celebs are encashing on "anna phenomenon"!

Brand Anna has gone beyond corruption; marketers have begun dismantling the components of Anna Hazare's successful sway over India in what is now acclaimed as the biggest online and offline public campaign India has ever seen.

Many have already jumped the gun, and latched on to Annagiri to promote subjects Anna Hazare might not endorse, or even be aware of.

Arindam Chaudhary: Ramlila Maidan, Day 11

IIPM thought beyond the Nobel, and created the Rabindranath Tagore Peace Prize. Even after Anna Hazare rejected the one crore rupee prize this year for undisclosed reasons, Arindam Chaudhary somehow got on the stage on Day 11 of Anna's protest. With Mahatma Gandhi's giant poster and his sequel listening on, he ranted about murdering "some two hundred million people of our country before the age of 40…" so that we can live till 80.

This, from the founder of an institute which sued Google(!) for unfavorable results, sued a media house for an unfavorable article and just lost a defamation case against a website after the court quashed the case.

Sankalp Srivastava: 'Anna Chalisa'

Anna Chalisa, a five minute track was written, composed and sung by him, and Sankalp even distributed free CDs to support India Against Corruption.

Unlike Arindam's rant on the Ramlila Maidan, Sankalp Srivastava's Anna Chalisa could be a genuine case of Anna-holism.

But Sankalp's background as an event manager makes this suspect; free giveaways are an old marketing gimmick. The poor are always poor, the protesters are always protesting - where was Sankalp when we needed him then?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali: My Friend Anna

There's a lot of Bollywood regulars on the social activism scene. Rahul Bose was quietly lending a hand in the rubble of the Indian tsunami, and even owns an NGO.

Shabani Azmi has done a lot of children and women's rights, the rights of displaced migrants.She' also the Goodwill Ambassador of the UNPF as well as for the HIV/AIDS programmes for SAARC region. Gul Panag works actively for Col. Shamsher Singh Foundation and Gul 4 Change to work for gender equality, addiction awareness, education and employment, environment and disaster management.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has never been seen doing anything - even light a candle at the fashionable vigils. And now he's distributing 'My Friend Anna' T shirts to blatantly promote his upcoming My Friend Pinto.

KRK, Salina Wali Khan, Yoggitta Dandekar: Stripping for Anna Hazare

Kamaal Rashid Khan tweeted his willingness to strip at Ramlila Maidan. In his own embarrassing words: "bhai logon maine kapde nikal diye hain. barish ho rahi hai na. Ramleela maidan mai nanga baithoonga.(sic)." (Brothers, I have taken off my clothes. It's raining. I will sit naked at Ramlila Maidan)

Ditto for Yuvraaj Parashar (seen in 'Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon' )..'I will strip for Anna. He is like a God to me,' says Yuvraaj "I am totally inspired by Anna Hazare. Woh humein batana chahte hain ki humein apne haq ke liye ladna chahiye. And this is why I am giving my support to his cause, totally."

Marathi actress Yoggitta Dandekar's willing to do a Poonam Pandey; she's ready to run topless in a marathon if Anna wins, or so she claims. She's already painted her body in the tricolor to support to "pledge support" to Anna Hazare's cause.

Salina Wali Khan is willing to do the opposite. The Delhi-based actor and model has claimed that she will dance naked if Anna's Jan-Lokpal Bill is not passed.

Amusingly, she also stated: 'My decision is not for gaining publicity. I am not like other models who make controversial claims for grabbing eyeballs. I am not doing it to be famous but for the common people."

Federation of Indian Animals Protection Organisation: Donkey Rights

In a letter to Anna Hazare, the organization wrote of India's 1.6 million donkeys, used as "objects to mock at corrupt officials…"instead of being treated as the "innocent, hard working animals who truly bear the burden of the world"

The donkeys, FIAPO wrote, "were undoubtedly terrified and confused…" and "had no vote in the matter", requesting Anna to ask his followers to not use donkeys as symbols of corrupt politicans

DJ Jenni: Stripping Against the Casting Couch

intoday

"We need an Anna Hazare in film and music to curb this menace… ", says Jenny D, talking about the "open secret" of the casting couch in Bollywood and Indian music industry.

