21:44
Historic day for India and Parliament any which way you see it. Anna Hazare will end his fast at 10 am tomorrow. Join us then for all the news as it happens. And yes, ponder this tweet: 74 year old Anna,13 days of Fasting, 545 MPs, 1.2 billion people,1 country.Good night.
21:39
We hope you watched the Lok Sabha proceedings today because it will be long time before the Parliament will be such a beautiful showcase of eloquence in speech and thought. Anyway, Pranab Mukherjee, while concluding the essence of the resolution made a slip: he said the Jan Lokpal resolution has...
21:29
Mani Shankar Aiyar says it is the restoration of democracy from mobocracy.
21:28
Anna appeals to supporters to ensure victory celebrations are non-violent.
21:25
Ironic moment as Vilasrao Deshmukh, tainted in the Adarsh scam and Sandeep Dikshit, son of Sheila Dikshit whose government stands indicted by CAG on CWG, conveys the PM's letter to Anna. But in the moment of people's victory, some things are overlooked, we guess.
21:19
Anna says, this is only won half the battle. Drama at Ramlila as Anna and team, Vilasrao and Dikshit sing the National anthem on the stage. Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki jai chants follow.
21:15
Anna says its a victory of the people. For 12 days, all through the day and the night, its the people who have stood by us.
21:12
Arvind Kejriwal gives the vote of thanks. Anna speaks. Says all three conditions have been accepted by Parliament and thanks all Parliamentarians.
21:10
Government interlocutor Vilasrao Deshmukh reading out the PM's letter at Ramlila. He now hands over the letter to Anna Hazare. Kodak moment.
21:08
Justice Hegde says he is sappointed, nobody has understood the situation Remember, Hegde, who was the Karnataka Lokayukta, and part of the Jan Lokpal draft has been adamant that Anna end his fast.
21:05
Chairman of the standing committee, Abhishek Manu Sanghvi says it's a win-win situation for both Parliament and people.
20:57
PM says: Parliament has spoken, will of Parliament is will of the people.
20:53
Just in: Vilasrao Deshmukh, Sandeep Dikshit leave for Ramlila Ground to hand over PM Manmohan Singh's letter to Anna Hazare.
20:47
We all know both Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley are fantastic orators, but read Firstpost.com's take on the difference between the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Sushma the populist versus Jaitley the statesman
20:44
Medha Patkar, possibly the only sour note, on a day of victory for civil society, democracy and Parliament, says the movement will continue, though Anna will end his fast tomorrow at 10 am. Just after the resolution was passed without a vote, Patkar accused the government of part...
20:38
RPN Singh, MoS Petroleum says if the house was unanimous in passing the resolution, there is no need for a vote. Nobody abstained, nobody disagreed.
20:34
At Ramlila grounds, it's a sense of achievement, a historical moment for India (irrespective of whether you agree with Anna's methods and methodology). Bhajans playing in the background...
20:33
Here's a very interesting site that will tell you about the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha. Read
20:31
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned as well after taking a sense of the resolution.What that means is Parliament has agreed to Anna's demands. Hazare will end his fast tomorrow.What thumping of desk means is that it conveys vote and sense of support.
20:19
Quick takes...Lokpal resolution adopted in the Lok Sabha Resolution accepts Anna's three demands, with riders Resolution adopted by desk thumping Government stands its ground, no voice vote in Parliament 'Sense of the resolution' will now be sent to Anna Hazare by the Speaker. Vilasrao Deshmukh...
20:13
The PM now speaking in the Rajya Sabha after Pranab Mukherjee. Presumably, RS will be adjourned as well, after the PM is done.
20:12
Historic day in Parliament, not just for Lokpal resolution, but also because all MPs across party lines came together to make sure it happened. And some eloquent speeches by Varun Gandhi, Sharad Yadav, Sushma Swaraj.
20:09
The 'Sense of the House' is to be conveyed to Anna Hazare shortly through Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
20:07
The unanimous resolution in the Lok Sabha, moved by Pranab Mukherjee reads: This House agrees 'in principle' on following issues - (i) citizen charter, (ii) lower bureaucracy under Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism, and (iii) establishment of Lokayukta in the states; And further resolves to...
