Amid a strong anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said Parliament should set aside all business and pass a strong Lokpal Bill at the earliest so that questions raised over the credibility of Legislature are answered.
Yoga guru Ramdev, who along with his supporters faced police crackdown during their agitation at Ramlila Maidan, on Monday, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking him to exercise "self restraint" and ensure that similar action was not taken against Anna Hazare and his team.
Activist Anna Hazare and the government seem to be headed for a confrontation with the Gandhian on Saturday deciding to go ahead with his indefinite fast from August 16 for a "strong" Lokpal.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee accused Bharatiya Janata Party of being responsible for the Rajya Sabha's failure to pass the Lokpal Bill by changing its stand within 24 hours.
With Lok Sabha taking up the Lokpal Bill for debate, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said it will press for amendments and support parties seeking changes in the proposed legislation if there is common ground.
As he prepares to go on a three-day fast for a strong Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare and his team on Sunday shot off an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MPs urging them to make the best possible law which includes provisions for an independent investigative wing for the ombudsman.
Team Anna on Tuesday said extension of Winter Session of Parliament will be worth only if a strong Lokpal Bill is brought with Central Bureau of Investigation out of government control.
The Communist Party of India on Friday said the Left will move an adjournment motion in the Winter Session of Parliament on the price rise issue as it accused the United Progressive Alliance government of not being able to control double-digit inflation and demanded deregulation of fuel prices.
The government on Tuesday wondered why Team Anna keeps on issuing warnings when the Centre has repeatedly announced its commitment to bring a strong Lokpal Bill at the earliest.
Anna Hazare has put off his planned yatra against the Congress demanding a strong Lokpal Bill and will now wait till the end of the winter session of Parliament.
The case of Gujaratis also the eye-opener for all Indians, who are agitating for the Lokpal bill.
Anna Hazare, who was admitted in a hospital in Gurgaon after he ended his 12-day fast for a strong Lokpal Bill, is stable and moving towards normalcy, doctors said on Monday.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that there is a need for a strong Lokpal Bill to deal with the menace of corruption.
Anna Hazare is awaiting a written assurance from the government on the Lokpal Bill issue before ending his indefinite fast which entered its ninth day on Wednesday.
Team Anna member and former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice (retd) N Santosh Hegde on Tuesday appealed to Anna Hazare to end his eight-day fast, saying everyone is "honestly" concerned about his health.
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that there was "no division" in the United Progressive Alliance over the Lokpal issue even as his party spokesperson criticised Anna Hazare's arrest.
The Delhi Police finds itself in a piquant situation after allowing Team Anna Hazare's India Against Corruption to fast for a strong Lokpal Bill upto September 2 at the Ramleela grounds. The place has been booked by another organisation for a rally on September 1.
Unfazed by the resistance from the government and some quarters to the civil society's demand for inclusion of prime minister in the ambit of the proposed Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Tuesday asserted he would not hesitate to fight against Opposition parties that did not support a strong anti-corruption ombudsman.
His former blogger, Raju Parulekar on Tuesday said youth from various parts of the country will hold a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar from December 10 against Hazare and his supporters.
Arvind Kejriwal, member of the panel drafting the Lokpal bill, responds to criticism that civic society is trying to usurp democracy and also explains the need for stronger Lokpal bill to tackle corruption.
Social activist Anna Hazare will observe a week-long maun vrat (fasting into silence)' from October 17 at his native Ralegan Siddhi village for "peace of soul", a close aide of the Gandhian said in Pune on Saturday.
Doctors have advised Anna Hazare, whose fast entered eighth day on Tuesday, not to venture into the sun as it could have a negative impact on his health.
Looking fit on his fourth day of fast, the 73-year old Gandhian came out of the jail premises and made a brief address to the waiting supporters that the "second freedom struggle" has started.
Anna Hazare's 15-day fast for a strong Lokpal Bill may go beyond the period depending upon the government's response to the agitation.
At least 50 supporters of Anna Hazare were on Monday night detained by Delhi police at Jai Prakash Narain Park, the venue of the anti-graft crusader's planned fast from Tuesday, for defying prohibitory orders clamped in the area.
Anna Hazare on Tuesday alleged he is being targeted by the government, claiming his records in the Army were being checked and people sent to his village in Maharashtra to check on his organisation.
Extending support to social activist Anna Hazare over Lokpal Bill issue, Mumbai's famous dabba-walas (lunch-box carriers) on Friday said there would be no service on August 16, the day he proposes to start his hunger strike.
Following is the test of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan SIngh's opening remarks at the all party meet on the Lokpal bill:
Anna Hazare on Thursday said he was not afraid of death and dared the government to fire bullets in the event of his going on fast to press for a strong Lokpal bill.
"The government has failed to provide a strong Lokpal Bill. Hence Shri Anna Hazare and IAC have decided to go on Andolan from the 27th across India. AnnaJi will fast for 3 days in Mumbai, 27th, 28th and 29th December. On 30th He has announced a Jail Bharo for 3 days," says the press release sent out by India Against Corruption.
Anna Hazare on Saturday said he will sit on an indefinite fast in jail if the police do not grant him permission for his proposed protest at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan for a strong Lokpal. "I will sit on a fast in jail. Who can stop me from going on a fast in jail? Nobody can stop me in jail," he told reporters.
Announcing his agitation, Hazare has asked the Centre to "show courage" in bringing in the bill in the Winter session of Parliament, beginning from December 5.
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