In her first public statement on Anna Hazare's campaign to draft an effective Jan Lokpal bill, social activist Arundhati Roy said that corruption was presented as a moral issue rather than a political one to Hazare's supporters who thronged Jantar Mantar.
As Anna Hazare's fast entered its seventh day on Monday, his aides alleged that efforts are being made to disrupt the movement as "certain people" are scared about the massive support enjoyed by the Gandhian.
Anna Hazare on Wednesday said he is going to embark on a nation wide movement against corruption from November 30 and will soon form a core committee.
Questions were raised on Sunday about the use of funds donated by the public to Team Anna with Swami Agnivesh alleging that money was deposited in the trust run by Arvind Kejriwal from which the names of major team members were missing, a claim dismissed as made "out of anger".
Devinder Sharma, distinguished food security expert who has been with India Against Corruption since its inception, talks about their future plans and where he hopes the movement will go and what they hope to achieve.
A day before Anna Hazare is to reach Delhi to hold discussions about taking forward the anti-graft movement, Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption (IAC) on Monday claimed that 76 per cent of people surveyed were in favour of forming a political party.
Gandhian Anna Hazare on Friday announced a 'jail bharo' movement across the country on April 13 after the government rejected his demands of chairmanship of the joint drafting committee being given to a civil society member and for a formal notification.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare is likely to rope in Bollywood actor Aamir Khan for the new phase of his movement, which he plans to launch in January.
Lending his support to Anna Hazare's movement against corruption, former army chief Gen V K Singh on Friday asked the people to "throw" the corrupt out of power and support the alternative political force sponsored by the activist.
Government decision-making may soon become a casualty
Holding that those backing Anna Hazare's movement against corruption don't know what they are for, Congress member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has said the Jan Lokpal will create a "supra-institution" that would be a law unto itself.
'AAP lost as it failed to understand the need to serve people selflessly and took the wrong path. Money took the front seat which dented AAP's image, leading to its defeat'
Kargil 1999. Mumbai terror attacks 2008. And now, social activist Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption and enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal law. Very few moments in recent Indian history have been as electric as these three in bringing Indians of all hues together. Prasanna D Zore reports from New Delhi.
"We should raise a movement like Anna Hazare. Many who have left AAP and others including lawyers, doctors need to unite to form an organisation parallel to political parties," he said, adding, "We will form a big organisation within six months."
The whole nation is watching TV visuals from the Ramlila Grounds and other places in India, with a mix of feelings regarding the epic anti-corruption struggle being waged by social activist Anna Hazare and his followers from different age groups and different strata of society. And, it is not the Arab Spring, or a Jasmine Revolution, writes B Raman.
The government should accommodate Anna's suggestions on the Lokpal Bill, says Ram Madhav.
The desperation of the middle class in heralding Anna Hazare as the Second Gandhi is symptomatic of a typical Indian mindset, says Navneet Anand
Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Saturday said anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare lacks the scientific ideas that are needed to solve the problem of graft.
Arvind Kejriwal and two of his supporters are scheduled to go on an indefinite fast from July 25. But this round of fasting will not only not include Anna Hazare, it would also be without the platform of India Against Corruption's Facebook page.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani on Tuesday said he welcomed the anti-corruption movements of Anna Hazare and Ramdev, but noted that Parliament has the sole authority to enact legislations, including the anti-corruption law.
While senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said on Tuesday that Anna Hazare must be praised for the 'good work' he has done in his native village Ralegan Siddhi, he continued his tirade against the social activist's movement and Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal.
Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday described activist Anna Hazare's decision to snap ties with the pro-politics group in the anti-corruption movement as "shocking and unbelievable" and said the veteran activist's principles will be the foundation of their party. "We respect Anna Hazare, he is our guru and father. Wednesday's developments came as a complete surprise. It was shocking, unbelievable, unfortunate and sad," Kejriwal told reporters.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare is all set to launch his second fast against corruption in New Delhi from August 16. He, and his followers, are peeved by the government's shrewd strategies to quell the civil society movement for a stronger Jan Lokpal Bill.
Noting the country is passing through a transitional phase, Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju on Monday said social activist Anna Hazare and Yoga Guru Ramdev's crusade against corruption is nothing but an empty gas.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has driven Indian government into a political corner, the US media has said, but a leading paper feels that the methods being used by the social activist are a recipe for 'anarchy.'
In Parliament on Tuesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party urged Speaker Meira Kumar to suspend Question Hour to discuss activist Anna Hazare's indefinite fast against corruption.
The Baharatiya Janata Party on Sunday hailed Anna Hazare's agitation as one that had awakened even the non-political class and insisted that such movements also have a place in democracy as they serve to change the status quo. The BJP felt Anna Hazare's agitation had achieved much for democracy and empowerment of the people.
Lok Satta party president Dr Jayaprakash Narayan may have his differences with Anna Hazare over the Lokpal Bill, but he salutes the Gandhian's efforts to bring the youth and the middle class to the forefront of the anti-corruption movement. Sheela Bhatt reports
The team that is forming the strategy to take on Anna Hazare is so confused and incoherent that in spite of Team Anna's few missteps, the UPA government is unable to counter them. Says a senior minister and a leader with political sense, "We are worried about losing the battle for minds." Sheela Bhatt reports.
Mazloom Nadaf, an old, frail rickshaw puller and Right to Information Act activist in Bihar's Madhubani district, has been on fast for the last six days in support of social activist Anna Hazare's demand for a strong Lokpal in the country.
The actress stars in a film called Corruption, that's inspired from Anna Hazare's movement.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will join social activist Anna Hazare in his protest against the land ordinance on Tuesday at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The second part of lawyer and brain behind the Anna Hazare campaign, Prashant Bhushan's interview to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
Key Team Anna member N Santosh Hegde on Monday appeared to be in disagreement with Anna Hazare's decision to disband the team, which he said could have "gone on" to create a mass awareness on corruption and maladministration without resorting to the path of fasting.
A day after India Against Corruption started a survey on forming a political party, some prominent members and volunteers of erstwhile Team Anna on Sunday urged Anna Hazare to delink himself from Arvind Kejriwal and revive the 'apolitical' anti-graft movement.
'He didn't implement good policies for good politics.' 'He never worked on comprehensive policy-making.' 'In Kejriwal's own constituency youths are jobless.'
Ever since veteran social activist Anna Hazare was lodged in the Tihar Jail in New Delhi, the whole of India has been swamped by peaceful protests. Angry protestors are expressing their angst against the malice of corruption.
Right to Information activist Arvind Kejriwal has been in the forefront of the massively publicised movement to demand a Lokpal Bill. A close associate of Gandhian Anna Hazare, Kejriwal has staunchly defended the movement and rebuffed many allegations made against civil society activists by the ruling Congress party. He has also taken on senior Congress leaders like Digvijaya Singh and Pranab Mukherjee who had taken pot shots at Hazare's movement.
In a bid to rejuvenate his movement, Anna Hazare on Friday decided to expand his core team by inviting prominent citizens like former Army chief Gen V K Singh besides considering formation of anti-corruption centres at district level.
A powerful campaign has been launched against Hazare and the movement he led. 'Anti democratic', 'Fascist' are some of the adjectives hurled at him. There is a less than subtle attempt to paint him a Hindu fundamentalist, writes Colonel Anil Athale (retd)