20:06
Pranab Mukherjee is now speaking in the Rajya Sabha
20:05
There has been no vote today because under Rule 182, there can be no vote and the discussion was initiated under this rule.
19:58
Basically, the LS adjourns for the day with a sense of what the resolution says agreeing to Anna Hazare's demands.
19:57
That was Pranab Mukherjee reading out the provisions of the resolution. The voice vote has not taken place and the Lok Sabha has been adjourned.The three points... Lokayuktas in states, Citizens charter and Lower bureaucracy in Lokpal -- part of Anna's demands were read out by Pranab.
19:51
Pranab: No need to withdraw the government's version of the bill. The Standing Committee is free to make changes in the government's Bill. Pranab gets emotional saying he could never be here if it wasn't for the contribution of the Constitution of India. It is our responsibiltity to abide by...
19:47
Pranab: Parliament to adopt Anna's three resolutions shortly. Saying he does not have a problem if MPs feel the government has bungled on Anna, the finance minister gives Parliament a rundown of what happened from August 16, the day Anna went on fast and was arrested and jailed.
19:39
Kiran Bedi on Twitter: Congratulations and thank you Delhi Police CP. He showed total respect for Anna's movement once it took off at Ramlila.Bedi begins her bye-byes...
19:38
Pranab says 27 MPs have spoken and many others want to speak, but there are constraints of time. Based on this somebody has to take an important decision.
19:37
FYI: A Rajya Sabha member today gave a notice to its Chairman for initiating priviledge proceedings against actor Om Puri for allegedly decrying MPs while making a speech at the Ramlila Maidan yesterday. He said members of most of the poliical parties raised this issue and demanded action against...
19:35
Pranab Mukherjee speaks in Lok Sabha. Is this the end of the LS debate since Pranab is now replying to the debate and the Speaker is back in the chair.
19:30
Another tweet from Kiran Bedi: Team Anna thanks all who fought alongside in thought word deed. Also wish to regret any inconvienience or hurt caused during this mission.
19:29
NDTV says that the text of the resolution on Anna's demands has changed after telecom minister Kapil Sibal opposed Anna's demand for resolution and vote. Confirming the DNA report and our earlier post (19:22), Kiran Bedi tweets: Anna is known to have never broken his fast after sunset....
19:23
A report in the DNA says that Anna Hazare will break his fast anytime from 9am to 11am tomorrow.
19:22
Update on the resolution...Parliament has decided that the resolution will be moved by Pranab Mukherjee. The wording of the resolution was worked out with the Opposition. Sources said the resolution mentions all the three demands of Anna Hazare, namely Citizens' Charter, Lokayukta in states and...
19:09
The debate in the Lok Sabha has been extended till 8pm. When Lalu Prasad Yadav was speaking at around 5.20 pm, there were 22 MPs yet to speak.
19:03
Meanwhile, read, the Lokpal debate from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective on Kafila.org
19:00
Varun's speech ends and it's back to updates from Ramlila. Dr Naresh Trehan says Anna has lost 7.5 kilos in the last 12 days and is much weaker, but his condition is stable. His vital parameters will be monitered every hour and suggests that Anna should hospitalised the moment the fast ends.
18:53
Complete hush in Parliament as Varun speaks. Extremely eloquent, well thought out and well worded...
18:52
Back to Varun in Parliament: The entire system is one of policing. It is clear from the people on the street that the system has failed us. Anna wants an independent ombudsman. Why should we think that an independent ombudsman will gobble us up!
18:48
Medha Patkar says the Parliament has agreed to the three sticking points. So while fast is still on, since Anna has to see the wordings of the draft. Basically, Medha is briefing the people of what has been happening in Parliament through the afternoon.
18:46
Back at Ramlila, Anna Hazare stands up to speak. Chants of Vande Mataram.
18:45
Varun: It is our duty to reflect public opinion.
18:44
Varun: We must protect the privileges of the people. It is the people that must govern and rule, may be not through referendum.
18:44
Varun: We must stand here and speak as servants of the people. Parliament has shown the tremendous respect it has towards the people. A churning has taken place. It is a revolution. It has forced our hand to react. The nation looks to us for a solution, not semantics.
