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.
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".
All Opposition political parties were united on Tuesday in their condemnation of the government's decision to detain Anna Hazare and his aides, hours before the Gandhian activist was scheduled to go on an indefinite fast against corruption in New Delhi. Leaders of the Left Front are scheduled to meet their counterparts in the Bharatiya Janata Party and other Opposition parties at 2 pm on Tuesday to chalk out their strategy in the wake of Hazare's detention.
A fresh stand-off appears to be brewing between Anna Hazare and the government with the Gandhian seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention over the strict conditions imposed for his indefinite fast from August 16. But he was sternly told by the PM to approach the Delhi police.
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.
'An individual cannot fight the might of the State.'
Social activist Anna Hazare will kick off his nation-wide campaign against corruption from Uttar Pradesh next week. The renowned Gandhian, whose satyagrah compelled the Union government to concede his demand for a Jan Lokpal bill, will renew his movement in a big way from Varanasi, where he is scheduled to arrive along with his comrade-in-arms former top cop Kiran Bedi, right to information activist Arvind Kejriwal, and activist Swami Agnivesh on April 29.
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.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Friday night described as "internal affair" of Team Anna the sharp differences in it and declined to comment on the possibility of any break-up in the civil society led by the Gandhian.
While these major changes are taking place in the US policies, India seems stuck in the old paradigm of wishing that somehow Pakistan will turn Gandhian someday, says Colonel Anil Athale (retd)
The notification, one of the key demands of the anti-corruption campaign launched by Gandhian Anna Hazare, has been signed by V K Bhasin, Secretary, Legislative Department of the law ministry.
Prasanna D Zore and photographer Sanjay Sawant travel to Ralegan Siddhi, the Maharashtra village where Gandhian Anna Hazare started his long journey in the path of social activism
Among the old and the young who have made their way to the dharna site of Anna Hazare in New Delhi is a small group of visually handicapped students who want to 'feel the pulse' of the protest and 'see' the man who is speaking for them.
The case of Gujaratis also the eye-opener for all Indians, who are agitating for the Lokpal bill.
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.
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.
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.
Addressing media persons on Saturday evening, Anna said that the civil society had put its view before the UPA chairperson, and added that she had promised to look into the issue. The Gandhian, however, warned that if the right draft did not go to the Parliament, he would go on fast again.
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.
Interestingly, the choice of August 5 as the day of the bhoomi pujan coincides with the abolition of Kashmir's special status on the same day a year ago. Perhaps the RSS-BJP wants August 5 to be remembered as the date on which the foundation stone of their cherished Hindu rashtra was laid, notes Amulya Ganguli.
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.
Accusing the government of reducing the meetings of the joint committee to a mere "show of formality", Gandhian Anna Hazare expressed surprise that the government told them that finally two Bills will be sent to the Cabinet -- one drafted by the civil society and one by the government representatives.
'What we see today is bargaining.' 'The man's family sets a price for him and then they start bargaining.' 'He is sold to the family that offers the highest price.' 'In this market, a woman is just a commodity to be sold because if she remained at home, it is a humiliation for the family.'
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.
Anna Hazare was discharged from a hospital in Gurgaon on Wednesday evening where he was admitted on Sunday after he broke his 12-day fast demanding a strong Lokpal.
Vicky Nanjappa talks to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living foundation, on the Lokpal Bill and why Gandhian Anna Hazare's movement against corruption was lapped up by the common man
After securing Parliament's nod on key elements of Jan Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare on Sunday ended his 12-day-old fast declaring that electoral reforms will be next on his agenda.
Gandhian Anna Hazare, who had meditated at Rajghat before launching his fast on August 16, will not visit Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi after ending his hunger strike because of health reasons.
Ahead of the debate on Lokpal issue in Parliament, fasting Anna Hazare today broke his silence of nearly 38 hours and addressed his supporters declaring that he will continue his protest till his last breath for a strong anti-corruption law.
As Anna Hazare's fast entered Day 11 on Friday, the split in his team widened. It's now Swami Agnivesh and Justice Hegde versus the rest! The duo feel that Hazare should have called off the fast on Thursday and that protesting out the prime minister's residence was uncalled for.
"Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal had said the discussion on the Lokpal Bill will only take place on Monday. But to our utter surprise we got a call that Sandeep Dikshit (Cong MP) will initiate the debate on Lokpal in five minutes. The government wanted a casual debate on such an important and serious issue," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said.
The tremendous response, especially from the youth of the country to a 74-year-old Gandhian, has put paid to many political dreams. It is the leadership vacuum that Anna Hazare has filled, write Col Anil Athale
Parliament complex on Friday witnessed high drama as a supporter of Anna Hazare shouted slogans in favour of the Gandhian before being taken away by the security personnel.
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.
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.
Euphoria over Anna's release from Tihar jail was clearly visible on the streets of Lucknow, where people came out to celebrate what they termed as the "first round win" for the Gandhian.
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.
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.
If purists are surprised as to why and how people are not demanding prohibition or not talking about past promises, both in the election manifestos five years back and even those made to the courts, the answer lies in how the state has been evolving and changing these past few years, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
The Hazare Team said the Gandhian was on fast and was not even taking water after he was taken to a police facility in north Delhi.
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