section 144 while taking out a procession in support of Anna Hazare’s movement for the new Lok Pal Bill. He was later released. Hundreds of people spilled onto the streets of Assam, particularly in Upper Assam, today after police detained the RTI activist. Akhil was first stopped in the middle...
More »RTI activist held for code violation
RTI activist and leader of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Akhil Gogoi, along with some of his associates, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly violating Section 144 Cr.PC and his press meet stopped under the Representation of the People Act. Kamrup (Metro) Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Chowdhury said Mr. Gogoi was detained for violating Section 144 Cr.PC after he and his associates gathered at Dighalipukhuri area to take out a...
More »Lokpal Bill: United in opposition, civil society a divided lot by Manoj Mitta
Though civil society has rejected the official Lokpal Bill with almost one voice, the confabulations in the run-up to Anna Hazare's hunger strike have brought out differences within activists on the alternative Jan Lokpal Bill. The differences had come to light at the two meetings held on April 3 and 4 to examine the provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill espoused by Hazare, who began his fast unto death on April...
More »On day Anna Hazare begins fast, NAC too calls for lokpal debate
Advocating larger consultations on the Lokpal Bill, National Advisory Council (NAC) members Aruna Roy and Harsh Mander on Tuesday said there was need for wider and more geographically spread discussion than had been done before. The statement came on a day when social activist Anna Hazare went on fast in support of a stringent Lokpal Bill. The NAC working group on transparency, accountability and governance headed by Aruna Roy, which met...
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