In an interview with rediff.com's Sahim Salim, Arvind Kejriwal, who played a key role in convincing the government to allow a joint panel, consisting of government and civil society members, for the drafting of the Lok Pal bill, explains why the Anna Hazare-led movement was such a huge success.
Lok Pal Bill has some disastrous simplistic provisions that need serious repair.
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.
Sahim Salim writes an eyewitness account from Jantar Mantar square, the spot which activist Anna Hazare has chosen for his hunger strike, demanding changes in the Loik Pal bill.
Speaking to rediff.com about social activist Anna Hazare's indefinite fast, Fali Nariman, constitutional expert and a former member of Rajya Sabha said that was nothing wrong in co-opting five eminent Indian citizens in drafting the Lok Pal Bill. He, however, made it clear that this does not mean the government should have people from outside to draft a bill every time.
It is important for the government to address immediately the demand for a Lok Pal and to take note of the growing public anger over the issue of corruption, says B Raman.
India needs to revisit governance if it wishes to reduce corruption.
Government decision-making may soon become a casualty
The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday came out in support of social activist Anna Hazare, on the second day of his indefinite fast in Delhi, demanding implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told media persons at a press conference that the draft Lok Pal would be ready by January 15 on Thursday. Delhi's chief secretary would head the committee.
Delhi's power circles can expect a surprise when a not-so-known officer is appointed to head the CBI.
'Though the RSS honours Sardar Patel, who actually banned it, the real hero in the story of its rise is Jayaprakash Narayan,' says Vir Sanghvi.
The Delhi assembly lacks the powers to make laws relating to police, public order and land
Politicians have continued taking people for granted and managed to stay above the law, says T N Ninan
The Congress may get chairmanship of the prestigious Public Accounts of Committee but still there is no guarantee whether it will get the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Kejriwal in his public meetings took up issues, which garnered him strong support
"I have a given a notice for discussion on Lokpal in the Rajya Sabha. The Business Advisory Committee will decide on the date for discussion," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy told PTI.
Congress senior leaders concede that UPA could be safe in terms of numbers but that does not solve problem totally
Yogendra Yadav, expelled co-founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, on the party's performance in the last one year.
'The man who has been Gujarat's chief minister for 13 years has no understanding of the ills affecting the farmers and agriculture in India.'
Reflecting the unease in party over praise of Aam Aadmi Party by its leaders, a Congress leader on Friday likened it to early days of Lalu Prasad's rule in Bihar in the nineties while another slammed Union minister Jairam Ramesh for praising Arvind Kejriwal's party.
Accusing Union Ministers Beni Prasad Verma and Kapil Sibal of vitiating the election campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday approached the Election Commission seeking strong action against them for making "baseless" allegations against its leaders.
'Why should the accused in scams visit the CBI chief so frequently?'
One of the urgent tasks ahead for the new government should be to improve public trust in the executive.
Rohatgi was made attorney general in June. In the past 2 months, his rulings have raised eyebrows for being in line with the political alignment of the government. Kavita Chowdhury reports
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday moved the Election Commission seeking directions from it to stop the government from making key appointments including those of the Army Chief and the Lokpal when the poll process is on.
Attacking Bharatiya Janata Party and its PM candidate Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on accused them of indulging in divisive politics by "sowing seeds of poison" (zeher ki kheti) and instigating violence.
Justice Lodha's attribution of guilt to the owners of teams, rather than to individuals, has laid out the law of command and responsibility, responsibility by virtue of ownership of shareholding, team membership and holding out to be the face of the team, says Indira Jaising.
Dikshit cites lack of party support for delhi debacle; Pawar prescribes introspection; No party ready to form govt in Delhi
'The appointment of judges must not be under the control of the government,' says Prashant Bhushan.
The manifesto, on the lines of the party's promise in Delhi in 2015, also says the AAP government will set up Aam Aadmi canteens at sub-division and district levels where one time meal will be available for Rs 5, and reduce the power tariff to half for usages up to 400 unit.
Biju Janata Dal members had staged a walk-out while NDA ally Shiv Sena did not participate in the voting.
Over 100,000 members have joined the party's state unit, says Praveen Bose
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "blatant U-turn" on the issue of transparency.
The Congress,BJP and AAP have carved out clear constituencies for themselves. Some of them may overlap with one another, but they seem to have positioned themselves well, says A K Bhattacharya.
The Aam Aadmi Party is gearing up for elections for the third time in one year. Party chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal says that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to deceive people by projecting it as a "fight" between Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal, while the actual chief ministerial contest is between Kejriwal and Jagdish Mukhi. He concedes there is a 'Modi wave' in the country but that wouldn't affect his party' prospects in Delhi.
'You have a chance to use this massive mandate to push through life changing reforms, transform India into a superpower because our nation's biggest strength are its people, and we the people are the most hardworking industrious and entrepreneurial the world has ever seen.' 'Arm us with a society which lives without fear, a governance where business can be conducted smoothly without greasing palms, instill in this great nation a sense of pride once again. Let this nation be bigger than you and the party.' Suparn Verma's impassioned appeal to Narendra Modi.
Narendra Modi is squandering a mandate for change on feeble, unimaginative incrementalism.
'AAP has to run a marathon and could face a new crisis on the way. The beauty is to learn from the crisis, correct the mistakes and move forward.'
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