Mumbai based DJ, Jenni Costa has launched a Facebook campaign called

'Fight the Casting Couch', and has received support from Citizen Action Forum.

According to her: "Has anyone wondered why there are so many female singers and musicians, but hardly any female Music Directors in the film industry? The reason is simple - the Casting Couch. I myself have been a victim of this nasty phenomenon, and I had to face humiliation in the past. I know a lot of girls who just give in because they have almost no other option…"

However, apart from regular posts from Page Admin to invite others, there is nothing actually happening on the Facebook Page. There's a post about 'Ten Bollywood Models' who will strip nude to support the cause, but no one knows how they are. Another Poonam Pandey?

Source: http://www.mensxp.com/

"Anna phenomenon" is not "cool" to all!

there's a growing irritation and protest against "Anna Hazare" who is being called as "prop" to appeal the young population of India and create a movement against "corruption.

But a large number of individuals are slowly going against Anna due to his or his team's "autocratic" pivotal decisions without taking the concern of the mass India.

Below are few Social Network groups who's talking against the "Anna phenomenon" but supporting the "anti-corruption" movement:

Democracy is the freedom to wear an I Am Not Anna T shirt in the public and not get beaten up.

TV news didn't give you all the facts - it was clearly fighting for TRPs, byte for Anna byte, to offer viewers counterpoints to the Jan Lokpal, or even to Anna himself.

Neither did the newspapers, if the headlines of two of India's leading English newspapers during the Anna fest are counted.

For a readymade platform of dissent against Anna, the simplest, and fastest way of getting the trickle-downs from all over the internet, all on one page is Facebook.

And the only stand we take at MensXP.com is for people who stand up and be counted.

Anna Hazare is NOT India

Anna Hazare is NOT India

Former fighter pilot Shashank Shukla created 'Anna Hazare is NOT India' to speak out against the dangerous precent that Anna Hazare set at Ramlila Maidan.

His page talks bout the “Jan Lokpal Bill and the current Anna Phenomenon”.According to him:“…the issue is correct, the methods being employed by Anna ji of undermining (the) authority of parliamentary democracy sets a very dangerous precedent”

Shashank even planned a“counter-sit-in” on Thursday near the Maidan against Team Anna's protest.Shashank has also mentioned the ignorance of Lokpal supporters when it comes to understanding the Bill.

I am for a non-corrupt democracy, not an Anna Hazare dictatorship.

DemocracyNotAnna

The Facebook Page URL for this page is actually shorter - Facebook.com/DemocracynotAnna. The most happening Anna-dissent destination on Facebook is also the most thought provoking. Members give perspective to the media hype of #Anna, present individual inquiry into the workings of Lokpal bill, and both Fans and the Page Admin post analytical content from the internet. If Anna was hype, DemocracyNotAnna is a just a few carefully considered Likes, longer, carefully thought comments and a regular eye on the going-ons of the Anna-verse.

Why I Hate Anna Hazare and Co.

Not about hate, but the logical opposite of hate - an indifference to Anna's popstar appeal. A bit of rightful scorn though - it seems to be a cathartic notepad for those who can't speak against Anna in the public domain. Users question the reality of his 12 day fast, the pasts of Team Anna members, and the necessary LOLs that every Facebook Page needs.

Also, busting the few myths floating around on SMS - including the implementation of Lokpal bill in Singapore (its a myth!).

And the Page Admin has agreed to argue against every point you write for the bill.

Against Anna JanLokPal Bill

There's only 45 members right now, but with regular links presenting different perspectives on Anna's protests, an active admin and a critical focus on the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna Hazare, it is necessary Liking for the Anna-athiest.

THE JOKE OF LOKPAL

There's always people here willing to argue you out of your belief of the Lokpal Bill. Armed with the kind of Lokpal IQ that would give the most righteous Anna fans a pause, comments are supplemented with news, links to other Anti-Anna/Lokpal Facebook pages and Notes breaking down the Bill and it's flaws.

Democracy or Hazare ?

