What happened at Assi ghat?

As I lay in the hospital with my friend Nandan on the bed beside me, the incidents in the past 24 hours criss-cross my mind. A cleanliness drive, an evening full of patriotic songs and then the visit to a shop to buy water is what has landed us in the hospital.

Nandan and Kavish had planned a Play4Change(street music walk) from Durga Kund to Assi Ghat so I decided to join them and we added an extra cleanliness drive prior to that. We went to Durga Kund with brooms and other campaign material, swept the place for about half an hour alongwith distributing pamphlets. After that we left for Assi Ghat in a group of about 15, singing kranti songs.

The walk ended at Assi ghat at about 8pm with Raghupati Raghaav Raja Ram. The atmosphere was so electric that even the crowd was singing with us. It was an excellent but physically draining campaign so after finishing we went towards a nearby tea shop to get some water. Others left while four of us, Nandan and Kavish, the two guitarists, Prabhat, a BHU student and I remained.

We bought water from a shop on the way out from Assi along with some biscuits. A few people came up to Nandan and me and started to talk about Arvind , the elections and started asking us some questions as both of us were wearing AAP caps. The same old usual questions! Why AAP resigned from power in Delhi. Why is Arvind fighting from Banaras. Etc.

3-4 people approached us and asked us to stop talking, remove AAP caps and move away from there. We refused to comply. Those people had #BJP badges so we asked them to sit down and talk to us, debate with us. Either prove their points or try to understand ours.

‘Banaras has been a land of debates and discussions, let’s sit down and debate. Let’s see who can convince the other.’ Nandan said to one of those guys. They didn’t sit.

‘It’s our own country man, are we not even allowed to stand and talk?’ I asked.

None of them replied but they went some distance and stood with their group which had about 15-20 people while we continued chatting with the people at the tea shop.

After few minutes a bigger group, maybe 7-8 of them came back again and threatened. They said, ‘It’ll be better for you people to leave otherwise things can turn bad.’

We said, 'What will you do? Beat us? If beating us solves the problem then beat us.'

One of them first hit Nandan straight on the nose and they went back to his group. Blood spewed from Nandan’s nose but he stood there only and said, ‘What kind of country is this becoming? People are not even prepared to listen to what others have to say? Is this the democracy we are so proud of?’

 'You hit us and run away and then call us Bhagoda,'I shouted. Then few of them came back and hit Nandan on the nose and me on the ear. Both of us were hit multiple times and Prabhat also got hit trying to save us. I lost my specs in the process.

Then those guys sat on their bikes and rode away while we stood there with folded hands asking if they wanted to hit us more. They ran away, we didn't. We took water from the tea shop and washed Nandan's nose which was bleeding profusely. Around 30 locals watched.

Later friends suggested that we get an FIR registered and medical examination (MLC) done which we did. The report shows that tendons in Nandan's nose have been damaged and my left ear drum has an internal blood clot. Doctors say my hearing won't be affected but there is serve pain and it will take almost a week for the ear drum to heal. Nandan's injury might take a bit longer. According to Doctor he was hit on nose with some metallic object.

The interesting part is that both the FIR and the MLC state that there we were not under the influence of alcohol. Still people like Mr Sambit Parta, who is a BJP spokesperson and several news channels have stated that we were drunk and then pissed in the Ganges due to which we were beaten up.

Well, one would have to salute the imagination of the person who came up with this argument. But at the same time I think this country has suffered enough due to such baseless rumor mongering . It’s an argument that can very easily polarize people in election season apart from harming  Nandan’s any my  personal and family reputation. What damage it will cause to the party is unfathomable.

I write this blog because I want to tell my side of the story, because I want the truth to come out. However, I don’t ask you to believe me blindly. Please verify with the FIR and MLC record. Please, please at least check if both of us consume alcohol or not. Please try and see through this façade of fake and polarizing propaganda being run by these people.

Being a Social Media person I know how rumor mills on Social Media work and how main stream media falls prey to it. I would request the main stream media to at least cross check and verify the facts when it comes to statements and arguments of this nature.

Written by Ankit Lal while lying on a hospital bed.

Remembering Santosh!

Two days ago while I was traveling to Kaushambi office from C.P. office in metro I got a call from Vikas saying that Santosh is critical and they are going to Fortis, Gurgaon. At first I couldn't believe him. Just a day ago Kiran had told me that Santosh was better and was responding very well to voice commands. But he said that Arvind had tweeted this and they were all on the way.

