Opposition unites to demand statement from PM on Hazare

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) The arrest of Anna Hazare by Delhi Police Tuesday led to the opposition parties closing ranks against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and demanding a statement from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Signalling their anger at the police action, several non-UPA parties apart from the Left attended a meeting in the office of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj.

In a signal that could increase trouble for the government in the remaining part of the monsoon session, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP) also attended the meeting. Both RJD and SP support the government from outside.

The meeting came in the backdrop of the two houses of parliament being adjourned for the day over demand for a discussion on Hazare's detention.

The meeting was attended by Janata Dal-United, Shiv Sena, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, and Telugu Desam Party besides Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley later accused the government of arrogance.

'There is a new idiom that the Congress party is trying to introduce in the country. It is the idiom of smugness, it is the idiom that smacks of arrogance, and it is based on the premise that political power for the Congress is immortal. That is not the reality of this politics,' he said.

Jaitley alleged that the Congress was indulging in 'character assassination' of Hazare and said it would not be accepted by the people of the nation.

'I think character assassination can not be an instrument of politics. The Congress government that is perceived to be the most dishonest in history is now seeking to jail a man, whom people consider an icon of probity. We may disagree with him, but we cannot treat him in this manner. The country is not going to agree to this... Dissent is the essence of democracy,' he said.

Sushma Swaraj, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, demanded that the government release Hazare and his supporters immediately.

'This government has lost its mental balance. The country is dissatisfied with the government. First it was revealed during Ramdev episode. And now again,' she said.

'It has been decided that the prime minister should make a statement in both houses of parliament on whatever is happening in the country. Nobody else,' she added.

The BJP leaders disagreed with the government's stance that Hazare was arrested as he did not comply with the police conditions.

'You can't have absurd conditions, which render a protest redundant. Is Chidambaram willing to impose conditions on all Congress workers' protests all over the country,' Jaitley said.

The CPI and CPI-M said in separate statements they would hold nationwide protests Wednesday to denounce the arrest of Hazare. The two parties said the government has attacked the democratic right to conduct peaceful protest with the ban on the hunger strike and the arrest of Hazare.

Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan released

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Civil rights activists Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan, detained by Delhi Police Tuesday morning ahead of Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death, were released in the evening, police said.

'Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan have been released,' Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told reporters. He said theirs was 'preventive arrest'.

Bedi and Bhushan were detained under the Delhi Police Act, on charges of refusing to comply with the directions given by a police officer.

Hazare, fellow activist Arvind Kejriwal and six supporters were sent to Tihar Jail by a special executive magistrate for not signing a bail bond and promising not to violate prohibitory orders.

Police had clamped prohibitory orders at the J.P.Park where the activists were planning to sit on fast against corruption.

Anna crisis: Rahul steps in, meets PM

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Tuesday evening met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed the situation arising out of the arrest of social activist Anna Hazare.

According to Congress sources, Hazare, set to be released from Tihar Jail, was being freed after Gandhi's intervention.

Gandhi, according to the sources, urged the prime minister to allow the situation to be defused triggered by Hazare's arrest.

Hazare and his activists galvanised support from various parts of India with opposition parties rallying behind him in unison.

The social activist and some of his supporters were arrested Tuesday for breach of peace ahead of a planned fast to press for a strong anti-graft Lokpal bill.

The 74-year-old Gandhian is said to have not touched any food or water since morning, thus beginning his hunger strike against corruption.

However, he was set to be released any time soon, sources said.

The release of Hazare, Congress sources said, could have been worked out courtesy back-channel talks between the government and civil society activists.

A lot of the back-channel communication is also thanks to Gandhi, who has a major say in the Congress in the absence of party president Sonia Gandhi, a senior Congress leader told IANS.

Rahul Gandhi has communication channels with the Team Anna through some members of the National Advisory Council (NAC) and some NGO activists, he said.

There is a feeling among both the sides that the positions should not further harden and the situation should not go out of control, the Congress leader said.

Live updates: Anna jailed, freed, but refuses to leave Tihar

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The stalemate between the government and veteran social activist Anna Hazare continues over the proposed Lokpal Bill, with the Anna refusing to leave Tihar Jail till he is unconditionally allowed to continue with his fast unto death at Delhi's Jai Prakash Narain Park. Yahoo! India News brings you real-time updates on all the action.
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9: 00 am: Anna Hazare won't get off government's back

Rattled by swelling political and public anger at the preventive arrest of activist Anna Hazare, the UPA government backtracked late this evening and announced his release to a street sensed of victory against a shaken ruling establishment.

But signs that the panicked U-turn will bring the beleaguered government little relief were immediately visible as Hazare refused to leave Tihar Jail, demanding that he be guaranteed permission to fast at central Delhi's Jai Prakash Narayan Park. Full story

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August 16th, 2011
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11: 55 pm: Manish Sisodia: Anna and 7 supporters are still fasting in Tihar

Manish Sisodia says Anna and his 7 supporters are still fasting in jail. Sisodia said he came out of jail to bring Anna's message to the public- that he won't come out of jail unless govt gives unconditional permission to fast at JP Park.

11: 50 pm: Delhi Police give two options to Anna

According to Times Now, Delhi Police give two options to Anna- One, he can fast for three days with conditions or option two is for him to leave Delhi. Meanwhile, the police start detaining Anna supporters who've gathered at the JP Park.

