Here's a copy of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's letter to social activist Anna Hazare.
'An individual cannot fight the might of the State.'
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.
Controversy dogged the joint committee set up to draft an effective Lok Pal even before it starts its work with Gandhian Anna Hazare on Monday asking Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal to resign from it "if he feels nothing will come" out of this institution.
Gandhian Anna Hazare on Sunday brushed aside Baba Ramdev's criticism on inclusion of father-son duo Shanti and Prashant Bhushan in Lokpal Bill drafting committee and virtually ruled out any change in the nominees, saying the focus is on having an effective anti-graft measure.
Curtains were drawn on the anti-corruption campaign that drew instant nationwide support with a little girl giving the 73-year-old activist a glass of water at 10.45 am at Jantar Mantar, the nerve-centre of the agitation for a strong legislation to combat political and administrative graft.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley on Friday said it was a "shame" that respected Gandhian Anna Hazare had to resort to fasting to protest against deep-rooted corruption in the country.
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".
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.
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.
Noted constitutional expert Fali Nariman has advised Gandhian Anna Hazare to refrain from sitting on fast again to press for his demands pertaining to the Jan Lokpal Bill.
Naidu also termed the dharna by opposition leaders near the Gandhi statue in Parliament premises as a big tamasha and an insult to the Father of the Nation.
Anna Hazare on Tuesday began his indefinite fast at his village in Maharashtra to press for immediate passage of Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament even as Government said it was serious about getting the anti-graft measure passed in the current session itself.
'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.'
Social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare has assured local organisers that he would try to fly down to Lucknow for the proposed rally at Jhule Lal Park along the banks of the Gomati river on May 1. Hazare was admitted to a Pune hospital after he complained of excruciating pain in the knees on April 26.
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.
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.
No sooner did Gandhian Anna Hazare broke his fast unto death by offering water to some women fasting with him, villagers in Ralegan Siddhi, his native place, some 250 km south east of Mumbai, celebrated the moment by bursting crackers and dancing.
Talking to his supporters, Anna said: "Our fight against corruption does not end here. We will continue the fight."
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.
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.
Rahul's hug to PM Modi and his wink later had Twitter abuzz with jokes aplenty and the hashtags 'pappukijhappi' and 'hugplomacy' began trending on the microblogging site.
New Delhi may be gearing up for United States President Barack Obama's visit, but Rajghat will welcome him just like any other guest.
New Delhi may be gearing up for United States President Barack Obama's visit, but Rajghat will welcome him just like any other guest.
"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.
Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters, senior party leader Manish Sisodia, who was the deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, said the cabinet ministers will also take oath along with Kejriwal.
Working for the adivasis' well-being through means that secure their rights, honour their dignity and build a shared prosperity will make the Maoists irrelevant, says Rajni Bakshi.
'The fault is not in our freedom but how we are milking the magnificent opportunity it has afforded. Should we not ponder and correct the course?'
'I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero not just to India but to the world,' Obama wrote in the visitor's book.
'Operation Green Hunt is nothing but an operation to get the tribals out of their villages. The paramilitary forces and Salwa Judum are attacking innocent old men, women and children,' says Gandhian Himanshu Kumar.
Noting that it was his government that had recommended a CBI probe into the actor's death, Kumar said the incident saddened both the state and the country.
The resolution urges Americans to commemorate the impact that King's trip to India in 1959 and his study of Gandhian philosophy had in shaping the Civil Rights Movement and creating political climate necessary to pass legislation to expand civil rights and voting rights for all Americans.
The nation on Friday remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 146th birth anniversary.
With a staff in one hand and the other on his granddaughter's shoulder, the old man briskly takes the lead as the sun breaks over the horizon.
Various facets of Mahatma Gandhi's life journey were displayed by the 22 tableaux that rolled down the Rajpath during the 70th Republic Day Parade.
Plainly put, this austerity drive is being carried too far and it has become a macabre Dickensian joke. Stop it and let us turn to serious business. Not only are the political class and their handmaidens in our media making much ado about nothing, they are insulting our common intelligence, says M K Bhadrakumar
The op-ed ends with a call to the world to work shoulder to shoulder to end hate, violence and suffering.
Meet the headturners at the India Beach Fashion Week.
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'The Modi government is not listening to us. So now we are coming to Delhi to talk with the central government.'
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