In next five minutes I received more calls from Aniket and few others. Everyone was on way to Gurgaon. The first thought on my mind was to get down immediately and board the metro to Gurgaon. But I could not. I had some donation cheques which I had to give at Kaushambi office and I had already made the person wait for more than an hour. So I went to Kaushambi, gave it to Bipul da and caught the metro to Gurgaon.

During the entire hour and a half journey flashes of incidents in past two and a half year kept criss-crossing my mind. I had met Santosh for the first time at Jantar Mantar in April 2011. Even at that time she was known to be a firebrand activist with the strength to call a spade a spade.

After April 2011 all of us worked for grass root mobilization and Santosh was the one who used to give us tips. She had far more knowledge about the ground scenario than any of us. While attending the weekly volunteer meetings of IAC she would narrate the experiences she had while fighting the rashan mafia. How she was attacked multiple times and how she made Sheila Dixit run away with her questions.

Then in August 2011, when Anna was arrested, she along with most others was on ground mobilizing people while I along with 10 others was underground, away from all the action, acting as part of the IAC communication channel. One incident I specifically remember is of 21st August. Anna was into the 6th day of his fast and despite of public support across the country there was no communication from the government and Anna's health had started to deteriorate.

Anna spoke from the stage and said that if these politicians won't listen to our demands then we'll take the fight to their doorsteps. Within an hour I got a call from someone saying that about 40 volunteers were at 7, Race course road, PM Manmohan Singh's residence. I went to Arvind, informed him and asked him if I could go. He said, "Go, but don't get arrested."

I left Ramlila ground and as I expected I found Santosh at the crossing of 7, RCR along with 40-50 others which included Arunima, Rolly, Arun, Bhupendra and many others. She was the one who had coordinated this effort and reached that far ditching the police. On seeing me she said, "Bhai, I'm going back to Ramlila ground to get more people, you be here."

That day was the first time anyone protested in front of PM house in the history of India's anti-corruption protest. All of us were detained and later released near Ramlila ground. The next day we went to then Finance Minsiter, Pranab Mukherjee's house and next day to that to Chidambaram's house in morning and Advani's house in evening. Santosh and few others were regular feature in all those protests.

In her own small way Santosh had made a difference. The places which were a strict no-no for protests started feeling susceptible and vulnerable. Even beefing up security measures and closing down metro stations had no effect.

Yes, it was Santosh who was trigger to this change!

In May 2012 when I and Prerna decided to get married, Santosh was one of the first people I informed.
On the day of my marriage after Arvind did Prerna's kanyadaan she said to me, "Bhai I wish I have a marriage like yours."
"Yours will be better," I replied.

That day I didn't know that fate had something else in store for her!

Then in December Damini rape case happened. Few know that Santosh and her youth team, which includes but is not limited to Vandana, Hitashi, Vikas, Ankit Sharma, Sarita, Sanjeev, etc. was one of the first to reach Vijay Chowk and lead the protests.

It's her firebrand style of protest which has inspired people across India. Santosh was not someone who would be afraid of the police and their canes and tear gas. She was one who would take it all head on, even if she was alone. And she taught that to many, I apart from Arvind and many others are her disciples in that field.

Then in April 2013 the candidate selection process for Delhi Assembly elections started. When the question of Seemapuri constituency cropped up many of us had only one name in mind, Santosh. But she was reluctant. She didn't think she would be that good as a politician and wanted to continue the life of a rebel, a protester. But finally we were able to convince her and as expected .

I still remember that evening at Swati and Neveen Jaihind's house. It was a small get together and Santosh said to Swati, "It's very difficult. Earlier it was physical attacks but now they are trying to malign me. Saying that I charge people for their rashon." Swati consoled her, said, "Don't worry, you are worthy that's why you have been given ticket. You just do your work, that's the best answer to them."

Santosh continued with her campaign and then in 2nd week of June I got a call from Kumar bhai, asking where I was. I told him that I was at Kaushambi office to which he said. "Santosh is coming there. She has lost her phone and Arvind has asked me get a new phone. Come to me with her and then get her a mobile. I'll give the cash to you and you get her a phone."