11: 30 pm: Restore Anna's rights, Bhopal survivors urge president

About 150 survivors of the world's worst industrial disaster in Bhopal urged President Pratibha Patil to intervene for restoring the constitutional rights of civil society activists Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal and others who were detained in New Delhi in the morning. More

11: 15 pm: Anna jailed, freed, but refuses to leave Tihar

Just six hours after he was driven to the Tihar Jail after 3 pm after being sentenced to a week's judicial custody, an unprecedented outburst of spontaneous public anger led Delhi Police to release him. But Hazare, 74, having tasted victory, declined to move until his demands were met. Read the full story here

10:40 pm: Hazare turns down release order, refuses to come out of Tihar

Anna Hazare turned the down the release order, saying he will not move out of the Tihar Jail until he gets unconditional permission to fast.

"Anna Hazare turns down Government's conditional release order. It is said by sources that Anna will not leave Tihar jail until unconditional permission to fast. It is also said that there should not be any conditions for his fast at Jai Prakash Park. It is indicated by sources that Anna will court arrest again but won't bow down," Times Now channel quoted.

10:20 pm: Anna Hazare's key aide Manish Sisodia has been released from the Tihar Jail. "Anna adamant on continuing fast at JP Park. Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal continue to fast inside jail," said Sisodia after his release.

9: 40 pm: Anna refuses to come out of jail

According to CNN IBN, Anna Hazare refuses to come out of Tihar jail saying he fears he might be arrested again. Jail sources say Anna wants permission to fast at JP Park. The jail authorities were given orders to release the social activist by 9:30 pm.

9: 30 pm: Congress says it walked 'extra mile' to accommodate Anna

The Congress said the UPA govt had walked the 'extra mile' to accommodate the concerns of Anna Hazare in drafting the anti-corruption Lokpal bill.

'No other government involved the civil society in preparing a bill so far. The government walked the extra mile to accommodate the civil society led by Hazare,' Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters. More

9: 00 pm: Sibal faces protest from Hazare's supporters at Delhi seminar

The supporters of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who was arrested ahead of his scheduled indefinite fast, heckled Union Human Resource and Development Minister Kapil Sibal during a seminar on Lokpal.

They raised slogans and waved black flags, when he stood up to address the seminar. Police immediately intervened and took the protesters out of the hall. Full story here

8: 30 pm: Anna to be release tonight by 9:30

New flashes on television channels say Tihar Jail authorities have received orders to release Anna by 9:30pm. More here

8: 15 pm: Brinda Karat calls Hazare's arrest a strong attack on democratic rights

Condemning the arrest of Anna Hazare, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat accuses the Congress Party of indulging in corruption.

"It is a strong attack on democratic rights and my party has strongly condemned it. It also reflects the Congress Party's refusal to tolerate any movement against the corruption. One can ask why? Why is Congress leadership is taking this decision? Clearly because their own government is steeped into corruption," said Karat. More

8: 00 pm: BJP terms Hazare's arrest dictatorial

Condemning the arrest of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the former of adopting dictatorial approach and added that it tried to infringe upon the fundamental right of the citizen to protest. More

7: 30 pm: Protests in Anna's village after his arrest

People in Anna's village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar District protested against his arrest in Delhi. Condemning the arrest, many villagers including women and children marched to the local Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus depot and raised slogans against the government.

Jaisingh Mahapari, a villager, said that the whole village supported the movement led by Hazare and that they were ready to get arrested by the police. More

7: 00 pm: Activists for and against Hazare

Social activists are deeply divided over the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare. While human rights activist Swami Agnivesh says the movement has a groundswell of popular support, activist and columnist Shabnam Hashmi feels Hazare has adopted an authoritarian attitude and is supported by right-wing groups. More

6: 40 pm: Kiran Bedi, Shanti Bhushan released

'Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan have been released,' Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat told reporters. He said theirs was 'preventive arrest'.

Bedi and Bhushan were detained under the Delhi Police Act, on charges of refusing to comply with the directions given by a police officer.

6: 10 pm: Team Anna versus government: Information warfare hots up

A full-blown information warfare has broken out between Team Anna and the government, with both sides deploying social media tools, SMS and e-mail campaigns to drum up support and run down each other - in what is proving to be a serious crisis for the UPA government.

While supporters of Team Anna have launched a SMS blitzkrieg asking people to court arrest and go on mass leave to join the protesters, the government has launched both overt and covert information offensive to undermine civil society activists that sometimes verged on slander and character assassination. More

6: 05 pm: Farooq Abdullah tweets on Anna's arrest
Farooq Abdullah's tweet on the arrest: Anna Hazare in the company of Kalmadi, Raja and Kanimozhi. The lady of justice is indeed blind.

6: 00 pm Hazare faces complaint in Bhopal on flag hoisting

Anna Hazare may face trouble in Madhya Pradesh with a complainant moving court here for action against him for allegedly hoisting the national flag after sunset during a TV show.

'The plea has been accepted and the next court hearing will take place Aug 25,' said R.K. Pandey, lawyer of petitioner Prakash Thakur. More

5: 45 pm: Over 3000 detained in Mumbai after protests over Anna Hazare's arrest

Over 3,000 people were picked on the charges of unlawful assembly from across Mumbai on Tuesday after they held demonstrations protesting against the police action against activist Anna Hazare, hours before he was to launch his fast against corruption, police said. Read more on DNA

5: 15 pm: Anna will share space with Kalmadi, Raja
Sent to seven days' judicial custody, Anna Hazare will share space in Tihar jail with A Raja and Suresh Kalmadi, both accused in high-profile scams.

4: 40 pm: Shanti Bhushan: Architect of Lokpal bill

Saga of the fearless lawyer, who stood against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forty years ago and has now come forward to fight the government against the corruption.

4: 25 pm: Anna arrest: parties join hands to corner Govt

The UPA Government is finding itself isolated on the issue of arresting Anna Hazare and his supporters with all the opposition parties deciding to form a common strategy to take on the Government.