Find like-minded people on one the biggest Anti-Anna Groups on Facebook. Question Mr. Hazare's unwillingness to run in the elections and specific examples of how the media overstepped the ethics of journalism in supporting Anna for TRPs. Pro-Anna posts aren't abused, but thoughtfully critiqued.

Anti corruption movement, Anna phenomenon and the youth in India

Anna Hazare, widely known as the last Gandhian, who forced the federal government to agree to introduce stringent anti-graft legislation, has become a rallying point for youths in India. The 71-year-old former Indian army driver-turned-social reformer’s five-day hunger-strike, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi galvanized youths across religions. It also imitated freedom fighter Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who drove the mighty British imperialists out of India. Hundreds of thousands of people joined Hazare’s crusade. As the wave of support grew into an avalanche through candle-lit rallies in many towns and cities in India and from around the world through social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter, the April 5-9 fast for an anti-graft law shook the Congress-led federal government and brought it to its knees to concede to the popular demand. Hazare would not have evoked such unprecedented public support had it not been for his austere Gandhian lifestyle. The white topi (cap) worn and popularized by Gandhi is back, and has captured the popular imagination of the masses. Writing about the “Father of the Nation,” Einstein said that “generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this [Gandhi] ever in flesh and blood walked on this earth.” The half-naked fakir touched the scientist deeply. The next generation who will not see the last Gandhian - Hazare - in the flesh will perhaps express similar sentiments.Born Kisan Baburao Hazare, his journey from the non-descript Yadavbaba temple in Ralegan Siddhi, a village of 3,000 near Pune where he lives, to becoming a youth icon has been a remarkable four-decade long story.
Hazare’s singular motive to rid the country of corruption, especially in government, ignited the masses which have had to bribe officials to obtain basic documents such as passports or birth and death certificates. Two things changed the frail man’s life dramatically and spurred him into being the icon to the younger generation that he is today - poverty and divine intervention.



The voice of the youth against corruption is gathering momentum on campuses all around the country. Irrespective of political affiliations, students are in favour of the cause espoused by Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption campaign.Anna Hazare’s agitation has highlighted many a disconnect in today’s political setup. There is the disconnect between the young and the old schools in the Congress. The younger lot of MPs fear an Anna wave against corruption while the veterans hope to ride the Anna storm with the traditional recipe of caste combinations during elections. The public rhetoric by the MPs is different from their private views. Many are apprehensive that the 74-year-old man who has drawn a huge response from ordinary people all across the country — in all probability even he did not expect it — is making them redundant. The MPs, cutting across party lines, have to pay lip service to Anna because of the current public sentiment. The government, which sent him to Tihar jail, has suddenly started ‘saluting’ him, and Congress spokesman Manish Tewari has even apologised to Anna for calling him corrupt. The fear of being made irrelevant has united the political class to take up the issue of ‘Parliament’s supremacy’ and enacting laws following the due process, which includes referring it to the Standing Committee. Anna cannot be allowed to dictate a timeline or the contents of a bill to Parliament, they say. For, if they accept it, they would have no role though people have elected them.
If they give in to Anna’s demands, it would open a Pandora’s box, they claim. What if several thousand Kashmiris hold an indefinite fast demanding an independent Kashmir and threaten to die if their demand is not met? What would happen if several thousand Sangh supporters demand building the Ram temple at the disputed spot in Ayodhya? Or hundreds of millions insist that the government does away with OBC reservation in jobs and institutions… Should the government give in to all these demands just because thousands congregate and there is a fear that some may die? While politicians have a point, it is also true that they have suddenly woken up to their rights and duties as parliamentarians. Nobody squeaks when 17 bills are passed in an hour or when demands for grants are guillotined year after year within a few seconds. And, as those gathered at Ramlila are quick to point out, politicians themselves have brought the situation upon themselves. The fact is people are now finding a connection between the high-level loot (the entire Anna episode has to be seen against the backdrop of the 2G spectrum allocation scam and the Commonwealth Games 2010 scam) and their plight as they have to battle rising prices and unemployment. Though a handful at Ramlila might have actually studied the pros and cons of the Jan Lokpal Bill, they support it because they suspect the intent of the government and the political class. Today, Anna’s bill has become synonymous with the fight against corruption. His indefinite fast has touched many hearts, mostly urban, middle class and net-savvy Indians. But MPs admit the more the agitation lingers, the deeper will be the impact on the country. Already several MPs have been gheraoed in the hinterland. For good or for bad, Anna has captured the moment. Given the support he has, he is no longer pushing for just a discussion on his bill in Parliament. That was his demand about a month ago. Now, he wants Parliament to pass the bill and in his given timeframe. Naturally, this is difficult for every political party as MPs will have no leeway in government matters. Whatever the outcome of Anna’s agitation — and the situation is still fluid — he has given a jolt to the political class. Let us hope that the agitation will strengthen both the citizenry and the functioning of Parliament.
Padmaraj Menon, a final-year law student, said he backed the new Jan Lokpal Bill suggested by Anna Hazare. “There is a quote that goes like this; ‘Corruption is more dangerous than prostitution.’ Prostitution may endanger the moral values of an individual but corruption endangers the moral and ethical fabric of the entire nation. The level of corruption indicates the economic backwardness of the country. So I am supporting the bill.
Sanitha T S, a post-graduate student of Maharaja’s College has no doubt regarding her stand. “Fight against corruption is always good for society. I express my solidarity to Anna’s movement,” she said.