18:42
Varun: All of us have been passive observers. This movement has made the youth aware that they can be active participants of change. A manufactured divide has been brought about between Parliament and the people that we represent, which sets a dangerous precedent.
18:37
Varun Gandhi: It sits very heavy on my conscience that while we debate these issues, there is a 74 year old sitting quietly battling between life and death. The issues are not whether the bill is a perfect piece of legislation. No one legislation cannot be perfect. In the chair, is Sumitra Mahajan.
18:34
In the Lok Sabha, discussions continue. Varun Gandhi to speak.
18:12
The voice vote in Parliament is around 7 pm.
18:11
Read: Historian and the very eloquent Ramachandra Guha's opinion piece in the Telegraph, Kolkata today on how the nation's problems cannot be solved by a supercop.
18:09
Earlier in the day, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said that the proposal to make the Lokpal a constitutional body as suggested by the AICC general Secretary was yet another shield for not taking any action on the demand for the Bill. Karat said that she was surprised by the sudden proposal Rahul...
18:04
Once the resolution is passed, it will be taken Anna to see the wording, says Medha Patkar.
18:01
Back at Ramlila, team Anna says the Gandhian is ready to break his fast the moment the vote ends. The voice vote will first take place in the Rajya Sabha and then the Lok Sabha.Dr Naresh Trehan is attending to Hazare right now.
17:59
Lalu has finally ended his speech. Says that NGOs should also fall under the purview of the Lokpal, but judiciary must be kept out . Ironic that Lalu was once a member of Jayprakash Narayan's party. Now, he is tainted by the fodder scam and is in fact, speaking against Anna Hazare.
17:54
No time limit to Lalu's speech apparently. Says Anna Hazare is surrounded by self-centred people for selfish reasons.
17:50
Lalu takes a dig at actors supporting Hazare - Are filmstars going to teach us how to run this country now?!
17:49
Lalu: Gandhiji never said to gherao homes.
17:48
Lalu: (Tells media) We are creator of news and you are cursing us (Laughs). We are on our way to create history, I appeal to everyone, to participate and find a consensus. I appeal to Annaji to end his fast.
17:45
Lalu says Parliament and Constitution are supreme.
17:42
Vilasrao Deshmukh says he will show the resolution to Anna after the voting...
17:41
Lalu-leela on in Parliament. Meanwhile, read Irom Sharmila's heartfelt letter to Anna Hazare on IBN Live.
17:33
Lalu in Parliament says: Yeh Kajari-wa kaun hai? (Kejriwal)
17:30
Vilasrao Deshmukh says he is on his way meet Anna with the resolution. Well, team Anna has moved the goalpost yet again. Prashant Bhushan now says, says he is not happy with a voice vote because the idea is to show how each MP votes, which a voice vote will not do.
17:24
RJD chief Lalu says (on Anna Hazare): Sattar saal ka insaan, kya tanatan bola. Humein zaroor research karna chahiye ke Annaji ke anshan ka raaz kya hai. Watch him speak on our live feed
17:19
Laudable indeed that all parties in Parliament worked to ensure that the Lokpal logjam was solved. Remember, there are 22 more MPs left to speak in the Rajya Sabha, but right now in the Lok Sabha, Lalu Prasad Yadav speaks... Much laughter interrupts his speech.
17:16
That is what's come out from the meeting between the PM, Congress leaders and the Opposition. It will be a voice vote in Parliament. We told you earlier that the BJP had agreed to both the resolution and the vote. In fact, in an interview to NDTV early this afternoon, an angry Sushma...
17:11
Strange that the government still insists that the Adarsh tainted Vilasrao Deshmukh should be the mediator. Apparently, Vilasrao is in constant touch with team Anna. TV reports suggest that the government has in fact agreed to both a resolution and voting on the Lokpal issue. If Team Anna moves...
17:07
The PM's meeting with Sushma, Pranab, Vilasrao, Bansal still on...
16:59
Meanwhile, on the Hoot, read: Anna agitation - a non-stop reality show
16:56
Right now, the PM, Sushma Swaraj, Pranab Mukherjee and Vilasrao Deshmukh are in a meeting working on the wording of the resolution. The government is likely to bring the resolution after the discussions are over with in Parliament.
16:55
Endless round of meetings today.1. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee held several rounds of consultations with his senior colleagues including Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, Salman Khurshid, Pawan Bansal as alsowith Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and BJP veteran L K...
16:36
Omar Abdullah on Twitter: Another breakdown and just as everyone was counting down the minutes to the end of the fast. Can we stop playing chicken with a 74 yr old man's life!
16:34
Who said what in Parliament today...Pranab Mukherjee: The situation was moving out of hand and crisis had been created. Lawmakers should seize the moment and demonstrate the commitment in dealing with corruption which is gnawing at the vitals of our polity. Sushma Swaraj: History has given...
16:28
Quick takesPranab Mukherjee is meeting BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.Aamir, Raju Hirani speaking with Anna Hazare at Ramlila. Aamir said earlier that the Lokpal Bill was a process, and that the Parliament should debate it.
16:23
Kiran Bedi ask Aamir Khan: The next time something like this happens, will Bollywood sign up? Will Bollywood join us?Aamir: Tact and diplomacy personified says, All of India is with you. Whenever you need us, we will be with you.
16:20
Aamir Khan croons the peppy Mitwa number at Ramlila with Raju Hirani... Cheering and applause from the, we assume, enthralled crowd.
16:18
Aamir is done. Raju Hirani takes the stage. More importantly, Sushma Swaraj has said that the BJP is open to voting, if that's what Anna wants.She says there should be no confusion, the party is ready for a resolution and vote.Remember, yesterday, the BJP said it would not insist on voting.
16:12
Somewhere on the stage at Ramlila, is Aamir's comrade-in-arms, Raju Hirani. In comparison to Om Puri, Aamir Khan seem a very reasoned speaker.
16:09
Aamir: I request my MP, Priya Dutt, to please support the bill. Everyone should approach their MPs and ask them to support the bill.
16:07
Aamir: It is Annaji's 12th day on fast and I fear for his health. This struggle, this fight is a long one and should continue. Annaji's presence is required to lead the struggle. It is my request that Annaji end his fast today.
16:05
Aamir: We should thank Annaji for focussing on the issue of corruption. We hope the Parliament will debate the issue fully. How effective the bill will be, is another matter, but the aspirations, the struggle of the people is embodied in the passing of the bill.
16:03
Back at the Ramlila grounds, Aamir Khan takes the stage and addresses the crowd. Aamir says he supports the Jan Lokpal bill.
16:02
Here's a sense of what the draft sent out to all the Parliamentarians today says..-- That this house resolves through an appropriate law that an effective Lokpal & state Lokayukt be set up compatible to constitutional mechanism.-- Employees of state and centre are brought under the purview...
16:00
Shanti Bhushan says it's a mere statement without vote. Discussion won't help without voting. Why wasn't voting taken up under section 184?
15:54
Team Anna is back in attack mode. Arvind Kejriwal says: It is a clear case of betrayal. In the last four days, government has changed its stand thrice!
15:51
The government has circulated a draft to all political parties... It's now wait and watch.
15:49
Shanti Bhushan says Law minister Salman Khurshid showed Medha Patkar a resolution, but has now backtracked.
15:47
Mahtab's speech is over. Now, Anant Gete of the Shiv Sena in LS and Tiruchi Siva of the DMK in RS.
15:46
B Mahtab in the LS makes an impressive speech. Says : Allow corporates to fund elections but make it transparent; that will reduce black money. Cites international examples of ombudsman to show that the body is usually accountable to elected House, and is not a constitutional body....
15:38
Beleaguered Pranab Mukherjee is now holding another meeting after team Anna says a resolution on Lokpal without voting is unacceptable.
15:37
Anna Hazare's army at Ramlila can expect some cheer: Aamir Khan is expected at the grounds any time now.
15:33
In Rajya Sabha, Shivanand Tiwari of JD (U) speaking. Will he take the same stand as Sharad Yadav?
