Noted filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and eminent historian K N Panikkar have raised questions on Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, accusing him of adopting an "authoritarian" approach in selecting civil society members in the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill.
What one saw Anna Hazare breaking his fast unto death after the government accepted his demands relating to the enactment of legislation to set up an independent institutional mechanism to deal with corruption, was the end of the initial tactical phase of this confrontation, and the beginning of the strategic phase, feels B Raman.
As droves of people flocked to Ramlila Maidan to voice their support for Anna Hazare, lack of water and sanitation facilities at the venue tested the resolve of quite a few supporters.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal will break his indefinite fast against "inflated" power and water bills on Saturday on the 15th day of his protest after launching the second phase of the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.
In an exclusive interview to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt, Arvind Kejriwal said that people should vote for a party they think will ensure a better future.
Silent support for the movement, which has recently turned its guns against industry, has come from India Inc as well, mainly from Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy, who made donations of Rs 25 lakhs (Rs 2.5 million) in 2011.
In India democracy is only notional. One can see the discriminatory nature of policies for different classes of citizens. The policies adopted have increased the gap between the rich and the poor. This is not just corruption, it is a big scam! says Sandeep Pandey.
Activist Kiran Bedi on Friday said Team Anna members felt "let down" by Rahul Gandhi's lack of support for the anti-corruption movement as they thought that he would work with them to ensure that the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed in Parliament.
In an interview, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal tells Business Standard's Manish Kumar that his party will not be a junior partner in any government that is formed in Delhi.
Why did Yogendra Yadav, the well-respected psephologist and astute political thinker, join Arvind Kejriwal's political movement? In this exclusive interview with NDTV Editor Sreenivasan Jain, Dr Yadav spells out his reasons. Reproduced with kind courtesy NDTV Profit.
Failing to get any reprieve from the Delhi high court, the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will move the Supreme Court soon against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and maintained the excise policy case was the 'biggest political conspiracy of the country' to finish the party.
Facing controversy, the Congress on Thursday washed its hands off party spokesperson Rashid Alvi's comments suspecting a foreign hand behind Anna Hazare's anti-graft movement and resenting American comments on the agitation.
A rare Bharatiya Janata Party leader with no Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh link, Kiran Bedi, the party's chief ministerial nominee for Delhi, described the Sangh as "very nationalistic" that has kept India united.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley elaborates on why he thinks the final government draft of the Lokbal Bill is a flawed one.
Anna Hazare on Wednesday broke his nine-day fast at his village Ralegan Siddhi shortly after Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal Bill, and announced he would form "watchdog bodies" comprising people of "impeccable integrity" to keep an eye on how the law is enforced.
After being questioned about his wealth in the wake of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, the Telugu Desam Party President and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Friday declared his assets and those of his family members.
Impressed by social activist Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement, a youngster from Bihar, Ajay Kumar, has filed a petition to Vaishali district magistrate to probe into ill-gotten money of his father - a retired government official.
The biggest problem today is that all political parties have become united, which is disastrous to the cause, says Justice Santosh Hegde.
India Against Corruption member Manish Sisodia, who along with social activist Anna Hazare was arrested by the Delhi police on August 16, told rediff.com that the Ramlila Ground arrangements will be financed using donations collected by people who had gathered at the ground, and those who support the anti-corruption movement.
Nandan Nilekani, the chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India and former Infosys CEO, has said that activist Anna Hazare's protest was unjustified when the Lokpal Bill was before Parliament for consideration.
Sandeep Dikshit, Congress Member of Parliament and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's son, on Tuesday attributed his party's defeat in the Delhi civic polls to a disconnect between the party and the people. He also claimed that an environment was created by reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare that made people believe the Congress was at the "centre of all the wrong" that was happening.
Anupam Kher clarifies about his statements over the Anna Hazare incident.
Anti corruption crusader Anna Hazare surprised everybody at the Ramlila Grounds when he landed at the place at 2 pm even while a couple of India Against Corruption speakers kept telling his followers that he would be at Rajghat at 2 pm. Prasanna D Zore reports.
In an interview with rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that even though he supports the cause, he would never support anybody who resorts to violence.
People must vote against the ruling alliance at Centre led by Congress if it failed to pass the Jan Lokpal bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said at Ralegan Siddhi village where Anna Hazare is observing fast for passage of the bill.
India needs to revisit governance if it wishes to reduce corruption.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was sent to Tihar Jail after a court remanded him in judicial custody till April 15 in the excise policy case, will remain under 24x7 watch with CCTV cameras in his cell and could watch TV and read books, officials said.
"He (Modi) is concerned more about corporates than farmers," Hazare told PTI in an interview in Latur.
"Feel nostalgic when I see this picture. We had burnt government's 'jokepal' at that time," Kejriwal tweeted, attaching a picture of him holding a burning copy of the draft Lokpal back in 2011.
With Congress hubris reduced to ashes and the BJP's advance halted -- a new political force has made its entry in the turbulent waters of Indian politics. It is a new force, with people who seem to be ready to learn and who have, at every step so far, responded by taking seriously all the criticisms that were levelled at it, says Aditya Nigam.
In an exclusive chat with Rediff.com, AAP leader Ashutosh says the biggest challenge for the party would be to "develop a model for alternate politics"
'There was a time when a movie star could win an election just by stepping into politics. That era is over.'
Making an electrifying debut in high-profile Delhi Assembly polls in which it routed Congress, the Aam Admi Party on Sunday ruled out taking support of any political party to form the government, saying it will play the role of a "constructive opposition".
From 26-year-old Rakhi Birla to 41-year-old Manish Sisodia, the soon-to-be Delhi Cabinet is not just going to be the youngest ever but also probably the first in which all members, including the chief minister, are debutant members of Legislative Assembly.
With its landslide victory in Punjab assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party has achieved a major milestone in its journey so far and emerged as an alternative in the national politics.
Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti's Mimi Didi, flew in from LA for the engagement ceremony.
Expelled Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav on Wednesday said he has not received any official communication from the party regarding his expulsion, and still considers himself to be a part of the 'movement'.
With Jan Lokpal being the prime focus of Arvind Kejriwal's party and crowds donning a new version of the Hazare caps which read, 'Mein hun aam aadmi', its launch was reminiscent of the Anna movement. Priyanka reports from New Delhi
Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan on Friday claimed the Delhi government's new Janlokpal Bill is different from what was drafted during the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement, as the appointment and removal of an independent ombudsman will now be done by the state government.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal was attacked by an unidentified person during a road show in the Dakshinpuri area of South Delhi. The former chief minister blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for the assault.
