Both films will fall short of target.
With his government facing scathing criticism over multiple scams, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday promised a strong Lokpal to end corruption and asserted that hunger strikes will not help address the problem, in an apparent reference to Anna Hazare's agitation.
Saffron-clad social activist Swami Agnivesh, who had a bitter fallout with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, has agreed to be a part of reality show 'Bigg Boss' which is into its fifth season.
Leaders of political parties met in Delhi on Sunday to evolve a consensus on Lokpal Bill amid a demand by civil society group led by Anna Hazare that the proposed law should have the prime minister and the higher judiciary within its ambit.
Promising all efforts to get the Lokpal Bill passed in the current session of Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday expressed confidence that it will be brought to the Cabinet on Sunday.
Immediately after Parliament agreed to Anna Hazare's three key demands on Lokpal Bill, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday sent him a letter conveying the same and urged the Gandhian to give up his 12-day fast. "As you know, Parliament today discussed Lokpal related issues. You will be happy to know that both Houses of Parliament have passed a resolution on the three points raised by you," Dr Singh said in the letter which was handed over to Hazare.
With Team Anna stepping up the heat on the corruption issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the government was open to reasoned debate on the Lokpal Bill but made it clear that there was no single solution to tackle the problem.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari said, "The party has not yet taken any decision on Uma Bharati's return. The issue is still being discussed." A party leader said the party's decision may be possible after the elections to the Bihar assembly are over.
Social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday virtually dismissed allegations against Shanti Bhushan, the co-chair of the Lokpal Bill joint drafting committee, in a CD controversy and backed his presence on the panel.
Seven years is a long time for any of Modi's promised actions to show up. If voters are angry and cynical today, it is because the rhetoric stings, argues Ramesh Menon.
Here's a recap of the big events that shaped the nation over the weekend.
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to march against the land bill on March 25 from Sevagram.
Accusing the government of going back on its assurances to give a strong Lokpal Bill, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Friday threatened to start another country-wide agitation to achieve his demand of a pro-people Jan Lokpal. Slamming the government Lokpal draft, Hazare took on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and accused them of not fulfilling the promises made to him.
Civil society led by Anna Hazare on Monday hit back at the government over the charge that it was undermining Parliament and Constitution and asked why an "honest" man like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is "scared" of being investigated by the Lokpal.
Charging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with having 'silently watched' the 2G spectrum scam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Jayalalitha on Monday said he was a "weak-kneed head of state taking cover under coalition dharma."
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Tuesday reiterated his demand for stringent punishment to those accused in rape cases.
Directly reaching out to Anna Hazare on the eighth day of his fast, a concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to the Gandhian to end his hunger strike with a promise that his version of Lokpal Bill could be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee if rules permit.
Activist Anna Hazare on Saturday threatened to sit on an indefinite fast again in Delhi from October demanding passage of 'Janlokpal Bill'.
The two leaders also discussed the special category status promised to the southern state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of failing to act on corruption cases, saying it was the cause of people's angry reactions and huge support to Anna Hazare's campaign for an effective Lokpal bill.
Terming the joining of hands of civil society and government on the Lokpal Bill issue as a step that augurs well for democracy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the government intended to introduce the "historic legislation" in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Speaking in unison, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, key United Progressive Alliance ally Dravida Munettra Kazhagam and other parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday condemned the Centre's stand on continued training of Sri Lankan military, with All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam chief castigating government for 'insensitivity' and the DMK accusing it of hurting Tamils.
Supporters of erstwhile Team Anna on Sunday marched towards Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence as part of their 'gherao' protest against the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on the coal block allocation issue.
The House had to be adjourned twice in the afternoon amid din over the issue and finally for the day, minutes after it reassembled at 3 pm.
The contentious bill will be tables in RS on Wednesday. The BJP hopes to get up to 130 votes in a 240-member upper house.
The DMK feels its genuine gestures have had no bearing on the governor's politico-administrative conduct, which is 'more political and politicised than administrative and Constitutional', observes N Sathiya Moorthy.
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Jayalalithaa on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to break his silence on the alleged S-Band spectrum scam and come out clean on the issue.
Softening his stand on the Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare on Saturday suggested moving ahead with the amended Bill presented in the Rajya Sabha and said improvements in the legislation could be brought through amendments later.
In response to the Congress criticism that his indefinite hunger was premature, social activist Anna Hazare shot off a five-point letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. In the letter the Gandhian explains why he is continuing the hunger strike that the government has asked him to reconsider.
Parliament was disrupted for the eleventh day on Wednesday following uproar over coal block allocation as the Bharatiya Janata Party stuck to its demand for resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The stalemate in Parliament over coal block allocations entered its tenth day on Tuesday as the Bharatiya Janata Party persisted with its demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned till noon after the Opposition triggered ruckus on the issue.
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.
Usually, the chair in the Upper House reads out obituary references before members rise as a mark of respect to the memory of the departed.
Dissatisfied with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's response over alleged war-time human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said the All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam will continue to press for India supporting the US backed resolution against Colombo at United Nations Human Rights Council.
After Digvijay Singh questioned the funding of Anna Hazare's four-day hunger strike, Right to Information activist Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the Congress leader was "wrong" in claiming that Rs 50 lakh had been spent for Delhi agitation and maintained that only Rs 32 lakh were used for the campaign over the last four months.
Activist Anna Hazare on Monday said that the people's mandate is no longer with the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government and this would get reflected in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Rejecting Team Anna's allegations of corruption against him, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday declared he will quit public life if the charges on coal block allotments are proved.
Six Metro stations in central Delhi will be closed for most part of the day on Sunday, an apparent precautionary step following a call by erstwhile Team Anna to gherao residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari over the coal block allocation issue.
The Bill was supported by the members across party lines, however, some suggested to add in its purview hospital sanitary staff, ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers and 'Corona warriors' in emergency services such as police and personnel from other departments.
Actors Saif Ali Khan, Lara Dutta and Darsheel Safary have been named amongst the recipients of this year's Rajiv Gandhi Awards for their contribution to Hindi Cinema. The awards will be presented on August 17 in Mumbai.