Santosh came with Abid and we went to Kumar's home in Aditya's car. We sat for some time and then Kumar said, "I'm giving you the money, go and take a mobile. How much money should I give."
"If you are coming along then it's Ok otherwise I'm leaving," replied Santosh.

Kumar accompanied us to the mobile shop and got a mobile for her. The mobile shop owner was himself surprised that Kumar came to take a mobile for someone. Kumar replied pointing towards Santosh, "She's my MLA, who will I get a mobile for if not her?"

We bought a Samsung mobile of Santosh's choice and walked out of the shop. Then Kumar asked, "You could have taken this with Ankit, why did you call me?"

Santosh didn't answer straight forwardly which was against her nature. I was surprised as this is not how she was. I also insisted, "Yes, tell us, what's the matter?"

"Bhaiya the local MLA's aides have threatening me," Santosh replied to Kumar.

"Don't worry, the most they can do is that they'll not let you win, what else can they do?" Kumar replied.

"No, they have said they will kill me," Santosh replied nonchalantly.

We didn't say anything and changed the topic and then left soon-after.

After almost two weeks she met with an accident while coming to Kaushambi office. Soon after she crossed into U.P., the bike she was traveling on was hit by a car from behind. Santosh sustained severe head injuries while the person driving the bike, Kuldeep, suffered injuries in his hands and one of his legs.

She was brought to nearby Yashoda hospital by passers by and I being nearby reached within 10 minutes of the accident. Her situation was critical but the doctors Dr. Atul Gupta, Dr. Naresh Gupta and Dr. Vipin Mittal worked hard and made her survive. The golden hour, i.e. the first hour after the accident was utilized very effectively and she was operated within the first hour. This helped in Santosh's immediate survival after the accident.

After three days we shifted her to a bigger hospital for better care but finally after 37 days of struggle Santosh left us, leaving many questions unanswered.

Santosh may have left us but many questions remain. Her dreams are still unfulfilled and it is now upon us to bring her dreams to reality.

She may have left us but her memories will always be with us.

One year of the Janlokpal movement: What have we achieved?

On 5th of April 2011 for the first time I left the comfort of my home and participated in a demonstration. Strangely, I was not the only one. The day of 5th April 2011 is a major milestone in the history of anti-corruption movement in this country as it was the first time when the anger against graft actually spilled on to the streets.

A year has passed since that day and in this past year the people participating in this movement have gone through much and learnt many lessons. Few of them too tough to digest. But still, if today, I pause for a second and look back at the year that has gone by, I will still find many reasons to be happy and hopeful.

Happy, because now I know that there are not one or two, but millions of Indians like me who dream of a better India. Hopeful, because this movement has brought many of these onto the same platform.

Happy, because even if we have not achieved Janlokpal, this movement has brought attention to the issue of corruption. The same people who used to say that graft has penetrated the DNA of India and nothing is possible now say that may be, the movement is on the right path. Hopeful, because at least now, the youth of India has started to take interest in what is going on in our country. At least a chunk has moved from being unconcerned to being participants in this movement against corruption.

Happy, because few years down the line I would be able to tell my daughter or son that I was a part of the movement against corruption. Hopeful, because I know that if we keep trying like we have doing in the past one year, my children might be born in a better India.

However the last one year in this movement has also taught me that those in power will stoop to any level to silence the ones, who voice their discomfort over the current status of things. It has taught me that they will make promises and commitments only to backtrack later on. It has taught me that they will not leave any stone un-turned to defame the anti-corruption movement and it's faces.

Despite, of all these, I am hopeful. I believe that some day soon we will be able to achieve 'Swaraj' as envisioned by Anna and Arvind. This hope is not based merely on dreams, but also because I see the kind of effort these people put in and how firmly they believe in the decentralization of power that they talk about.

The coming year will be crucial for the future of this movement. It may very well shape the future of this country. All we need to do is have faith and work continuously towards what we had set to achieve a year ago.

शीर्षक की तलाश जारी है...

यह हिंदी में लिखने का पिछले कई सालों में मेरा पहला प्रयास है, अतः अगर गलतियाँ हों तो उनके लिए मैं पहले ही क्षमा मांगता हूँ.