The crusade against corruption unleashed by Anna Hazare has given a platform for each and everyone to voice their opinions they have been pent-up for long. In connection with this, seminars and discussions were held in many colleges.
“The campaign is not to support a person but to back a noble cause. We support it whole-heartedly. There are many offices like village offices and police stations where people often knock for help. But it has become a breeding place for corruption. So it is good that these offices come under the purview of the bill,” said Janardhana Shenoy, general secretary, SFI.
Though they are supporting Anna’s cause they have their apprehensions too. “The campaign against corruption is always welcome. But it should not throw any challenge to the existing Parliamentary system. The first and major step in this regard is to eschew bribe,” said Jinto John, district president, KSU, Kerala.
For infotech professional Sachin Dombe, the Independence Day weekend starting on August 13 indeed became an extended one. He decided to extend his leave by a day on Tuesday, citing support for anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare’s Lokpal Bill movement, as the reason. Hazare, in his appeal televised across the country on Monday and Tuesday, urged people to participate in a mass movement to coincide with his fast-unto-death stir from Tuesday in support of a strong Lokpal Bill.
More than 40 voluntary groups in Pune organised a rally from Nal Stop to Balgandharva Chowk on Tuesday morning to support Hazare. Nearly 3,000 youth participated in the agitation. At Balgandharva Chowk, the volunteers sat on a relay fast and a makeshift pandal was set up opposite Balgandharva Rangmandir. They raised slogans and sang patriotic songs. Dombe was one of the many young professionals who took the day off to participate in this movement.



“I have taken a day off on Tuesday to be present for the rally and the relay fast,” said Dombe, who carried an “arrest me” placard and wore an “I am Anna” Gandhi cap. Like him, many other youngsters were in the forefront of the protest. Telecom professional Deboshri Mitra travelled from Kharadi to participate in the rally and the relay fast. She had taken the day off on Tuesday and was planning to decide whether to take leave on Wednesday too. Her colleague, Harshal Marathe’s leave was not sanctioned, yet he made it a point to be present for the rally on Tuesday morning. “We have been conducting the campaign on behalf of the India Against Corruption (IAC) in our company and our friends since April this year,” he said.
The Internet is being extensively used by young information technology (IT) and other professionals from Pune to spread the word.
“The Facebook page of IAC is flooded with hits and we are updating the latest news on it,” he said.
Vikas Sutar and Shrikant Sapkal, who were among the protesters in Pune, said they felt this was a ‘now or never’ situation as far as the Lokpal Bill was concerned. They felt compelled to participate in the public movement.

