Sometimes a sense of unbridled virtue can also subvert democracy. The agitation by civil society activists over the Jan lokpal Bill is a reminder of this uncomfortable truth. There is a great deal of justified consternation over corruption. The obduracy of the political leadership is testing the patience of citizens. But the movement behind the Jan lokpal Bill is crossing the lines of reasonableness. It is premised on an institutional...

72-year-old Hazare, who has lost 1.5 kg in the past three days, said there was no need for anyone to worry about his health as he can go with the fast for another seven days As his fast-unto-death on the lokpal issue entered the third day, Gandhian Anna Hazare on Thursday stuck to the demand for a joint committee of civil society members and government representatives to draft a strong lokpal...

The massive and spontaneous outpouring of support for social activist Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption has forced the government to sit up, take notice and say yes to a joint committee to draft the lokpal Bill. But it is holding out on agreeing to Anna Hazare heading that panel. On the third day of Anna's fast, the government reached out first with an offer to set up an informal group, including...

Show courage, fasting social activist tells Manmohan With more members of civil society and various political parties lending support for Anna Hazare's fast, which entered the second day on Wednesday, the Centre said it was ready for a dialogue with the anti-corruption crusader and was open to suggestions on the lokpal Bill. Earlier in the day, Mr. Hazare wrote to the Prime Minister stating that he was pained that the government, rather...

Anna Hazare has turned a simple idea into mass frenzy Jantar Mantar, one of the few places in Delhi where the government of India allows protests, is suddenly being termed as “India’s Tahrir Square”. On a hot summer day, over 600 people have turned up at the spot. Three young girls from an elite college in Delhi have appeared, wearing dark shades. “Is he the man?” one of them asks her friends....