सामान्यतः मेरे दिन काफी आराम से एक एयर-कनडीशन्ड कमरे में व्यतीत होता है और मैं जिन लोगों से बातचीत करता हूँ वो ज्यादातर या तो software engineer होते हैं, लेखक होते हैं अथवा अन्ना के आन्दोलन से जुड़े हुए आन्दोलनकारी होते हैं (और अगर आप इन प्रजातियों से परिचित होंगे, तो आप ये भी जानते होंगे कि इन तीनो में से कोई भी सामान्य इंसानों की श्रेणी में नहीं आते)|

कल का मेरा दिन थोड़ा अलग रहा|

प्रथम तो कल का दिन काफी भाग दौड़ भरा रहा. परन्तु मुख्य बात ये रही कि कल मेरा दिमाग रह रहकर एक ही घटना कि तरफ बार बार मुड़ जा रहा था.

मेरे दिमाग में एक ही वाक्य गूँज रहा था, 'हम जैसों के लिए कोई कुछ नहीं सोचता इस देश में.'

वाकिया बहुत ही सामान्य है जो शायद आपमें से भी कई लोगों के साथ घटा होगा.

मुझे कुछ प्रिंट लेने थे तो मैं तैयार होकर घर से निकला और मेरे घर के पड़ोस में एक साइबर कैफे चलाने वाले ६०-६५ वर्षीय व्यक्ति, जिनका मैं नाम तो नहीं जनता परन्तु मिलता अक्सर हूँ और अंकल कहता हूँ, की दुकान कि तरफ गया. मुझे अंदाजा था कि अब तक अंकल या तो आ चुके होंगे अथवा आ रहे होंगे. मैं अपने घर के सीढ़ियों से उतर कर जब उनकी दुकान कि तरफ मुड़ा तो देखा कि अंकल खड़े होकर एक रिक्शेवाले से झगड़ रहे हैं. यह शायद पहली बार था कि मैंने अंकल को किसी से इस प्रकार बात करते हुए देखा था.

मैं भी जाकर उन २-३ लोगों के साथ खड़ा हो गया जो कि अंकल और रिक्शेवाले के बीच का ये प्रातः कालीन प्रसारण देख रहे थे.

२-४ मिनट का वार्तालाप सुनने के बाद मुझे समझ आया की सारी बहसबाजी रिक्शेवाले द्वारा भाड़े से ५ Rs ज्यादा मांगे जाने को लेकर थी.

अंकल के पास खुले पैसे नहीं थे तो उन्होंने रिक्शेवाले को २० का नोट दिया और रिक्शेवाले से ५ रुपये वापस मांगे परन्तु रिक्शेवाले ने अपनी गरीबी और बढ़ी हुई महंगाई का हवाला देकर ५ रुपये वापस देने से मना कर दिया. अंकल का पारा चढ़ गया और वो आजकल की सामान्य मानसिकता के विपरीत ५ रुपये वापस लेने के लिए रिक्शेवाले से बहस करने लगे.

मेरी उम्मीद के विपरीत रिक्शेवाले ने ज्यादा बहस नहीं करी. जैसे ही उसे लगा की अंकल वाकई में गुस्सा हैं वो तुरंत जाकर बगल की परचून की दुकान से खुले पैसे ले आया और अपने रास्ते चलता बना, अपनी अगली सवारी खोजने. २-४ जो दर्शक थे वो भी अपने अपने काम पर वापस चले गए, बचे मैं और अंकल.

५ रुपये के उस सिक्के को, जो अंकल ने रिक्शेवाले से काफी जद्दोजहद के बाद लिया था, बड़ी शान से अपनी जेब में डाला और चेहरे पर ऐसी विजयी मुस्कान लिए हुए दुकान का शटर ऊपर उठाने लगे जैसे अभी अभी पानीपत की दूसरी लड़ाई जीत कर आ रहे हों. मुझे उम्मीद थी की वो खुद कुछ बोलेंगे परन्तु ऐसा हुआ नहीं. वो दुकान खोलते ही अपने रोज़मर्रा की झाड़ पोंछ में व्यस्त हो गए.

थोड़ी देर में प्रिंटर चालू कर के उन्होंने मुझे जो प्रिंट चाहिए थे वो निकाल के दे दिए. मैंने जब पैसे पूछे तो उन्होंने कहा, 'वही पुराना, ३ रुपये प्रति पेज.' मैं भी न जाने क्या सोच रहा था की मैं बोला, 'क्या अंकल, अब तो सब जगह २ रुपये रेट हो गया है. लक्ष्मी नगर में तो कुछ लोग ६० पैसे पेज के हिसाब से भी निकालते हैं.'