Reference:
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/report_annas-jolt-exposes-gaping-disconnects-neerja-chowdhury_1580149
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/citys-youth-find-a-saviour-in-anna-hazare/306977.html
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_youth-force-backs-anna-hazare-in-pune_1576832
http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/05/09/anna-hazare-becomes-a-youth-icon/

How Anna Hazare became the face of anti corruption movement

We for sure need a Lokpal Bill because it will bring in a clean government. Anna Hazare should be worshipped for what he is doing," Sonu, a barber, told me earlier this week. Not just Sonu, but many I chatted with believe the Lokpal can be a solution to all their problems, from water supply to ration cards to gas connections. So what do we understand from the Sonus of this world?
A) Many supporting Anna Hazare's movement don't have the slightest clue about the specifics of the bill. They think the Lokpal is a magic cure for all the ills in the country.
B) Team Anna (led by Arvind Kejriwal) has captured the imagination of everyone tired of the bureaucratic and political corruption in this country. Their call to fight 'corruption' with a 'fast' is working wonderfully in mobilising people.

What is being forgotten in all this is that the team is offering a simplistic solution to a complex problem. Team Anna is offering a quick fix to corruption via the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Khristina, a journalist, says when people see something good happening, they instantly want to become a part of it.
"Even when there's an illusion of something good, we would want to be a part of it. I guess this happens because all of us want to be a part of the 'greater good'; to say 'I was there'. Of course, there could also be a 'herd mentality' at work. In fact, many may not fully understand Anna's 'Fight Against Corruption' and its implications, but the knowledge that it may result in something good is causing this frenzy," she explains.
This is where Team Anna have got their strategy right: they are fighting for the good and the betterment of the nation. A vast majority feel they should be behind Anna Hazare and support the movement. On the other hand, the government has failed to explain its stand to the nation. Its communication strategy, if it has one at all, has failed miserably. Jharna, a cricket journalist, says: "I feel Anna and his supporters are trying to rouse public sentiment against established evils like corruption, but the resulting wave will do very little towards actually getting rid of bribery in daily life. The leaders are merely encouraging blind faith and putting themselves on pedestals to be worshipped the same way modern-day politicians do."

How the UPA lost the plot

How has such a mass movement built up over the last couple of months? The UPA has much to answer for. Instead of trying to bring to book people behind its mega-scams, it was busy cementing its coalition and running down activists behind the Lokpal movement. From maligning protesters to spreading rumours, the government has tried several dirty tricks. What it hasn't done is to tell the misinformed masses what the Jan Lokpal bill is all about and how it can't solve all the nation's problems.
The government isn't speaking lucidly about how our country already has independent agencies such as the Central Vigilance Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General's office, the Election Commission, and the Central Bureau of Investigation to fight corruption. A Lokpal would only add to the long list of investigating bodies in the country.
Instead of explaining why it is against Team Anna's version of the Lokpal, it goes about arresting Anna and creating a huge sympathy wave for protesters, bringing back memories of the Emergency era. Anna's arrest catalysed common citizens. It made them take to the streets as they saw the government's action as undemocratic, an obstruction of their rights. The Congress has spoken in many voices, confounding the issue further. From a minister calling Anna Hazare mad to Abhishek Manu Singhvi announcing the government is open to discussing 80 per cent of the bill, the UPA has made a farce of the issue. Manu Singhvi's statement shows that the government was ready to extend an olive branch only when things seemed to be going out of control. The government has blamed Lokpal activists of compromising India's security and integrity, when there was no vandalism, and even a basic law-and-order problem was not in evidence. Some Congressmen were so foolish as to draw a parallel between the recent London riots, comparing anti-corruption protesters to hooligans.

These are the mistakes that have fuelled the public sentiment against the government. Kapil Sibal says Anna is undemocratic. Manmohan Singh says his government is taking the strictest possible action against the corrupt, but everyone knows how he had no role in nailing those guilty in the 2G and the Commonwealth Games scam. It was only after our apex court intervened that arrests were made.
This is proof enough that the government is not serious about curbing corruption

''Rural households paid over Rs 470cr bribe for basic services''

Ranging from Re one to Rs 950, rural households in the country could have paid a whopping Rs 471.8 crore last year as bribe to avail basic facilities such as ration, health, education and water supply, says a study.