All the opposition parties met at 2 PM in Parliament and decided on a joint strategy to corner the government. The Left Front proposed that all the opposition parties should boycott Parliament proceedings for the next three days to protest against the arrest of Hazare and his supporters. Full story on CNN IBN

4: 15 pm: FAQ: Why Anna Hazare is wrong and Lok Pal a bad idea
'The Acorn's latest post talks about whether we really need a Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption. Read the full post here.

4.03 pm: Anna Hazare gets 7-day custody, sent to Tihar Jail
A Special Magistrate Court sent the 74-year-old social activist to Tihar Jail after he refused to sign a personal bond. Hazare was asked to sign an undertaking promising that he would not violate Section 144.

The Anna Hazare team earlier in the day said that they will approach the Supreme Court against the detention ahead of the proposed indefinite fast, claiming that the police action was 'totally undemocratic'.

Meanwhile, the BJP demands an answer from the Prime Minister on Anna's arrest. Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley says the government can not take away people's right to protest. More here

4.00 pm: Anna Hazare detained, India outraged

Civil society activist Anna Hazare was detained by Delhi Police, shortly before he was to begin an indefinite fast to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal Bill, triggering swathes of unrest across the country and pitting the government against not just the opposition but also large sections of the public.

Hazare's associates Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Shanti Bhushan were also detained along with about 1,000 supporters. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the move smacked of the excesses during Emergency and parliament was stalled, the outrage spread across the country with reports of protests coming in from virtually every corner. Read more

3.30 pm: Anna detained for his 'madness', says tourism minister

Union Tourism Minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay justified Anna Hazare's detention in New Delhi, saying he was arrested for his 'madness'.

'Anna Hazare was detained due to his madness for being bent upon a fast-unto-death even as his major demands were accepted by the government,' said Sahay, the Lok Sabha MP from this Jharkhand capital. Here is the full story

3.00 pm: Tactics of govt. akin to those of British: Shanti Bhushan

Criticising the government over the detention of Anna Hazare, senior lawyer and social activist Shanti Bhushan on Tuesday said that the tactics of former were akin to those of the British.

"We did not expect to be detained despite not violating any rules. The Government is nervous, it does not want to let go of corrupt practices. They are treating us like the British. Today's government is similar to that of Winston Churchill," Bhushan said. Read more

Shanti Bhushan: Architect of Lokpal billSaga of the fearless lawyer, who stood against then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forty years agho and has now come forward to fight the government against the corruption.

2.30 pm: Government not against protests: Mukherjee

Every citizen has the right to protest and the government is not against protests per se but the manner of protests, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

'Everyone has the right to protest but there is a method of protesting,' Mukherjee told reporters.

'It is the legitimate right of every individual to hold protests but at the same time there are certain rules and laws. If police considers that a particular action may lead to law and order problem, then police can impose certain conditions,' he added. More

2.15 pm: Kiran Bedi says 'emergency' has revisited the country

Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as undemocratic and unconstitutional, civil society activist Kiran Bedi said that emergency has revisited the country.

" This is totally undemocratic and un -constitutional. This has not been done by Delhi Police; somebody else is behind it. Delhi Police is capable enough to handle such peaceful protests," she said. Full story

Kiran Bedi tweets her conditionArrested social activist and former senior cop, Kiran Bedi has tweeted that she has no clue where she’s been taken.

1.45 pm: Sushma demands explanation from PM on Hazare's detention

Hours after veteran social activist Anna Hazare was detained by the police from Supreme Enclave in Mayur Vihar for defying prohibitory orders and vowing to go ahead with his fast, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj condemned the incident, and demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement in Lok Sabha on the issue.

"A statement from the Home Minister on the issue (Hazare) is not acceptable to us. We want the Prime Minister's statement in the House. Whatever has happened, the Prime Minister must explain," Swaraj said. More

1.30 pm: Delhi Police working independently: Ambika Soni

Delhi Police was not acting under political pressure but had detained civil society activist Anna Hazare to maintain law and order, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said. Read more

1.00 pm: Rajya Sabha adjourned over Anna arrest

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned amid noisy scenes and arguments between the opposition and treasury benches over the detention of civil society activist Anna Hazare and his associates. More

12.30 pm: Detention is beginning of India's second freedom struggle: Hazare

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday, described it as the beginning of India's second freedom struggle.

"My dear countrymen, the second freedom struggle has begun and now I have also been arrested. But will this movement be stopped by my arrest? No, not at all. Don't let it happen," Hazare said soon after being detained by the police. Full story

12.15 pm: Hazare detained for wanting to defy order: R K Singh

Home Secretary R K Singh said social activist Anna Hazare was detained because he said he intended to defy prohibitory orders and sit on a fast. "Anna Hazare stated that he will defy the prohibitory orders. So, he has been detained,' Singh told reporters.

Delhi Police had denied permission for his fast after he refused to abide by all the 22 conditions set by them for the agitation. More

11.50 am: Advani slams Govt. over Anna's detention

Slamming the government over the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani said instead of dealing with the problem of corruption and owning responsibility, the former is trying to find scapegoats and is stopping peaceful protests.

"I am not surprised at this development. This is the direction in which this government is moving," NDTV quoted Advani as, saying. More

11.30 am: Shutdown in Hazare's village, protests in Pune, Mumbai

Residents of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi took to the streets to protest the detention of the anti-corruption crusader in New Delhi. There were demonstrations in Pune and Mumbai too. Read more

11.00 am: Team Anna to move Supreme Court against detentions

Terming the detention of veteran social activist Anna Hazare as totally undemocratic, senior lawyer and member of the committee constituted for the Lokpal Bill, Prashant Bhushan said they will approach the Supreme Court.