मुझे नहीं पता की मेरे शब्दों में ऐसी क्या चुभन थी, परन्तु अंकल बिलकुल से बिफ़र गए. 'तो जा कर करा लो लक्ष्मी नगर से. यहाँ क्यों आए?' मैं उनकी बात सुनकर थोड़ा विचलित हुआ, परन्तु पहला तो की मैं उनका अक्सरहां का ग्राहक था, दूसरा मुझे प्रिंट लेकर जल्दी निकलना भी था और सबसे बड़ी बात की वो उम्र में मुझसे काफी बड़े थे, इसलिए, मैंने उनसे कोई बहस करने की बजाय चुप रहना बेहतर समझा.

कुछ पलों तक ख़ामोशी रही, सिर्फ प्रिंटर की किर्र- कीं उस ख़ामोशी में सुनाई देती रही. फिर अंकल खुद ही बोले, 'जब मैंने ४ साल पहले ये दुकान चालू की थी तब इसका किराया २५०० रुपये था, आज हर वर्ष १०% के हिसाब से बढ़कर ४५०० रुपये हो गया है, अगली जुलाई में शायद ५००० रुपये हो जाये. जो रिक्शा वाला साल भर पहले १० रुपये में ख़ुशी- ख़ुशी आता था आज १५ में भी नहीं मानता, और आप कहते हो की सब २ रुपये ले रहे हैं. अरे, मेरी दुकान पे तो रेट आज भी वही हैं जो ३ साल पहले थे. मैं अपना घर कैसे चलाऊंगा? आटा, दाल, सब्जी, दूध सबके दाम इतने बढ़ चुके हैं यह तुम्हे पता ही है.' मैंने कोई जवाब नहीं दिया बस हूँ करके सर हिला दिया. अंकल ने आगे कहा, 'अमीरों को तो ज्यादा फर्क पड़ता नहीं महंगाई का और गरीबों के लिए सरकार इतनी साडी योजनायें चलती है. ये तो हम जैसे बीच में फंसे हुए लोग हैं जिनको कोई नहीं पूछता. हम जैसों के लिए कोई कुछ नहीं सोचता इस देश में.'

मैंने कुछ नहीं कहा, उनके पैसे दिए और अपने प्रिंट्स लेकर घर की तरफ चल दिया परन्तु अंकल की भावनाएं उनके अकेले की नहीं हैं. एक बहुत बड़ा तबका है भारत का, एक तबका जिसको 'मिडल क्लास' कहते हैं, कहीं ना कहीं अंकल की आवाज़ उस पूरे मिडल क्लास की आवाज़ है, कहीं ना कहीं अंकल का गुस्सा उस पूरे मिडल क्लास का गुस्सा है, कहीं ना कहीं अंकल की बेचैनी उस पूरे मिडल क्लास की बेचैनी है.

शायद यही वजह रही की जब अन्ना हज़ारे नाम के एक बूढ़े फ़कीर भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ उठा तो उसको इतना समर्थन मिला. यही गुस्सा, यही बेचैनी कहीं न कहीं अन्ना के आन्दोलन में आये हुए लोगों में भी दिखी. बहुत कम लोग अप्रैल में अन्ना को जानते थे. जो जनता जंतर मंतर पर थी वो वहाँ अन्ना के लिए या किसी पार्टी विशेष के विरोध में वहाँ नहीं थी, वो खुद के लिए वहाँ गयी थी.

हालाकि अगस्त में रामलीला मैदान में और उसके पहले तिहाड़ और छत्रसाल स्टेडियम में जो हुआ उसमें जरुर अन्ना के लिए समर्थन भी था और एक पार्टी विशेष के खिलाफ गुस्सा भी. और ये सिर्फ इसलिए नहीं हुआ की अन्ना ने जनता पर कोई जादू कर दिया, उन्होंने बस वो मुद्दा उठाया जो की मेरे और अंकल और उस रिक्शावाले, तीनो की ही ज़िन्दगी से जुड़ा हुआ है. उनका तरीका भी विरोधी पार्टियों द्वारा सामान्यतः की जाने वाली रैलीयों से भिन्न था. न कोई आगजनी, न तोड़फोड़, न भड़काऊ भाषण. जंतर मंतर या रामलीला मैदान पर एक समाधान की बात हो रही थी, न कि समस्याओं के बारे में बात करके वोट लेने की कोशिश.

