On Fri, Apr 22, 2011 at 12:37 PM, Ricken Patel - Avaaz.org <[email protected]>wrote:
> Dear friends, > > <http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?cl=1026965475&v=8924> > > Corrupt *politicians have launched a vicious smear campaign* against civil > society members of the jan lokpal committee. Our best hope for a strong jan > lokpal is to fight these dirty tactics at every turn. *Call on PM Singh to > expose the ministers behind the smears and kick them off the committee.*We'll > deliver the petition in mobile billboards around Delhi: > > [image: Sign the > petition!]<http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?cl=1026965475&v=8924> > Last week, millions of us were shocked to read that our anti-corruption > crusader Anna Hazare was backing down on key demands of the Jan Lokpal Bill. > But *the reports were false. Who spread them? A Minister* on the bill > drafting committee. > > Now the press is full of new allegations against other civil society > representatives on the Committee. We knew *those in power would do > anything to stall and derail the Jan Lokpal Bill*. Now they have put their > media-spin machine into full-swing to smear our leaders and divide the > movement. > > Our only hope for a strong Jan Lokpal is to stand up to every dirty tactic > the politicians use to kill it. *Let's raise a massive call for PM Singh > to rein in the smear campaign*, identify those Ministers responsible and > kick them off the committee by the next meeting on May 2nd. When the > petition reaches 100,000, we’ll cover Delhi with mobile billboards and > follow PM Singh around until the Lokpal process is cleaned up: > > http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?vl<http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?cl=1026965475&v=8924> > > Earlier this week, *an anonymous Minister sent key journalists an SMS*saying > civil society representatives were caving to government pressure. The > SMS said: “Civil Society members have Diluted their own draft a lot. It is > now a far more doable draft than earlier. They have diluted the provision > that Cabinet Ministers could be suspended. Judges cud be suspended. Also > does not mention the Lokpal having powers of Appointing and Disciplinary > Authority.” None of this was true -- *the sms was a trap for the media to > run a story that would sow doubt* across the nation, and pull our movement > apart. > > Then, an audio CD was anonymously delivered to the media that allegedly > records Shanti Bhushan, the civil society co-chair of the drafting > committee, bribing judges to influence decisions. The Bhushans quickly > proved through an independent lab that the CD was doctored, but yesterday > the government laboratory issued a report that disagrees, claiming it needs > more material for a conclusive finding. > > Only an independent investigation with adequate evidence can make a > judgment on the CD story. But what is already clear is that the government > has used spurious sources, deception and inconclusive evidence to *wage > war in the media to create a storm of public confusion*. > > Let us have no doubt *the Jan Lokpal Bill is a serious threat to high up > officials and politicians* who are used to the shroud of impunity. For 42 > years governments have found ways to bury it, and this smear campaign is not > a surprise. But this is our Bill and if we are vigilant and stick together > with one voice over the next few months, we have a unique chance to truly > take on corruption. > > Let's tell the government that *we condemn the smear tactics and are not > distracted by conspiracy and doubt*. Sign the petition to stop the slander > and start the clean up: > > http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?vl<http://www.avaaz.org/en/singh_stop_the_slander/?cl=1026965475&v=8924> > > “Divide and Rule” is how the British oppressed us for 200 years and that is > exactly what the Government is doing now. As we come together to free > ourselves from the deception and impunity that handicap our great nation, > let’s demand that our political and civil society leaders act as the > exemplars they should be, and start work to get a strong Jan Lokpal Bill to > rid India of the scourge of corruption. > > With hope and determination, > > Ricken, Saloni, Shibayan, Ben, Alice and the whole Avaaz team. > > > SOURCES: > > The Lokpal plot thickens: > > http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/guest-writer/the-lokpal-plot-thickens/articleshow/8033546.cms > > Efforts underway to delay Lokpal bill: > > http://www.rediff.com/news/report/efforts-underway-to-delay-lok-pal-bill-feels-insider/20110419.htm > > Lokpal activists -- smear campaign to discredit us: > http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?718979 > > How the Government is keeping the Lokpal at bay: > http://www.governancenow.com/views/columns/keeping-lokpal-bay > > Anna Hazare’s letter to Sonia Gandhi about the smears: > http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?cid=3&nid=10798 > > Sonia Gandhi responds to Hazare’s letter: > > http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/sonia-gandhi-plays-safe-on-anna-hazare-letter/1/135871.html > > India Against Corruptions posts SMS and smear campaign details: > https://www.facebook.com/IndiACor?sk=notes > > The Bhushan fight continues: > http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/21/stories/2011042160370100.htm > > > ------------------------------ > * > Avaaz.org is a 8-million-person global campaign network* that works to > ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global > decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz > members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 > countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of > Avaaz's biggest campaigns here <http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights?footer>, > or follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz> or > Twitter<http://twitter.com/Avaaz> > . > > This message was sent to [email protected]. To change your email > address, language, or other information, send a message to > [email protected], contact us via this > form<http://avaaz.org/en/contact/?unsubHTML>-- or simply click > here to > unsubscribe<https://secure.avaaz.org/act/?r=unsub&cl=1026965475&[email protected]&b=1245&v=8924&lang=en> > . > > To contact Avaaz, please *do not reply to this email.* Instead, write to > us at www.avaaz.org/en/contact <http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer> or > call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US). >