"The action showed that the government has no regard for fundamental rights of the citizens. We will move the Supreme Court," said Bhushan. "Time has come to rise up against this government. We appeal to people to protest against the government peacefully," he added. More

10.30 am: Demonstrations in Lucknow against Hazare's detention

People across various age groups and different walks of life held demonstrations in this Uttar Pradesh

capital to protest the detention of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare in New Delhi. Read more

10.00 am: Activists fast in Himachal to support Anna

Several activists began an indefinite hunger strike in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town to press for a strong anti-corruption Lokpal bill and express solidarity with civil society leader Anna Hazare, who was detained early morning in the national capital. More

9.30 am: Manmohan Singh convenes CCPA meet over Hazare's detention

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh convened an emergency meeting of Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) to discuss the strategy after crackdown on Team Anna. As per reports, Home Minister P Chidambaram is meeting the Prime Minister ahead of the CCPA meet. Full story

9.00 am: BJP condemns Hazare's arrest

Condemning the arrest of Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said the government would learn its lesson 'the hard way'.

'It is regrettable and condemnable. This government is bent upon crushing anyone who wants to protest against corruption,' BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said. More

Anna arrestedDelhi Police arrests Anna Hazare even before he leaves for Rajghat

8 am: Delhi Police arrest Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Kejriwal

On Tuesday morning, over a dozen plain-clothed policemen landed at lawyer Prashant Bhushan's house in Mayur Vihar, where Hazare was staying, and detained the Gandhian activist minutes before he was to set out for Rajghat, from where he had planned to head to the Jai Prakash Narain (JP) Park to begin his fast. Here is the full story

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August 15th, 2011
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8.00 pm: Hazare calls for jail bharo after ban orders

Anna Hazare paid a surprise visit to Rajghat and meditated for a while, causing tension to the police, addressed a press conference in the evening. He said there was need for struggle to fight corruption and change the existing 'anti-poor system'. The social activist declared he was ready to go to jail and called for a 'jail bharo' agitation. Full story

7.00 pm: Team Anna, government headed for showdown

Team Anna Hazare and the government were Monday night set for a showdown after Delhi Police refused to let them hold a fast from Tuesday for a stronger Lokpal Bill and the social activist declared he was ready to go to jail. More

After govt's no to fast, Anna reaches RajghatAfter Delhi police denied him permission for holding fast over the Lokpal Bill, Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, in a symbolic move, on Monday went to Rajghat and sat close to Bapu's samadhi.

6.00 pm: Ban orders imposed at Hazare protest venue

The Delhi Police Monday night imposed ban orders at JP Park here where social activist Anna Hazare is to hold a protest fast from Tuesday morning.

The development came even as a large number of Hazare's supporters started gathering at the park with candles and flaming torches in their hands.

The police have imposed Section 144 - that bans the gathering of five or more people - at the park, near Ferozeshah Kotla ground, the venue that the police had earlier told Hazare he could hold his protest fast in. Read more

5.00 pm: Hazare to court arrest; calls for struggle to change system

Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the 'anti-poor' system, social activist Anna Hazare said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle.

'We will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or more people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare told mediapersons here. Here is the full story

3.30 pm: Team Anna dares Govt., to move court if stopped from protesting

Terming the decision of the Delhi Police as 'unconstitutional' and 'undemocratic', Supreme Court lawyer and member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, Prashant Bhushan, said the civil society activists would move the court if they were stopped from protesting. Read more

2.00 pm: Govt. always suppresses anti-corruption crusaders, says Ramdev

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev accused the Central government of trying to suppress anti-corruption movements in the country.

Addressing mediapersons Ramdev said: "The government maligns the image of hose who raise their voice. People in the country must understand the intention of the overnment, even if it is Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev and Balakrishna."

"Earlier, even leaders like Jai Prakash Narain and even during the time of emergency, hoever dared to raise their voice was crushed by the government. This is still going on fter 64 years of independence," he added. More

1.00 pm: Kejriwal asks people to switch off home lights

Just after activist Anna Hazare addressed a conference here Monday evening to announced his anti-corruption strategy, his team member Arvind Kejriwal appealed to people to switch off lights in their homes for an hour as a mark of support for their cause.

People were asked to switch off lights for an hour starting 8 p.m. Monday. Kejriwal said: 'I asked people to switch off the lights for one hour, as the kind of independence we have today in our country is incomplete.'

'Nothing has been left untouched by corruption. Unfortunately, the government seems to be promoting it rather than preventing it. The government's Lokpal bill is a complete eyewash and will shield corruption,' he said. Full story

12.00 pm: We are ready to go to jail: Anna

Calling for a struggle to fight corruption and change the existing system, social activist Anna Hazare Monday said he will court arrest Tuesday if the police does not allow him to reach the venue of his fast. He also appealed to people to go to jail in support of the anti-corruption struggle

'We will go to JP Park tomorrow (Tuesday) for our fast. I have learnt that Section 144 (prohibiting gathering of five or more people) has been imposed. If they (police) refuse to allow us to proceed, we will sit there only. We are ready to go to jail. I appeal to people all over the country that when we go to jail, people in villages should also go to jail,' Hazare said. More

11.00 am: Want strong Lokpal, don't fast: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government wants a 'strong Lokpal' and those who don't agree with some aspects of a proposed legislation 'should not resort to hunger strikes'.

'We want a strong Lokpal to prevent corruption in high places. We have recently introduced a bill in parliament to achieve this,' said Singh in his address to the nation's 65th Independence Day. 'Now only parliament can decide what type of Lokpal legislation should be enacted,' he said from the ramparts of Red Fort. Here is the full story

http://in.news.yahoo.com/lokpal-bill--anna-hazare-detained-ahead-of-mass-fast---live-updates.html

Congress slams reworked PAC report; BJP says nothing wrong

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The reworked report of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Murli Manohar Joshi, which questions the prime minister's role in the 2G spectrum allocation, has sparked a row, with the Congress dismissing the report as 'motivated' and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserting that there is 'nothing wrong' with it.

