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.
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.
Leader of opposition in Bihar Abdul Bari Siddiqui today suggested Anna Hazare and his aides to launch a movement against corruption from the state.
Talks between government and Team Anna Hazare ended in a deadlock on Wednesday tonight with the two sides failing to resolve the key issues, prompting the civil society to declare that they were "back to square one".
Social activist Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death entered the third day on Thursday even as a large number of people from various walks of life continued to extend support to the crusader for a stronger anti-corruption law.
Contending that communalism was a bigger a threat to India than corruption, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, on Monday asked Anna Hazare why he and his campaign managers did not do more to involve Muslims in their anti-graft movement.
Questioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's honesty, the Anna Hazare team has raised its pitch on the Lokpal Bill demanding that its version be placed before Parliament, saying that the "weak" government draft was a "joke" played on the nation.
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.
Declaring that there were no two views on the need for combating corruption, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday appealed to Anna Hazare to give up his fast, assuring the Gandhian that his views would receive government's "full attention".
Activist Swami Agnivesh, who fell out with Anna Hazare's team during the agitation over Lokpal Bill, on Tuesday sought forgiveness from the Gandhian and the others "who felt hurt" through his "unintentional acts".
Anna Hazare is all set for a full blown confrontation with the government on the Lokpal bill, giving a call to his supporters to fill up jails across the country if he is arrested on Tuesday after being denied permission to hold fast in Delhi and prohibitory orders clamped.
Even as Congress spokesman Manish Tewari on Thursday expressed regret over his remarks against Anna Hazare, the Gandhian's lawyer said a case of defamation would be filed against the Lok Sabha MP in a court in Pune next week.
Two days before Anna Hazare sits on his second round of indefinite hunger strike on August 16 to press for his demand for total acceptance of Jan Lokpal Bill, an all-out war has broken out between the Congress, United Progressive Allince government and Team Hazare. Onkar Singh reports.
After having been beaten black and blue by Team Anna, the Congress party and the government are finally waking up to take the Gandhian on even as media managers in the party have so far not come out actively against the anti-corruption crusaders.
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.
On the tenth day of Anna Hazare's fast, Lok Sabha on Thursday unanimously appealed to him to end his hunger strike as his life was "much too precious", with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying he has "registered his point" and that Jan Lokpal would be considered by Parliament.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday accused activist Anna Hazare of provoking violence, in an apparent reference to his reaction over the attack on Union minister Sharad Pawar. In two of his posts on the microblogging site Twitter, Singh said, "Anna Gandhian -- Provokes Violence. Bedi "X Cop"-- Urges People to break Law Kejriwal "X IRS"- Returns Donations to Anonymous. Shanti Bhushan "X Law Minister"- Promises to fix Judges. Pranab Da How right you are!"
Till corruption is removed from the country, people would not get their true freedom, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare said in Guwahati on Friday.
Anna Hazare received a hero's welcome on his return to his native village in Ahmednagar district Monday evening to the accompaniment of Jai Ho number, two days after the social activist ended his 98-hour fast against corruption.
Anna Hazare is suffering from severe chest congestion and doctors have advised him to get hospitalised in Pune on Sunday for further treatment. Dr Sancheti of the Sancheti hospital in Pune said he had made the suggestion for shifting the 74-year-old Gandhian from his native village in Maharashtra to Pune after medically examining him. "There is enough congestion in his chest and he has a strong cough. He can't remain in a single position for a minute," he said.
People from all walks of life took to the streets in Bihar to express their support for activist Anna Hazare and his demand for the Jan Lokpal Bill.
The letters by Hazare and Gandhi were released by the All India Congress Committee on Tuesday, on a day the Bill was slated to come up for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha.
The turnout at Mumbai's MMRDA ground may have fallen short of Team Anna's expectations, but there was no dearth of enthusiasm or anti-establishment rhetoric at the venue, finds Sanchari Bhattcharya
Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray was locked in a war of words on Friday with social activist Anna Hazare who was warned not to indulge in 'enmity' and pick up a fight after the Gandhian mocked Shiv Sena chief's old age.
Slamming the government for the police action against the Gandhian and his team, political parties accused the government of stifling the legitimate rights of the people and described it as a "sad day for Indian democracy".
Extending support to Anna Hazare's anti-graft crusade, Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday claimed that it was his party that brought corruption and black money issues to the forefront and it will firmly stand with the Gandhian in his agitation.
Accusing the government of cheating civil right activists on the issue of Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Thursday extended his support to yoga guru Ramdev's fast against corruption.
Angered over the arrest of Anna Hazare, Opposition on Wednesday dismissed as a "bundle of lies" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the issue, noting that the arrest of the Gandhian has brought people on the streets all over the country.
Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party were on Friday engaged in a slugfest over government's refusal of permission to Anna Hazare to go on a fast against the Lokpal Bill with the opposition party dubbing it as "undemocratic," a charge strongly refuted by the ruling party.
Swami Agnivesh, who had a bitter fallout with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, has said he wants to apologise to the Gandhian if he has made any mistake.
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.
Differences between Team Anna and Aam Aadmi Party came to the fore on Friday when its leader Gopal Rai tried to interrupt General V K Singh's speech at the venue and was rebuffed by Anna Hazare who has been on indefinite hunger strike for passage in Parliament of Jan Lokpal Bill.
Building on their just-revived bonhomie, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday invited Anna Hazare to the state secretariat
Activist Anna Hazare on Saturday blamed Rahul Gandhi for encouraging Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, chairman of the Standing Committee of Law and Justice, Public Grievances and Personnel, for overlooking the letter written by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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.
"Nothing to worry, I will not die till the Lokpal Bill is passed," social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday said as worries over his health mounted on the 10th day of his fast.
A day after Arvind Kejriwal demanded an open probe into his allegation on spending of India Against Corruption funds by Aam Admi Party, Anna Hazare on Tuesday said he was mainly concerned about "misuse" of his name in poll campaign and maintained the two are "not enemies".
Anna Hazare has thanked Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for his "commitment" to the passage of the Lokpal Bill in Parliament, while demanding inclusion of recommendations of the select committee in the bill.
Anna Hazare is yet to receive an invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi but would not attend even if he got one owing to ill-health.
Anna Hazare on Monday declined to comment on Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP's decision to form the new government in Delhi, but added he would express his views when his former protege acts on the Lokayukta issue.
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