New Delhi: 8.50 pm: The Mumbai
police on Sunday registered a case against over 40 volunteers of India
Against Corruption (IAC) for unlawful assembly. A group of people led by
IAC city head Mayank Gandhi had gathered in suburban Andheri for
protest over coal block allocation issue for which they had not sought
permission, police said. According to police, the IAC volunteers were
carrying flags, placards and shouting slogans.
The party, however, welcomed the group's political agitation, saying there was nothing wrong in it. "We welcome their political agitation. There is nothing wrong about it. But, the fact remains that this attempt to target the opposition parties may dilute the war against corruption," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.
6.05 pm: Kiran Bedi, who skipped the protest orgainsed by the IAC on Sunday, said that the anti-corruption movement needs the support of the main Opposition party, the BJP.
"Why I did not attend the Rally today? I had informed the team my personal perspective, that we ought to focus on the ruling party as bracketing Opposition right now when they are already attacking the ruling party will in fact benefit only the party in power," she said.
"End of the day if we paint all black who will get us what the country needs now and in the near future? IAC cannot be an alternative overnight, it will take time. We have to get effective systems in place soon, where we need the prime opposition party," she added.
"I am being objective in this. I have no political affiliation, inclination or expectations. I want the movement to grow and reach the grass roots," she said.
5.35 pm: RJD chief Lalu Prasad said that the IAC just want to create problems. "People are frustrated. They should be dealt strictly. They just want to create problems," he said.
5.24 pm: Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that there is no opposition left in the country. "All parties hand in gloves with Congress," he tweeted.
4.58 pm: Former president APJ Abdul Kalam on Sunday said that every home in India should be corruption free. "All the two million homes in India should be corruption free, that's the best way. I will clean my house, you clean your house, so that country is free from corruption," he said.
4.01 pm: IAC member Sanjay Singh says that the protest is over for the day. "Today's protest is over. We will carry out more protests in the days ahead." He adds, "We will try to talk to Kiran Bedi. She is an integral part in the fight against corruption."
4:00 pm: Anna Hazare says that every political party is involved in coal corruption. "Be it the ruling party or the Opposition... every political party is involved in corruption... It's now for people to think what they want. Now they should elect individual with character and not parties," he adds.
3.11 pm: Arvind Kejriwal released by police. Prashant Bhushan and other IAC members still in detention at Parliament Street police station.
3.00 pm: Protests intensify. Protesters outnumber policemen.
2.10 pm: Activists break barricades, rush towards Prime Minister's residence.
1.59 pm: Tear gas shells, water cannon used on IAC protesters outside BJP President Nitin Gadkari's residence.
1.50 pm: IAC activists in Bhopal protest outside Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan's residence. Police indulge in lathicharge. Meanwhile, protests continue outside the residence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar and the residence of Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh in Raipur.
1.47 pm: Kiran Bedi yet to join IAC's protest
1.38 pm: Kejriwal says the entire country is with IAC. "This is people's anger against corruption, breaking all barriers. The movement has been converted into revolution from protest," he adds.
1.36 pm: IAC protesters held up outside Congress President Sonia Gandhi's house.
1.19 pm: Kejriwal, IAC activists cross Parliament Street, move towards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence.
1.15 pm: Kejriwal, IAC activists march towards Parliament Street.
1.14 pm: IAC gets permission to march till Parliament Street Police Station.
1.03 pm: Around 20-25 IAC supporters protest outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence. Police say they will be detained and taken to Tughlaq Road police station.
1.02 pm: Arvind Kejriwal says IAC only wants four laws to be passed - Right to Recall, Right to Reject, Jan Lokpal Bill and Swaraj. "We do not have any political ambition," he adds.
Lashing out at the Congress and the BJP, India Against Corruption (IAC) member Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that both the parties had looted the country and that the CAG report on coal allocations were a proof of that.
"Coal mines were allotted to companies that make underwears, gutka and cassettes. The Chief Ministers allocated coal mines to their favourite companies," he said.
He added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had admitted that coal mines were sold for far less in order to "reduce costs to power companies".
"Why then are our electricity costs rising?" he asked.
Kejriwal had other questions too. He posed them to the PM. "Is it true that the coal secretary told you to auction coal blocks? Is it true that the Law Ministry told you that there is no need to change laws to auction?" he asked.
He continued, "The BJP, the CPM and the BJD gave you wrong advice on auctioning of coal blocks. Which Chief Ministers recommended you to give coal blocks to industrialists? Which industrialist has connection with which parties? Why shouldn't the licences of coal blocks be cancelled? Are you in agreement with Kapil Sibal's statement that there was zero loss in the 2G spectrum scam and the coal blocks allocations?
"Why is it that whenever the Congress comes to power, there is no action against corruption committed by the BJP? Is it not true that the Congress and the BJP are hand-in-gloves to not let Parliament function? Which dharma are you following?"
He had similar questions for BJP President Nitin Gadkari. "Why is it that the BJP government doesn't want to take action against corruption cases when the Congress ruled?" he asked.
I am Anna Hazare's soldier: Arvind Kejriwal
On reports that people seemed ready to accept him as their leader, with many wearing caps that say 'I am Arvind', he said, "Our leader is Anna Hazare. I am just his soldier. If anyone is wearing such a cap, please replace it with the cap that says 'I am Anna'."
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