The report is set to create more trouble for the government already battling corruption charges, in the face of which Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia asserted that the cabinet 'can't be micro-managed' by the prime minister.

Joshi, a senior BJP leader, circulated his reworked report among PAC members Saturday. The report questions the role of Manmohan Singh and the then finance minister P. Chidambaram in the allocation of 2G spectrum, which allegedly resulted in the loss of crores of rupees to the national exchequer.

The report is set to provide more ammunition to a combative opposition determined to pin down the government over a slew of corruption charges, including irregularities in the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Congress and UPA members of the PAC Sunday reacted sharply to Joshi's reworked report and indicated their intention to reject it. They demanded the removal of Joshi from the post of the PAC chairman and accused him of being 'interested in politics'.

The Congress said the re-circulation of the controversial PAC report amounted to making the committee 'partisan and motivated'.

'Clearly the chairman and the BJP are bent upon making the committee political, partisan and motivated. The PAC chairman or the PAC are not oxygen generating medical units to breathe life into a constitutionally dead PAC report,' Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

'Secondly, it has to be decided whether it is more appropriate for a larger or more specific committee like the JPC set up for this purpose to look into the matter or the PAC, which is general, and is riven with a vote of no-confidence in its chairman and holds no live reference on the 2G issue as of now,' he said.

Congress MP and PAC member Sanjay Nirupam rubbished the reworked report, saying it 'deserves to be thrown into the dustbin'.

Nirupam asked why the opinion of constitutional experts was not included in the report.

The BJP, however, backed Joshi's move to re-circulate the report.

'The report was sent to the speaker and the speaker said the report has not been adopted. So naturally, if the report has not been adopted by a committee, then it has to be circulated to be adopted. So if it has been circulated, there is nothing wrong in it,' said senior party leader S.S. Ahluwalia.

In a forwarding letter to PAC members Saturday, Joshi stirred a fresh row by saying he was sending them the draft report again after consulting constitutional experts and 'past precedents'.

Joshi was reappointed chairman of the PAC in May after the term of the previous PAC ended April 30.

On June 28, Joshi tried to place the report before the new PAC, but he did not succeed due to fierce opposition from UPA members.

Speaker Meira Kumar returned the report on grounds it was not supported by the entire PAC.

Last time around, Joshi's report on the 2G scam was rejected by the UPA members in the PAC. This time, the change in the composition of the panel will make it difficult for them to do so.

In the committee, nine members support the report, but nine are against it. Three members of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are neither supporting nor opposing it and one seat is vacant.

The reworked report is said to comprise 575 pages, with 276 pages of documents the PAC had received from government on 2G spectrum allocation.

Meanwhile, in an interview to a news channel, Montek Singh Ahluwalia defended Manmohan Singh on the 2G issue.

'The prime minister is not micro-managing every decision. So while I think 2G clearly became a problem, I don't think it became a problem because it was mishandled at the Prime Minister's Office level,' Ahluwalia told Karan Thapar's Devil's Advocate programme on CNN-IBN.

Ahluwalia also contended that former communications minister A. Raja's assertion that the prime minister had erred by not setting up a ministerial panel to oversee spectrum decisions was without basis.

Hazare likely to fast at Ramlila ground

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare, who is scheduled to sit on a fast at Jantar Mantar from Aug 16 against the government version of the Lokpal bill, is likely to shift the protest venue to Ramlila ground, an activist said Saturday.

'Hazare will sit on an indefinite hunger strike from Aug 16 at Ramlila Maidan instead of Jantar Mantar. We have already received a no objection certificate (NOC) from Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD),' Aswathi Muralidharan, member of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Parivartan, which is seeking support for the Jan Lokpal bill, told IANS.

She also added that the Delhi Police is likely to grant permission to Hazare to sit on his fast at Ramlila ground, instead of Jantar Mantar.

However, Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said: 'Nothing has been decided in this regard.'

IANS

Reliance profit fuelled by refining; gas worries remain

By Prashant Mehra

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Reliance Industries, under pressure for slowing output from its gas blocks, on Monday posted its highest ever profit, fuelled by stronger refining margins and steady growth in its petrochemicals business.

India's largest listed firm reported a 16.7 percent rise in net profit, slightly below forecasts, but analysts have said refining margins are peaking and the slowdown in its oil and gas business could continue, clouding growth in coming quarters.

"The street may be disappointed with the lower-than-expected core profit numbers," said Deepak Pareek, oil and gas sector analyst at brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher.

"Profitability from now on will largely be a function of which way the petrochemicals and refining margins go," he said.

Reliance, with interests in refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas exploration and retail, posted stronger refining margins in the quarter but lower oil and gas production.

Reliance has been under pressure over the past few months from an industry regulator and investors over slowing gas output, and its shares have suffered.

In May, India's director general of hydrocarbons said the company was producing 48 mscmd (million standard cubic metres per day of gas) from its main KG basin block, off India's east coast, lower than the 60 mscmd it produced last year and far off the planned peak capacity of 80 mscmd.

But India's approval on Friday of Reliance's plan to sell a 30 percent stake in 21 oil and gas blocks to UK-based BP as part of a $7.2 billion deal is expected to aid the company in boosting output from the deepwater blocks.

Reliance, controlled by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, the world's ninth-richest man, is looking to expand beyond its core businesses into telecom and financial services, and last month said it planned to invest aggressively in retail.

"Our cash flows give us the unparalleled opportunity to allocate capital to higher-margin resource plays in leading markets around the world," Ambani said in a statement on Monday, adding the firm also remains committed to investing in India.