The ''India Corruption Study: 2010'' report prepared by Centre for Media Studies (CMS), a survey of 9,960 households in 12 states, says on an average a rural household could have paid Rs 164 as bribe for availing these facilities in a year.

The study said the total amount of Rs 471.8 crore is "equal or less" than the total expenditure made under MNREGA during 2010-11 in states like Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.

"The estimation of bribe amount paid by the rural households brings out an amount of Rs 471.8 crore...The percentage of rural households that paid bribe during the last year was relatively higher in PDS (11.5

per cent), followed by hospitals (9), schools (5.8), water (4.3)," the study said.

It claimed that the socio-economically weaker sections were most affected by corrupt practices in public services.

More than 40 per cent of rural households belonging to OBC and SCs felt that the level of corruption has increased in public services during the last one year while 28 per cent each opined that the level of corruption has remained the same, it said.

An analysis by income level indicated that three out of four rural households which had to pay bribe in any of the public services have monthly household income of Rs 5,000 or less, indicating the high dependence of the economically poor households on these public services.

"As reported by rural households, they had to pay even Rs one-two to get a family member examined as an out-patient, mostly to get the registration or OPD card and as high as Rs 900 to avail diagnostic services such as X-ray, blood or urine tests at a public health facility," the study said.

A rural household had to pay Rs five as bribe to get an application form for ration card while they had to pay as high as Rs 800 for getting a BPL card without documents, it said, adding, for getting admission form, rural households had to shell out Rs ten as bribe while some paid Rs 700-800 to get scholarship or admission in schools.

"For proper water supply, the bribe paid by households for various services ranged between Rs 15 and Rs 950. The wide gap between minimum and maximum amount paid as bribe for the same purpose indicate that even submission of a request requires paying bribe apart from paying bribe to get water at the right time to irrigate the agricultural field," it said.

The study said Rs 156.8 crore might have been given as bribe in PDS while for water supply services, rural households could have paid Rs 83.3 crore. Another Rs 130 crore have been paid to avail hospital services.

Source: http://in.news.yahoo.com/rural-households-paid-over-rs-470cr-bribe-basic-100100121.html

Anti corruption and "Hazare" are now the "element of cool"!

There's 24 badges in www.picbadges.com commercially promoting "hazare" as a brand!




The Tee shirts are also sold with "hazare" quote as an element of "cool".


Source: http://www.tshirts.in/xtees/mens-tshirt_mt00574/mera-neta-chor-hai-support-anna-hazare-fight-againt-corrpution-tshirt.htm

the serious anti-corruption movement is showing a tendency to become "COOL"!

The anti corruption movement (among the youth in India) which we have reported in our earlier post is showing a tendency to become "cool" and "fashionable". The online games are appearing as well as tee shirts and caps.

These can make the movement more "funky" and in process will dilute the seriousness to generate another "fake-o-consciousness".

Source: http://ypm.ibibo.com/

Anti corruption movement and the youth in India

During 2008, INgene reported the growing anger and irritation among youth in India against corruption (http://ingene.blogspot.com/2008/08/indian-youth-lifestyle.html) and now the obvious out break is visible through Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption. Earlier, I have also mentioned how internet is giving power to people to be aware of corruption and put their voices against corruption ( http://ingene.blogspot.com/2010/11/internet-is-giving-power-to-people-in.html).

The awareness is spreading faster throughout the country among younger generation of India and growing anger is clustering into protests even in Sec II cities (http://therealtimer.com/Nagpur-comes-out-in-support-of-Hazare). This is the time for a-political revolution against corrupted individuals in politics, Govt. officials, and social classes and this is the first time in India, the politicians were politely denied the right to join in with Hazare on stage so that nobody can gain any political advantage from it (http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/no-politicians-on-stage-anna/195861?from=NDTV) . "We've decided that politicians can't come upon the stage. If they want to come and listen, like the public, they can sit in the audience, not with me or on the stage. We've decided that no politician will be allowed to manipulate our movement," said Anna Hazare, who is on fast-unto-death demanding a strong anti-corruption law.

