Amid continuing deadlock between government and Team Anna Hazare on Lokpal, the Gandhian on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.
Expressing dismay over the government's stand over the Lokpal Bill, former Indian Police Service officer and Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said, "Who do we talk to? Usually talks happen with those who can decide something. Who do we talk to in this country? This is the big question."
Anna Hazare's campaign loomed large over the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with the Opposition targeting the government over the issue of corruption, warning that the country was sitting on a volcano which could explode if the political class failed to get its act together. Singling out the Congress-led coalition for attack, the Opposition wanted the government to realise that whatever was happening at Ramlila Maidan showed that people had become alert and angry over corruption.
The second part of lawyer and brain behind the Anna Hazare campaign, Prashant Bhushan's interview to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt.
Dinesh Trivedi, a member of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, says, "Our government is seriously bothered about Anna's health. Why is Team Anna not requesting Annaji to break his fast, even once? I believe the government is more worried about Anna's health than even Team Anna."
Grappling with the situation arising out of Anna Hazare's fast, the government on Tuesday held hectic consultations to find a way out of the logjam with Team Anna demanding that it mandate somebody officially for opening a political dialogue on the Lokpal issue.
Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney on Monday he would launch a campaign against corruption and terrorism in his country after Eid-ul-Fitr, mirroring an anti-graft drive by activist Anna Hazare in India that has gained thousands of followers. Pakistan is confronting a "dire and painful period in its history, with rampant and continuously growing corruption and terrorism destroying every fabric of our nation and any prospects of a decent future for our children".
Anna Hazare's fast to demand a strong Lokpal Bill entered the seventh day in New Delhi on Monday with his team asserting that they have no intention to topple the government.
Thousands of Delhiites today rallied behind Anna Hazare's campaign against corruption by thronging India Gate, from where they marched to Ramlila Maidan, where the Gandhian is on a fast demanding a strong Lokpal.
Speculation was rife on Sunday about back-room negotiations to resolve differences between Centre and Anna Hazare after a senior Maharashtra government official met the Gandhian in New Delhi but his team ruled out any compromise on its demand for bringing Prime Minister and higher judiciary within Lokpal's ambit.
Launching a vitriolic attack on Team Anna, Union Minister V Narayanasamy on Saturday charged that Anna Hazare was surrounded by "anti-national elements" and those supported by "foreign forces". "Anna is a simple man, but he is surrounded by anti-national elements and people who have been supported by foreign forces," the minister of state in PMO told the media at Chennai airport.
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.
Facing controversy, the Congress on Thursday washed its hands off party spokesperson Rashid Alvi's comments suspecting a foreign hand behind Anna Hazare's anti-graft movement and resenting American comments on the agitation.
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.
Leader of opposition in Bihar Abdul Bari Siddiqui today suggested Anna Hazare and his aides to launch a movement against corruption from the state.
The 'Gram Sanvad Yatra', as it is called, will start from June 18 and end on July 12 and will be anchored by Team Anna member Manish Sisodia. The yatra is aimed at drumming up support for its indefinite fast in New Delhi from July 25 against the United Progressive Alliance government for failing to pass a strong Lokpal Bill
Addressing a rally in Thane district of Maharashtra on Thursday night as part of his tour to create awareness about a strong Lokpal, the anti-corruption crusader softened his stand on the prime minister and instead appeared to blame Sonia Gandhi, without naming her
Rediff.com's Prasanna Zore in a freewheeling chat with Prashant Bhushan, member of the Lokpal bill joint drafting committee.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday evening asked Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta to revoke the detention orders against veteran activist Anna Hazare and all his supporters with immediate effect, sources told rediff.com.
In the wake of Anna Hazare's arrest, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday said a "nervous" United Progressive Alliance government was adopting an "undemocratic attitude" by laying down unreasonable conditions on peaceful protestors and misusing the police to serve its ends."The government has been adopting an undemocratic attitude outside Parliament till now. Today this was seen inside the Parliament as well. This government has lost its balance," she said.
Accusing the Opposition of not allowing the government to put forth its views in Parliament on Anna Hazare's detention, two senior ministers on Tuesday said such an attitude was "not fair" in a parliamentary system. Leader of the Lok Sabha and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the Opposition created a pandemonium in Parliament forcing its adjournment.
A legal tussle between Team Anna and the government of India now seems certain after the social activist's proposed indefinite fast against corruption was forcibly curbed by the might of the government. Vicky Nanjappa explains the nitty-gritty of such a case before the apex court.
"No fundamental right has been violated. Section 144 was already in place and anyone who breaks the law can be taken into preventive custody," Noted constituional expert Fali Nariman told rediff.com.
Delhi Police on Monday sought the services of two magistrates from Delhi government ahead of the protest by Anna Hazare and his team who have announced they would go ahead with their fast against corruption despite denial of permission for the agitation.
Social Activist Anna Hazare hit back at Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari for making false allegations against him and challenged the government to register a First Information Report against him and investigate the claims made by Tewari at a press conference.
Peeved at being denied permission to hold an indefinite fast from August 16 on a venue desired by him, Anna Hazare on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, accusing the government of "crushing" the fundamental rights of people.
Hazare, 81, had started his indefinite fast on January 30 over appointment of anti-corruption watchdogs.
A "disgruntled" volunteer of Team Anna today attempted self-immolation at the fast site of Anna Hazare and yoga guru Ramdev, alleging that he was mistreated by prominent members of India Against Corruption. The volunteer, donning a Team Anna T-shirt and cap and carrying a mega phone, surfaced at the media enclosure of the protest site at Jantar Mantar around 12:15 pm when a close aide of Ramdev was speaking on black money.
Ahead of the proposed August 16 fast against corruption by social activist Anna Hazare, United States has hoped that New Delhi would exercise democratic restraint in the way it deals with peaceful protest.
Amid "confusion" on how to take the movement forward, Team Anna's Core Committee met in Ghaziabad on Monday sans ailing Anna Hazare to decide on their future strategy.
Anna Hazare and his team may not have managed to see introduction of their version of Lokpal Bill in Parliament, but an Independent MP on Monday submitted in Rajya Sabha a Private Member's Jan Lokpal Bill aimed at checking corruption.
A day after a photograph of Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh was published in a Hindi daily with the leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Prakash Javadekar mockingly advised the former to join the Sangh.
Team Anna Core Committee member Kiran Bedi on Saturday rubbished a media report that claimed she had complained to social activist Anna Hazare that colleague and fellow Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal was not using funds of the Public Cause Research Foundation adequately
The condition of Anna Hazare, who is suffering from bronchitis, is stable and improving, doctors attending on him said on Wednesday.
Coming out in support of Arvind Kejriwal on his allegations against Robert Vadra, Anna Hazare on Saturday asked why Congress fears a judicial probe in the matter if they are sure that the charges are false.
Activist Anna Hazare claims that 85 per cent people in Telecom and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal's constituency in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, support the draft Lokpal Bill drawn up by 'civil society' activists.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur were today shown black flags by supporters of anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare at the Golden Temple.
Anna Hazare was on Wednesday admitted to a local hospital for a medical check-up after he complained of fatigue and weakness. Hazare, 74, had arrived in Nashik on Wednesday morning from Dhule town as part of his state-wide tour for a strong Lokayukta Bill.
In an exclusive interview to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt, Arvind Kejriwal said that people should vote for a party they think will ensure a better future.