REFINING MARGINS JUMP

Reliance's net profit for its fiscal first quarter rose to 56.6 billion rupees ($1.28 billion) from 48.5 billion rupees a year ago. Its earnings were boosted by "other" income of 10.78 billion rupees, up from 7.22 billion rupees a year earlier, due to a larger cash balance and higher yields.

A Reuters poll of brokerages had forecast quarterly net profit of 57.2 billion rupees.

Net sales rose 39 percent to 810 billion rupees.

Reliance, which operates the world's biggest refining complex in western India, saw gross refining margins in the quarter rise to $10.3 per barrel from $7.3 a year ago and $9.2 in the previous quarter.

The margins, a key measure of profitability, rose on higher demand during the quarter despite a 10.6 percent fall in crude oil prices in the same period. The refining segment accounts for nearly 70 percent of its revenue.

Reliance's petrochemicals business posted a 32 percent rise in revenue on strong domestic demand. However, revenue from its oil and gas business fell 16.5 percent for the quarter, the company said.

"We are building for flattish refining margins, while income from exploration business may be lower in coming quarters," Prabhudas Lilladher's Pareek said.

Shares in Reliance, valued by the market at $64.4 billion, have declined nearly 17 percent so far in 2011, contributing significantly to the 8 percent fall in the main index, in which the stock has the heaviest weight. The stock ended 1.1 percent higher on Monday ahead of the results.

($1=44.40 rupees)

(Editing by Aradhana Aravindan and Tony Munroe)

Growth shows signs of moderation, to remain close to trend: RBI

New Delhi: India's economic growth is showing signs of slowdown and is likely to decelerate in the current financial year 2011-12 as compared to last financial year, but it is expected to remain close to the trend, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monday said.

The central bank indicated that its tough anti-inflationary stance has taken a toll on growth.

"Inflation risks stay, while growth showed signs of moderation. On current reckoning, growth is likely to stay around trend growth of around 8%. However, downside risks have increased. Overall some moderation in growth is expected in 2011-12," the RBI said in the pre-quarterly review of its monetary policy 2011-12.

"Signs of moderation in growth have emerged lately. Sequentially growth had decelerated in each quarter of 2010-11, though it still remained close to the trend in the fourth quarter (January-March 2011)," it added.

The gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter was at 7.8% -- the lowest in the four quarters of last fiscal year - that significantly pulled down the overall growth rate at 8.5% in 2010-11.

India's economy showed some moderation during the first quarter (April-June) this year which was evident from deceleration in industrial output during April-May 2011 and in consumption of cement, steel and automobiles, the review said.

The manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) also dropped to a nine-month low in June 2011 at 55.3, indicating a serious moderation in growth, the review added.

In the Monetary Policy Statement May 2011-12, the RBI projected GDP growth rate at around 8% with a 90% probability of falling in the 7.4%-8.5% range.

Recently, the Indian government scaled down the country's GDP growth rate to 8.6% from the earlier projection of around 9%.

Copyright Contify.com

RBI hike repo, reverse repo by 50 bps each

Yahoo! India Finance, On Tuesday 26 July 2011, 11:07 AM

The Reserve Bank of India has continued its hawkish stance and increased both the repo and the reverse repo rate by 50 basis points each. The repo rate will now be 8 percent while the reverse repo rate will be increased to 7 per cent.

This has taken the market by surprise as most analysts expected the central bank to be more dovish and only announce a 25 basis point repo rate hike given the fall in India's industry growth.

The central bank, however, will henceforth take further action after looking at the inflation trajectory.

A shocked market saw a major set back, with the Nifty sliding 60 points and the Sensex losing 180 points.

Mumbai blasts: PM announces ex-gratia assistance for victims

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has announced ex-gratia assistance of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased in Mumbai bomb blasts.

"The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has announced ex-gratia assistance of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased in bomb blasts in Mumbai yesterday and the assistance for those seriously injured in the blasts is one lakh rupees," a Prime Minister's Office release said.

At least 18 people were killed over 130 others were injured in the three blasts that took place in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.

The three serial blasts rocked Zaveri Bazaar, a popular jewellery market, the busy business area around Opera House and the crowded Dadar area of Central Mumbai between 6.45 p.m. and 7.04 p.m. (ANI)

IEDs were prepared with sophistication: Home secretary

New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The ammonium nitrate-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used in the Mumbai blasts were 'not crude' and indicated that they were prepared with 'some level of sophistication', union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said here Thursday.

'Preliminary investigations indicate the use of IEDs with ammonium nitrate-based explosives (in the Mumbai blasts). The IEDs are not crude. They indicate some level of sophistication,' Singh told reporters here, a day after triple blasts in Mumbai Wednesday evening killed 17 people and injured 131.

The union home ministry has been updating the media regularly about the latest on the terror attack.

Chief of the premier anti-terror National Investigation Agency (NIA) S.C Sinha was in Mumbai and was overseeing the probe into the blast case, the home secretary said.

The NIA, he said, has three teams led by an inspector general assisting the investigators from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad and the Mumbai police.

Besides, four forensic teams have visited the blast sites and are assisting the investigators, Singh said.

IANS

All efforts to prevent Mumbai-type attacks: PM

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday said the government 'will do everything in its power' to prevent Mumbai-type terrorist attacks.

In his statement on arrival here Thursday evening, Manmohan Singh said: 'I assure the people that the government will do everything in its power to prevent such attacks in the future.'

Seventeen people were killed and 131 others injured in a series of bomb blasts in three busy Mumbai areas Wednesday evening.