A new tactic of movement against corruption, which Anna Hazare coined as “Swaraj and Shivaji” (non violent yet aggressive) way is spreading through social networks (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=166826046705957) , micro blogging sites(http://www.convoflow.com/search.php?searchfield=Anna%20Hazare), bulk mails, sms texts which are considered as more reliable and “non corrupted” media to spread the awareness other electronic and printed media. It’s reported that more than 40,700 netizens have already joined the Facebook page of the movement 'India Against Corruption' (http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/apr/070411-Hazare-agitation-gathers-steam-online.htm). Even, the support is pouring from the Indian students in Oxford (report added below).

The youth are promoting this movement in their own way via youtube, like this video:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSSSwZ4BXQ8

the anti corruption movement started spreading through youtube with videos and musics like this:

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQM5zHqpiVg

More photos of the movement:

Even the movie stars are voicing their protests through various alternative media:

Report:

Aamir Khan, Bollywood support Anna Hazare

6 Apr 2011, 1756 hrs IST, AGENCIES

Bollywood celebrities including superstar Aamir Khan have come out in the support of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who is on a indefinite hunger strike demanding a comprehensive anti-corruption bill. The 72-year-old activist began his hunger strike yesterday demanding the government to draft a new Lokpal Bill, which will give more powers to Ombudsman to check corruption.

Aamir has reportedly written a letter to voice his support for Hazare's movement while other celebrities took to twitter to back the campaign. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur said, "I support Anna Hazare's fast for national debate on Lokpal Bill. Atleast need Parliament to come out and respond to issue. People like Anna Hazare will force a people's movement against the system. Like Gandhi did against the British."

Anupam Kher asked fans to join the campaign. "When somebody is fighting corruption, I don't judge his ways. I applaud his intentions and actions. I am with Anna Hazare. Are you?," he said. Actress Diya Mirza tweeted her support. "Finally, people are voicing strong support for a man that has, should and will be a great example to our generation. I support Anna Hazare."

Actor and social activist Rahul Bose said: "That it takes an Anna Hazare fasting unto death to effect systemic change is comment enough. corruption part of our DNA." Juhi Chawla said, "I am complete and absolute supporter of Shri Anna Hazare! All those with a conscience and a clean heart speak up.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar: "Overwhelming momentum generates in for Anna Hazare's fight against corruption. Is India gonna be the next Egypt??" Pritish Nandy: "Proud to see common man come out in support of Anna Hazare. It took a 72-year-old man to fast unto death to wake us up." Ranvir Shorey: "Anna Hazare's crusade is a great litmus test to see if India has any grit left at all. Or have we become a country of corrupt schmoozers."

Source: http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/4369701.cms

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Report:

Support for Hazare grows in Mumbai, more youths join

7 Apr 2011, 2149 hrs IST, AGENCIES

The third day of veteran social activist Anna Hazare's indefinite hunger strike demanding a comprehensive anti-corruption bill, saw youngsters joining the campaign here in large numbers.

"My friends and I will go to the Income Tax office and hold a peaceful protest," Nandita, a student, told reporters at the sprawling Maidan where supporters of the noted Gandhian have been congregating since the last three days to show solidarity with him.

"The campaign is gaining momentum and more youth want to participate in the movement against corruption," she said.

A rally of youth was later organised, starting from the Maidan and making its way to the Gateway of India.

The protest is being supported by NGOs like National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM).

Meanwhile, villagers in Ralegan Siddhi, Hazare's native place in Ahmednagar district, today announced they will intensify their agitation to support the anti-corruption crusader.

"Now, around 350 villagers are on a relay fast. Tomorrow, we will hold a 'rasta roko', followed by a relay fast and morcha at the Parner tehsil office," Datta Awari, who handles Hazare's office at the village, told PTI.

Source: http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/4369792.cms

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report:

Indian students at Cambridge University have extended support to the anti-corruption campaign being led by Anna Hazare and called for a more transparent system of checks and balances at the highest level.

In a statement, the student group Swatantra-- Forum for the Advance of Civil Society—expressed "deep concern" over the current state of governance in India and said there was "urgent need to integrate civil society as an extension of the government in order to achieve greater transparency and accountability".