हालाकि, सरकार ने जिस तरह से इस आन्दोलन को दबाने, तथा इससे जुड़े लोगों को बदनाम करने कि कोशिश करी, एक बात तो साफ़ हो चुकी है, कि सरकार कि मंशा साफ़ नहीं है. शायद वक़्त आ गया है कि फिर से ऑफिस के बाद मैं अन्ना के आन्दोलन में भागीदारी के लिए वक़्त निकालूँ. शायद वक़्त आ गया है कि मैं ऑफिस में बैठकर भी इस आन्दोलन में जैसे भी संभव हो विअसे अपना योगदान दूँ. शायद वक़्त आ गया है कि एक साल पूरा कर चुके इस आन्दोलन को सही मुकाम पर पहंचाया जाये. शायद इस बार मैं २-४ और लोगों को अपने साथ लेकर भी जाऊंगा. अब वक़्त आ गया है कि मेरे और अंकल जैसे लोग घर या दुकान या ऑफिस में बैठ कर चाय कि चुस्कियां लेते हुए अपने नेतागणों के घोटालों पर चर्चा करने कि बजाय कुछ करें. क्यूंकि मुझे अच्छी तरह ये पता है कि अगर आज अन्ना हार गए, और उनका आन्दोलन दबा दिया गया तो अगले ५० सालों तक इस देश कि युवा पीढ़ी कुछ बोलने कि हिम्मत नहीं करेगी.

Digvijay and his antics to destroy the Anti-corruption movement

Every other morning we pick up the newspaper and we have come across some statement by Ex. Madhya Pradesh C.M. and Congress leader Sri Digvijay Singh. Most of the times we discuss these comments as just blabber but if you see closely you will see what Mr. Singh is aiming for and has partly achieved success in doing.

At first he aimed guns at Baba Ramdev and with help of other party leaders destroyed Baba's movement as well as his reputation. One day he praised Baba and the next day he called him a 'Thug' (Con). Soon after police forces flushed out around 50,000 peaceful protesters from Ramlila ground document after document started to tumble out of unknown sources. Baba's Ayurveda business, through which he has treated tens of thousands was targeted. His associate Bal Krishna was targeted. Donations to Baba were targeted. In all, he was pushed around and targeted until his anti Black money movement became secondary and giving explanation to the allegation became primary.

Then it was Anna Hazare's turn. The same Anna whom Digvijay has been photographed touching feet of became corrupt and RSS aligned overnight when his anti-corruption movement caught imagination of the country. Digvijay called Anna a mask of the RSS and BJP and even questioned Anna's decision making capability by saying that he is guided by others.

What did Digvijay Singh achieve by this?

Nothing, many would say.

But by making these allegations and forcing Anna and his team to explain things he did achieve something.

Digvijay made sure that all those people who had risen above party and other lines to take part in the anti-corruption movement once again got cut off with the movement. Digvijay made sure that even if the movement is against Congress for the time being (as it holds the power at the center) no RSS or BJP aligned person takes part in it. Not even to get his head counted in the crowd.

Isn't that a loss for the movement? It is a big loss I would say.

In the same way when after April's fast of Anna some property tax evasion charges were leveled against the Bhushan's by Digvijay Singh this time there have been charges against Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi. Like the last time when the tax notice miraculously appeared in Digvijay's hand this time also the whole file of travel expenses of Kiran Bedi somehow found it's way to office of a specific anti-movement newspaper. Co-incidence did anyone say?

Digvijay has nothing to lose. He knows that the way things are going the future of Congress is already dark due to the not-so-good deeds of it's leaders. And he has been successful to some extent I would say.

However this is not the first time when some Government is going after people who have shown the resolve to stand against it. The same happened to all the people involved in Tehelka sting operation. All of them were hunted down and their professional lives destroyed.

Now Digvijay has turned his mouth-canon towards Sri Sri Ravishankar. A mistake I would say because Anna and his team are not down and out yet. May be it is the single biggest mistake that Digvijay has made in this game of politics that he is playing. It might prove very tough for him to deal with two equally influential and morally strong anti-corruption groups at the same time.