'In the final analysis, it is the unity and strength of the people that will defeat these efforts to divide our people and destroy our civilized way of life,' said the prime minister, who is accompanied by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

During his visit, Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the injured people undergoing treatment and discuss the security situation in Mumbai with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and senior officials.

99 pc terror attacks stopped: Rahul Gandhi

Bhubaneswar, July 14 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Thursday said that 99 percent of the terror attacks had been stopped in the country, thanks to various measures, including improved intelligence.

Addressing a press conference here, a day after serial bombings in Mumbai killed at least 17 people and injured more than 130, the Congress MP called for efforts to stop terrorist attacks in the country.

'It is very difficult to stop any single terrorist attack,' he said, adding that 99 percent of the attacks have been stopped. 'We must stop 100 percent attack.'

Referring to Wednesday's attack, Gandhi said the response of the government was prompt. 'We are responding to it in a quite organised fashion.'

Gandhi, the son of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, is on a two-day visit to Orissa beginning Wednesday to strengthen the grassroots base of the party.

He returns to New Delhi Thursday.

IANS

List of those killed in Mumbai bombings

Mumbai, July 14 (IANS) Here's a list of the 17 people killed in the Mumbai serial blasts Wednesday, including four who remain unidentified, as procured from various hospitals.

Bombay Hospital:

1. Himmatbhai Kalubhai Gadiya, Male, 49

J.J. Hospital:

2. Guman Singh Mohar Singh Rathod, Male, 35

3. Lalchand Ahuja, Male, 45

Harkisandas Hospital:

4. Mohan Nair, Male, 46

5. Tushar Kolambe, Male, 30

6. Sunil Kumar Jain, Male

7. Unknown

8. Unknown

9. Unknown

Saifee Hospital:

10. Tushar Rameshchandra Shah, Male 48

11. Sandip Champaklal Shah, Male, 38

12. Ajgar Darodia, Male

13. Unknown

G.T. Hospital:

14. Rajesh Khamji Khedekar, Male, 28

15. Pankaj Soni, Male 22

16. Premraj Motilal Soni, Male, 45

17. Kisan Shivsadan Mandal, Male, 35

Congress advises Telangana leaders to be patient

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Caught in a bind over demands for carving out a separate state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, the Congress Wednesday called for patience on the 'emotive' issue.

'Gerrymandering the state boundaries is an emotive, sensitive issue. The only prescription that works in these circumstance is patience and patience. Given the sensitivity, stay engaged but stay patient,' Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in response to a volley of questions on the party's stance towards renewed agitation in Telangana.

The Congress leader said the demand for separate state was not new and has a historical context.

Without directly mentioning resignations of legislators and MPs belonging to Telangana in support of their demand, Tewari said things should be seen in a wider perspective and 'duty of every public representative is to serve the country first'.

Congress leaders informally said the party had limited area of manoeuverability as the demand for statehood had not found an endorsement in other regions of Andhra Pradesh.

They said party has to move carefully as it has to be sure that any decision taken does not create a bigger impasse.

They said while conceptually remaining committed to creation of new state, the party was keen for some kind of consensus to emerge.

Party sources said that the Congress may get only a limited credit if a new state is created at this stage and its position would become vulnerable in other regions of the state.

The Congress tally in Andhra Pradesh contributed handsomely to its performance in the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

IANS

Guards bag prisoner in Mexico suitcase jailbreak

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A Mexican prisoner hoped to take a trip to freedom by packing himself into his girlfriend's suitcase.

But guards at the jail in the southeastern town of Chetumal grew suspicious when the woman seemed nervous as she wheeled out the bulging bag after a conjugal visit with the prisoner.

Opening the luggage, guards found Juan Ramirez folded into the fetal position in his underpants and socks, a spokeswoman for local federal police said on Tuesday.

Ramirez and his girlfriend face criminal charges over the bungled escape.

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by John O'Callaghan)

Why the web is a much better way of delivering CME for doctors

Most doctors learn best around their patients, because this information is " sticky" . For most patients with "routine" clinical problems, doctors do not need to refer to their text books . They use their experience to deal with bread and butter problems. However, when they are presented with a patient who has an unusual clinical problem , they do need to refer to medical text books and journals - and the most useful medical information is the information which they can access easily at the " point of care ". Once they encounter a patient with a particular illness , and learn about the management of this issue at that time, this is information which remains with them for the rest of their life, so they can easily access it again whenever they encounter another patient with a similar problem. This is why clinical experience is so highly valued - and why patients are so relieved when their doctor says - I have seen a patient like you before !" .

The best way of providing this kind of "patient-specific" information to doctors is through the internet. The web has now become practically ubiquitous all over India - and most doctors have a PC and/or smartphone with an internet connection.

The good news is also that there are lots of online resources about diseases available free. However, most of these resources are for patients - and while they can be very useful, not only is their quality is patchy , they are often of limited use to doctors, because they are not technical or detailed enough ; and may not be regularly updated.

These free resources - for example, open source medical textbooks and journals are very useful for a quick review - and while some are of high quality, they are still not always reliable or authoritative.

The gold standard is still published medical journals and textbooks. All publishers recognise this fact, which is why all medical journals are now available online. However, doctors need to pay a subscription fee to access these journals - and these fees can add up very quickly !

Ideally, what Indian doctors need is a single web site, which provides them access to the full text of updated reliable published medical books and journals , which they can refer to when they are stumped by a patient; or need to brush up their knowledgebase. It should be available 24/7; be affordable; cover all specialties; be updated and authoritative; and without advertising.

The good news is that MDConsult meets all these needs - and my next article will discuss how Indian doctors are using MDConsult.

Rs 1.2 lakh cr black money from child labour

Rs 1.2 lakh cr black money from child labour

NEW DELHI, June 12 – Amid a heated debate over bringing back unaccounted money stashed abroad, a child rights outfit has claimed that child labour generates Rs 1.2 lakh crore of black money every year in India, reports PTI.