15:29
Government mediator Bhaiyyu Maharaj says no resolution to be considered by Parliament and the sense of the House will be conveyed to Hazare's team. The godman, favoured by both Vilasrao Deskhmukh and Anna Hazare, says we are getting the feel that the resolution will not be passed.
15:23
This is the consensus on the three sticking issues that the Parliament has basically arrived at today.Citizens charter: Five states have it; three more have proposed. talks of draft electronic service delivery bill, which addresses it. Lower bureaucracy. Agrees with principle, but...
15:18
Bhushan (outside Salman Khurshid's residence): We haven't got what we wanted. Government had led us to understand there will be a resolution, there will be voting.When asked if Anna is willing to accept the government's decision today, Bhushan says the decision is entirely Anna's. Remember, every...
15:13
Bhushan: If government is really serious, let them bring a motion.
15:13
OK, we are getting a little optimistic here. Prashant Bhushan is now saying: there would be a debate and sense of the house be conveyed to Annaji , this will not help.
15:08
First YouTube and now iPad. Kiran Bedi at Ramlila has been keeping Anna updated on the Parliamentary proceedings. She tweeted: Shown Anna ongoing proceeding in Parliament on IPad as he does not have a TV in his room. He smiled and said 'bahut achaa hai'.
15:06
Team Anna's meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has ended. At the meeting were Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and of course, Arvind Kejriwal. Senior Minister Farooq Abdullah of National Conference and Sharad Pawar of NCP also joined discussions with Mukherjee. Incidentally, Arun...
15:02
Yechury in Parl says the party has always wanted the PM under the ambit of the Lokpal.
15:01
The government has invited BJP leader Arun Jaitley to draft the resolution.
15:00
CPM leader Sitaram Yechury is speaking in Parliament now.
14:59
Kiran Bedi says Anna is very happy with the Parliament's decision (consensus between UPA and Opposition). People's unity has won.
14:58
Kiran Bedi had earlier tweeted: Nearing hopefully a historical destination. Keep your prayers going. Jai hind friends.
14:56
CNN IBN says the government has accepted all three sticking points that Anna had asked for with a few riders. This in effect means the fast should end today. The debate in Parliament is expected to conclude with the acceptance of Anna's three demands for a new Lokpal.
14:53
You should also know that the government has been working overtime today to get the draft of a resolution to be adopted by both houses of Parliament in place today. The resolution is the only way Anna Hazare is willing to break his fast, mandated over the last few days. Sources say Anna Hazare...
14:46
Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa says that Justice Santosh Hegde in Bengaluru said that he was hopeful that that Anna Hazare would break his fast today. A similar statement was also issued by spiritual Guru Shri Shri Ravishabkar who urged Anna Hazare to break his fast by 6 pm today. Sri sri also said...
14:39
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said history has given the House an opportunity to pass this legislation and it should not miss it by getting entangled in technicalities. Let us give this country an effective, strong, free andimpartial Lokpal, she said.Sandeep Dikshit (Cong) said the...
14:37
The tone of the debate was set by NDA Working President L K Advani who in his brief remarks appealed to the House to discuss the issue for the entire day but ensure that by evening the views of the House would reach Hazare.He felt that today's discussion would be fruitful only if Hazare heeds the...
14:35
Let's take you through what happened in the LS through the day.The Government and opposition today appeared to be on the same page in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Lokpal issue with both sides emphasising thatAnna Hazare should end his fast.A discussion in the House over the issue saw the...
14:33
Yadav says that Anna is an old person to take up agitation .. but I have from the beginning supported Annaji , he is an honest man, but only honesty is not enough
14:30
Sharad Yadav takes on Kiran Bedi for her enactment at Ramlila maidan yesterday. Bedi had wrapped a scarf around her head saying that is what the government looks like since it always wears a mask. Yadav asks the Lok Sabha what can Bedi possibly teach us. Pointing to Anna's criticism of...
14:28
Yadav says goli ka raaj nahin hai, boli ka raaj hai, behes ka, basically advising those who use uncivil language.
14:27
Extremely lively session in Parliament. Sharad Yadav JD(U) speaking. Says the country is being run by Parliamentary debates not TV debates and accuses Team Anna and supporters of misusing the national flag. He says he has asked Anna to call off his fast.
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