Mr. Singh, may be this time you bit more than you can swallow! The people of India may not prove to be as foolish as you make them out to be. Come elections and you and your party will get a fitting reply.

31 excuses for not passing Janlokpal bill!

These are few of the excuses that I have compiled over the past few days given by various groups and individuals against Jan Lokpal bill.

Excuse no. 1 : Team Anna did not win elections... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 2 : I hate Pakistan but I am not bothered about a corrupt Central govt... So no anti -corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 3 : Kiran Bedi did not fly business class ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 4 : Anna Hazare has a lot of support from the masses ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 5 : Everybody is corrupt... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 6 : One bill won’t eliminate corruption from the world... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 7 : You speaking politely... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 8 : People can have different opinions ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 9 : Dr. Swamy is a liar .. So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 10 : Bhushan wants a plebiscite in Kashmir .. So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 11 : God exists ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 12: You are neither with BJP nor with Congress ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 13: Manmohan Singh does not have a magic wand... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 14: India will be divided if an anti-corruption Bill is passed. ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no. 15: Congress has expelled people in the past ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no.16: RSS is anti-Muslim ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no.17: I am smarter than you... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no.18: India is not Europe... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 19: Rihana tik toks rafel... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 20: Rahul Gandhi has no experience ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 21: In Gujrat Modi got Muslims killed .. So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 22: Kiran bedi thinks we all are stupid ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 23: You know everything about Congress... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 24: You know everything about everything... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 25: BJP & RSS will become above the law ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 26: 2G Scam and CWG Scam does not matter ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 27: Everybody should respect the PM ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 28: Raja and Kalmadi were sent to jail by the HC ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 29: I am terrified of the RSS because of the stories I have been told ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 30: I don't care about the details nor do I understand Indian Law ... So no anti corruption Bill!

Excuse no 31: BJP is also corrupt.. So no anti corruption Bill!

So what's your excuse?

Five days under the auspices of Anna: Day IV

I was woken up at 6am by Manoj as he had to leave for his home. I got up, washed my face and went inside the ward. Two of the patients were asleep while Rampal Singh ji was awake and needed to be escorted to the bathroom. I asked Manoj to wait till I am back after helping Rampal ji and he sat down arranging the various blood reports, X-Ray and ECG reports while I escorted Rampal ji to the bathroom.

As expected in a government hospital the bathroom was in a really patheic condition. The Indian style pot was overflowing with shit and the taps were all broken and the bathroom floor was really slippery. Thankfully though one of the toilets was cleaner than the other overflowing one and Rampal ji used it.

I helped him back to the bed and Manoj left detailing me about the various medicines and reports. Soon O.S. Chauhan ji also woke up and I helped him also to the toilet. While coming back he asked me if there was anything I could do about the pathetic level of cleanliness in the hospital.

Well, now that he had asked I was bound to do something.

People say that there is a certain psychological condition called the activist syndrome in which people who are normally just average start behaving in a much better than average manner after becoming part of something noble. I experience the same thing that day. I went searching for the janitor throughout the floor and finally found the janitor room with three or four of them wearing dark blue uniforms chatting with each other and smoking bidi (hardly 50 yards from patient ward and well inside the premises).

I ignored the smoke and informed them about the condition of the toilet and asked them when they would clean it up. 'It was supposed to be done by people in night shift, we have just came on duty.' One of them replied.

'Does that mean that the toilet would remain the same way till the night duty guy comes and cleans it up?' I asked a bit unnerved by their reply.

'Go and complain the sister about us if you want to.' One of them said nonchalantly.

I came out of the room and soon found my way to the sister and complained her about it. I had hardly finished when three of the janitors came into the room trying to overhear the conversation. When it occurred to them that I was indeed talking about them they intervened and said, 'Clean it yourself if you are so desperate to get it clean.'

'Oh really? Tell me where's the bucket and broom, I'll do it myself.' I said with the activist syndrome having taken me over completely.

The sister and the janitors looked at me as if I were a ghost. I on the other hand knew for sure that this is what Anna would have done had he been at my place. The janitors quickly left saying that they would go and clean up the bathroom and I walked back to the ward with a satisfied smile on my face. Indeed I had been bitten by the activist bug, there was no turning back now.

