Broader sentiment of lack of transparency bothers most in India Inc.
Having plumped for electoral politics, Team Anna may soon face the acid test on whether to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
Justice (Retd) P B Sawant, whose probe found that an amount of Rs 2.2 lakhs was diverted from Anna Hazares trust for his birthday celebrations, on Sunday said this action amounted to "corruption."
In an interview with rediff.com's Sahim Salim, Arvind Kejriwal, who played a key role in convincing the government to allow a joint panel, consisting of government and civil society members, for the drafting of the Lok Pal bill, explains why the Anna Hazare-led movement was such a huge success.
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.
Hitting back at Digvijay Singh, Team Anna on Monday asserted that their movement had nothing to do with any political party even as the Congress leader fired another salvo, saying Anna Hazare was being "led up the garden path" by people opposed to weaker sections.
Even as a sudden and acute health problem prevented him from coming to Varanasi for a rally, social activist Anna Hazare chose to keep his date with the masses by addressing them via telephone on Friday.
Samajwadi Party on Saturday said that there was no need for Anna Hazare or the members of civil society to start a movement in Uttar Pradesh as the party is capable of fighting against corruption on its own.
Social activist Swami Agnivesh on Thursday claimed if Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not ask her party General Secretary Digvijay Singh to stop statements "contrary" to her commitment against corruption, her party's image would be affected.
The Indian Institutes of Management and Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune are using Anna Hazare and Kolaveri Di as case studies to teach management to students.
Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, the ombudsman battling corruption in Karnataka is impressed with the manner in which Anna Hazare has taken on the government this time. Here are a few excerpts from a freewheeling chat with Vicky Nanjappa:
"Two days ago, we were told by the PMO that there is no evidence to substantiate charges against the 14 ministers. We have also sent the files to Sonia Gandhi, so that she can also read it, to see what your ministers are doing," Anna Hazare said on Tuesday.
Hazare, who reached Mumbai on Monday night from his village Ralegan Siddhi, paid respects at Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Juhu before proceeding to the fast venue, MMRDA ground, in suburban Bandra in a rally.
As anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare began his day-long fast at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, thousands of his supporters came out on to the streets across the country.
For the first time, Team Anna will have a new mascot in its posters with Arvind Kejriwal's images being used in campaign material seeking support for its indefinite fast from July 25.
As Anna Hazare's fast spilled over to the 12th day, doctors on Saturday raised concerns over his health saying they are more worried as the Gandhian's blood pressure has dipped while heart beat has increased.
Anna Hazare would call of his fast the moment Parliament passes a resolution containing three of his demands or at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill, a key member of his team Prashant Bhushan said on Friday.
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.
Lashing out at the government for criticising civil society activists, Gandhian Anna Hazare on Saturday vowed to continue with the proposed August 16 agitation despite "threats" to "crush" it, saying he was willing "to face bullets and not just lathis.
Team Anna must show some humility instead of imposing its will on society. It doesn't hold a monopoly on understanding how to make governance more inclusive, clean and people-responsive. It must recognise that finally, it is Parliament that prevailed on the Lokpal legislative process, and that's how things should be, says Praful Bidwai.
The anti-corruption protest of activist Anna Hazare on Friday had a supporter in Suhail Hindustani, a key accused in 2008 cash-for-vote scam, who appeared in a Delhi court wearing a Gandhian cap written Mai Anna Hoon on it.
The Centre has initiated a dialogue process with Team Anna at various levels to break the deadlock over the Lokpal issue, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat said on Sunday.
Hundreds of villagers took to the streets along with their cattle to protest the Delhi Police's action. They were later detained by the local police.
Anna Hazare, who has been admitted to a private hospital here after suffering from a viral infection, is recovering and he should not fast at least for the next one month, doctors attending on him said on Sunday.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday stated that his movement had not been disrupted because of the split with India Against Corruption chief Arvind Kejriwal.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday said the organisation has not joined Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement but will participate if asked to do so.
Under attack over allegations of financial misconduct and demands for its disbanding, Team Anna on Sunday decided to formulate a constitution for its anti-corruption movement and revamp the core committee after that.
Training his guns simultaneously at social activist Anna Hazare, Bharatiya Janata Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Sunday sought to pep up the morale of his party men, 135 of whom have been awarded tickets for the forthcoming 2012 election to the 403-member UP state assembly.
The Congress has launched a campaign to counter the anti-graft movement by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and accused a section of civil society of trying to weaken democratic institutions.
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.
Anna Hazare on Wednesday called off his fast a day ahead of schedule and repeated his threat to campaign against Congress in the five poll-bound states for not brining a strong Lokpal.
Social activist Anna Hazare, spearheading an anti-graft movement demanding for a strong Lokpal, was on Sunday greeted with black flags by a fringe group on his arrival at the airport in Chennai.
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.
Bowing before public pressure after Anna Hazare's arrest, the Delhi police on Wednesday withdrew virtually all pre-conditions for the hunger strike by the activist and his team in the national capital.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday announced in Patna that he will continue to fight for a change in the system in the country till he is alive.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare has admitted that the public's enthusiasm for fasts has waned, as his team continues its indefinite strike for Day 3 at Jantar Mantar demanding a strong Lokpal Bill.
Reflecting a rift within Team Anna Hazare, Justice Santosh Hegde has disapproved of the anti-Congress campaign by activist Arvind Kejriwal during the Hisar bypolls, saying it was not the right thing to do and "we jumped the gun".
Anna Hazare may be on a fast for a "strong" Lokpal, but elaborate arrangements have been made to feed his supporters during the three-day protest. Poha for snacks and puri-sabji for lunch and dinner are some of the items being dished out by some organisations which have set up base at the sprawling MMRDA ground in Mumbai, the venue of the fast."We have made arrangements to provide snacks, tea and food to 10,000 people," said Sumit Gupta from Giriraj Seva Samiti.
Arvind Kejriwal, a close aide of Anna Hazare, said on Thursday morning that it may not be possible for thr activist to launch his protest from the Ramlila Ground as the venue was full of mud and needed to be cleaned up.
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.
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