According to a report ‘Capital Corruption: Child Labour in India’ prepared by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), the figure was arrived at by calculating the number of child labourers, the income earned by them and the illicit profits being generated by employers by not appointing adult workers.

“The greed for maximisation of profit fuels the demand for child labour, with children as cheapest form of labour. Child labour, corruption and flow of black money, fuel and sustain each other in an illicit nexus that only profits the employers and the middlemen,” the study said.

On arriving at the figure, the study said there were around six crore child labourers in the country who assumingly work for approximately 200 days in a year on an average cost of Rs 15 per child per day.

“The amount so calculated is Rs 18,000 crore in a year. Now, if these six crore child labourers can be substituted with the six crore adults with an average floor wage of Rs 115 per day, one labourer would generate Rs 1,38,000 crore. “The difference between these two amount amounts to Rs 1.20 lakh crore,” the study claimed.

Baba Ramdev ends fast

Baba Ramdev ends fast

DEHRADUN, June 12 – Yoga guru Baba Ramdev today broke his nine-day-old fast that sparked a political slugfest heeding appeals of spiritual and religious leaders but vowed to continue his campaign against corruption, reports PTI.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar, who met the 46-year-old yoga exponent for the third day at a Dehradun hospital to persuade him to give up his fast said, “Ramdev has broken his fast by taking juice.”

“He ended the fast in the presence of various religious and spiritual leaders”, The Art of Living Founder said. Doctors said he will be discharged from hospital in two-three days though his condition is “stable”.

The Congress and the BJP welcomed Ramdev’s decision to end the fast. Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said it is “good news” while BJP spokesperon Ravi Shankar Prasad said the party had a “sense of satisfaction”.

Ramdev, who went on a hunger strike to protest against corruption and black money issues, was admitted to the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences here on Friday after his condition deteriorated at his Patanjali Yogapeeth ashram in Haridwar.

Vijay Dhasmana, the hospital director, said, “I am thankful to everyone who came here and helped Ramdev to break his fast. His health is not such that he can be discharged today. “It will take two-three days for him to be out of this hospital. By evening he will be shifted to a deluxe general ward. His condition is stable and he has broken his fast.”

The yoga exponent’s close associate Balakrishna, who also ended his fast at the hospital, said, “Ramdev has considered the request of hundreds of his followers and people from the saints’ fraternity”.

Balakrishna said, “He (Ramdev) will take this satyagraha forward till his last breath.

“The protest will continue till our last breath. Ramdev wants black money to be declared as national wealth constitutionally. We appeal to all our followers and other people to break their fast as well,” Balakrishna said.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy had met Ramdev.

Asked if the battle against the government was lost, Balakrishna said, “It is not a a matter of who wins or who loses. The aim was to wake up the nation against corruption and now people have woken up and the fight will continue.”

Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy said, “It is a matter of great satisfaction for the whole nation. Protests should be done in front of people who have a heart. Protests against corruption will continue. We all are with him.” Swamy was present when Ramdev took the juice.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had been meeting Ramdev at the hospital to persuade him to end his hunger strike. He had come from Haridwar where he had gone to immerse the ashes of his father who died recently.

Morari Bapu, a religious leader, said, “I came to meet him and to take stock of his health. I am happy to note that he has broken the fast and taken juice. Whatever message he wanted to give has been given.”

Soon after the announcement was made that Ramdev had ended his fast, a number of his supporters shouted anti-government and pro-Ramdev slogans.

“We all are happy that Ramdev has broken his fast and we all are with him to fight corruption and to bring back black money,” said Rajesh Kumar, a follower who came here from Jharkhand along with 50 others.

Earlier doctors attending on him had said, “His condition is stable. Ramdev’s blood pressure and pulse rate and all other parameters are the same. There was slight variation in his BP. It has tripped thrice today.”

Rs 450cr recovered from tax evaders

NEW DELHI: A revenue intelligence arm of the finance ministry has unearthed excise and service tax evasion to the tune of Rs 5,700 crore in the last one year. Actions have been initiated against evaders comprising bigwigs from sectors such as telecom, iron and steel, copper, cement and plastic. Recoveries of Rs 450 crore have already been made.

The Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI) has booked 1,200 cases of duty evasion in the financial year ending March 2011, amounting to Rs 5,708 crore, sources said.

Evasion of more than Rs 1,350 crore has been detected on account of wrongful Cenvat credit and excise duties. The highest duty evasion was, however, on the service tax front where officials have made cases amounting to more than Rs 4,300 crore. If penalty is levied, the amount to be recovered from these industries could be upwards of Rs 10,000 crore.

On service tax front, evasion has been found in the areas of import of services such as hiring of consultants and specialized services by Indian arms of telecom, business auxiliary, banking and financial sectors among others from foreign countries.

To plug the loopholes on duty evasion, the finance ministry had introduced major amendments in the Cenvat credit rules this year. It had broadened the definition of "input" goods by stating that "all goods used in the factory by the manufacturer of the final product, except those specified in the negative list and goods having no relationship whatsoever with the manufacture of final product would qualify for treatment as inputs." Almost everything used in a factory, except food consumed by employees, was brought into the tax net.

In addition, it was specified that "any goods including accessories cleared along with the final product and goods used for providing free warranty have also been included in the definition of inputs. Similarly, goods used for generation of electricity or steam for captive use also constituted inputs."

Despite these amendments, sleuths found that largescale goods were removed from some of these factories clandestinely without payment of duties. Some iron and steel industries bought scrap from local markets but manufactured fake invoices and claimed huge Cenvat credit on them showing these goods as purchase of sponge.