I went back to the ward and informed O.S. Chauhan ji that the bathroom will be cleaned up soon and he gave a satisfied and victorious smile, may be his first in the last eight hours since I had been with him. Then the doctor came on a visit and asked me to get ECG of all the three patients done and also ordered them to be shifted to some other ward after the ECG's were done.

One by one the ECG of all the three was done and by the time we finished with that it was 7:30 in the morning and when we asked a sister for newspaper as we wanted to read about Anna's fast we were told that the hospital did not provide newspapers though I could get one from the vendor outside the main gate.

I went to the main gate and got the Hindi 'Dainik Jagran' as well as English 'Times of India' newspapers. In TOI O.S. Chauhan's picture was there on one of the inner pages taken at the time when he was being carried to the ambulance. In both the newspapers there were pages full of news about the movement and all of us were missing being at Jantar Mantar. Rather it was the anshankari's who were missing it more than I was. I was there by choice but they were there due to the doctor's decision to send them to the hospital.

At about 10:00 am they were shifted to a third floor ward by the ward boys with a bit of help from me. All three of them were better than they had been in the night and they repeatedly asked the doctor if they could be discharged so that they could go back to Jantar Mantar. The doctor replied, 'I won't stop you from going but i won't sign your discharge slip either.'

Apurva, the volunteer who was supposed to carry on the good work after I leave arrived at about 11am when I was on phone with my father trying to explain to him that I was not at Jantar Mantar as he expected but was at home studying for my upcoming GRE. I was in no mood of listening to a lecture from him or mom as to why I should keep away from the movement and how it would dent my chances of getting a US visa. I had moved above all that in the last two days. I left for home soon after explaining Apurva about the medicines and the test reports of the three patients and also requested the ward boys and sisters to keep an eye on them.

I reached home at 12:30 and slept as soon as I got in the bed. When I woke up it was about 4:00 in the evening, much after the two hours I had planned while going to sleep and took a bath, got ready and rushed to Jantar Mantar as soon as I could.

I reached Jantar Mantar crossing by 5:30 but even before I could cross the barricades I came across two of our volunteers who were going to Chawri Bazar as the market association there had promised us 2000 pamphlets. It was 7:30 by the time we returned with the pamphlets and the 'Shor Karo' march in which we were supposed to bring a plate and spoon from our homes and beat them to make noise had left for India gate from where they were to come back to Jantar Mantar. The logic behind 'Shor Karo' was, 'In order to make the deaf hear you ought to make lots of noise' (Something said by Bhagat Singh when he threw a bomb in the assembly).

I had also got a plate and a spoon in my bag with me but I had got late so I decided to stay at Jantar Mantar and look after the things rather than rushing to India Gate only to rush back to Jantar mantar again. The Assamese friend of mine who was here the day before also joined me in the evening after finishing with her office.

At about 8:30pm I received a SMS from a friend of mine in Bhopal saying that the government had accepted all our demands. I was surprised as no such announcement had been made from the stage. I rushed to Prahlad and gave the news to him. He replied, 'Yes, they have agreed but the kind of people they are it is very hard to believe on their words.'

Half an hour later it was announced from the stage, 'The government has agreed to our demands but Anna wants to think over it and only after that he will declare his decision. As of now the fast is not over.'

The news of the government agreeing to our demands filled all of us with new energy and zeal and the next hour was all about dancing and singing. Have you ever seen youngsters singing 'Raghu pati raghav raja ram?' or 'Ye desh hai veer jawanon ka?' Well, I hadn't but that day I saw as well did the same. In a country where if you hoist the national flag apart from 26th January, 15th August or cricket match people give you strange looks that was indeed a big change. Soon it was announced that Anna and others would break their fast at 10:00am next day and Anna agreed to that only after the government agreed to issue a gazette notifying the formation of a drafting committee for the Jan lokpal bill.

I left Jantar Mantar at 10:30 in night and met many fellow volunteers at Rajiv Chowk metro startion. Most of them I didn't know nor had seen at Jantar Mantar but we recognised each other by the yellow batch we were wearing proudly and everyone of us was congratulating everyone else. After leaving my friend at her hostel I reached home at about 12:00 in night and went to bed with the determination to reach Jantar Mantar as soon as possible in the morning.