"We sympathise with Anna Hazare’s demands for a strong coalition between the government and its people. Continued inaction by the previous governments over a long period of forty two years reflects poorly on the State. Further, the existing legislation does not grant complete autonomy to agencies such as the Lokpal, resulting in a weak and ineffective regulatory mechanism," said the statement issued by its "chairpersons" Abhimanyu Gahlaut and Arun Sarkar.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/article1611651.ece

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Report:

Anna Hazare leads People’s Uprising in India

After sweeping the Arab World, the wave of People’s Uprising has reached India. As the Uprising in the Arab World was against dictatorial rule and for bringing democracy, no one would have believed that such an Uprising could ever happen in India – the biggest democracy in the world.

Democracy alone is not a guarantee for good governance. Politicians in India have exploited the weakness of the democracy and indulged in large scale corruption. Public anger against corrupt politicians has been accumulating for last several decades and reached the tipping point after recent mega scams specially 2 G and CWG. What was needed was an outlet for people to vent their anger. Problem was that almost all political parties have been marred in corruption at some point of time and therefore the general public perception is that all politicians are corrupt. While the opposition parties were hoping to cash in on people’s anger against corruption, people were in no mood to support any particular political party.

Against this backdrop, when respected social activist Anna Hazare started his movement against corruption, it immediately touched a chord with the people across the entire country. Anna Hazare was a perfect flag bearer for the moment against corruption as he has never associated with any political party and at the same time has been working for people’s cause. The present generation of India may not have seen Gandhi but they have been recently primed in favour of the Gandhian Philosophy by the Munna Bhai series of bollywod films. Anna Hazare’s Gandhian way of protest by fasti-unto-death has invoked the Munna Bhai inspired fascinations of Indian masses.

The movement is growing manifolds with every passing hour since last two days. It has perplexed not only the Government but also the opposition parties. On one hand the Government has been forced to sit up and take notice while on the other hand opposition parties have been unsuccessfully trying to piggy back on the movement and convert the same into votes against the ruling coalition. Thankfully, the organizers of the movement have managed to keep the politicians at bay and have not allowed them to exploit the situation. Political leaders like Chautala and Uma Bharti were stopped by the public from sharing the dais with Anna Hazare and hopefully this would have given a clear signal to other politicians also.

The government on the other hand is confused. It doesn’t know how to handle this situation. If it was a protest organized by an opposition party, it would have been so easy to rubbish it by launching a counter offensive and by pointing out the corruption cases of the concerned political party. But how to deal with a 72 year old Gandhian who owns nothing, lives in a 10ft x 10ft room, has no family, is ready to risk his life by embarking on fast-unto-death and above all has suddenly become the darling of the masses. Government can not counter attack, they are forced to be respectful, they must give the impression of not rubbishing the protest and demands of Anna Hazare and yet thwart his attempt to form an independent Anti Corruption Authority called the LokPal. The Government is already having enough troubles with the existing independent authorities such as the CAG, the Supreme Court and the goof up with CVC appointment. In that sense, the ruling parties would probably get a tactical support of even the opposition parties as no political party would like to have an independent anti-corruption authority who could investigate against any minister (including the prime minister) or bureaucrat without having to seek permission.

Anna Hazare’s Movement against Corruption is fast galvanizing all social activists under one banner. Within two days the movement has spread to nearly 440 cities and towns. TV coverage of the moment looks more like a dream movie than being real news.

Soon after the World Cup victory, once again the people are out on the streets; once again the people are on a high but this time for an entirely different cause, for an entirely different purpose.

Source: http://virtualopinion.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/anna-hazare-leads-people%E2%80%99s-uprising-in-india/

Report from TV:

An advertisement against corruption:

Further reading: http://www.chillibreeze.com/articles_various/To-The-Youth-710.asp

http://www.samachar.com/Hazare-deserves-greater-support-than-cricket-team-Aamir-Khan-lehdKqegggh.html

http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20091209/236744.htm

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/debateshow/7883197.cms

http://republicyouthfederationryf.blogspot.com/

Details of Jan Lokpal Bill can be read here:

http://www.youthforbetterindia.org/lokpalbill.html