As the political drama surrounding the fast undertaken by social activist Anna Hazare made way for the 10-member drafting committee for a lokpal bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party's stance has changed slowly but surely from open support to the Hazare-led group to scepticism. Within a day of Mr. Hazare sitting on fast here, BJP president Nitin Gakari said the social activist's views on the lokpal bill were “reasonably correct” and his...

Setting aside their differences with the Anna Hazare team over the lokpal bill, civil society representatives on the Sonia Gandhi led-National Advisory Council (NAC) have come out strongly to oppose they called a systematic attempt to slander the reputation of Shanti and Prashant Bhushan. NAC members and their comrades banded under the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) with Aruna Roy, Harsh Mander and others endorsing the viewpoint of...

As young middle-class Indians gathered to express their anger at corrupt governance, it was a significant moment for Indian democracy. The country has witnessed many protests for wages and land, self-determination and human rights. But this campaign was different. It's decades since educated and privileged young people felt stirred enough to take to the streets, seeking hope of a better India. But this is not a one-time eruption and the...

Asks whether she personally approves of Digvijay's statement Even as the war over a controversial CD purportedly featuring the co-chairman of the joint committee on the lokpal bill intensified, social activist Anna Hazare on Monday wrote to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi urging her to rein in some of her colleagues who, he said, were trying to derail the process of drafting the legislation. He pointed an accusing finger at Congress...

Even as senior advocate Shanti Bhushan moved the Supreme Court on Monday for initiating contempt proceedings against the former Samajwadi Party leader, Amar Singh, on the CD issue, a counter petition has been filed to open contempt action against Mr. Shanti Bhushan and his son Prashant Bhushan. The petition, filed by advocate M.L. Sharma, also questioned the lokpal bill drafting committee, of which both are members. He said the panel comprising...