Rejecting allegations of nepotism in selecting the five civil society members on the joint drafting panel of the lokpal bill, social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday said they needed experienced people and law experts to draft a stringent anti-corruption law. "The committee is not permanent, it has been formed only for two months and we should not think that he or she is there or not there. We need experienced people...

If any citizen or a group of citizens is dissatisfied and wants to change economic, social policies, they are free to contest polls and take charge. To bypass this process is illegitimate if not downright illegal Finally Anna Hazare and his cohort have prevailed over the government. They have managed a position of equals on the committee that will draft the lokpal bill. This is not an unprecedented situation. There have...

It can seek the resignation of Constitutional authorities Areas of disagreement surface The Congress sees as a “super” government the institution of the Lokpal as proposed in the draft Jan lokpal bill — it would virtually run a parallel government. It will be a “demi-God” with supreme powers to run the government, sources within the Congress party feel. It can seek the resignation of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and...

Anna Hazare told his supporters to prepare for a bigger battle against the government, if the Parliament fails to pass the lokpal bill, a law that the country has been waiting for more than 40 years. Setting August 15 as the deadline, Hazare said that certain corrupt politicians might not let the bill pass easily and if need be a stronger fight against corruption would be required. "This is the battle,...

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption, that has spread like wildfire across the country, has found extensive support in Assam. The 72-year-old Gandhian began his fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday, demanding the enactment of Jan lokpal bill to tackle corruption. He wants 50 per cent representatives from civil society to be included in the joint committee that will draft the bill. In Guwahati, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti...