For all his damage-control efforts, Anna Hazare's praise for Narendra Modi has emerged as a touchstone, however unwittingly, for determining the political character of the Jan Lokpal movement. Adverse reactions from his own supporters indicate that civil society is not satisfied with Hazare's clarification that he had patted Modi only in the context of rural development and that, as a Gandhian, he was opposed to communal disharmony. Hazare is under pressure to...

The Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council may relinquish its mandate to strengthen the Lok Pal Bill following Anna Hazare’s agitation and the joint drafting panel it has led to, a member of the panel said. The National Advisory Council (NAC) had set up a working group with Aruna Roy as its convener to look at the possibility of adding teeth to the government’s version of the Lok Pal Bill. The member said...

Hazare invited to launch a Delhi-type agitation in Gujarat Modhvadia enumerates more than dozen cases of alleged corrupt practices Vyas blame it on non-co-operation by Leader of the Opposition The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat have blamed each other for the non-appointment of a Lokayukta. While State Congress president Arjun Modhvadia “invited” social activist Anna Hazare to launch a Delhi-type agitation in Gujarat and called upon people to launch an...

Anna Hazare trusts Narendra Modi on “development” but not the maturity of the Indian voter. Fresh from the Lok Pal “victory”, the social activist has said he will never contest an election as most Indian voters do not value their vote and sell it for money and liquor. “I will lose my deposit if I stand for elections.… The voter is not aware. Many of them cast their votes for a 100-rupee...

Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare said here on Sunday that the Lokpal Bill would end corruption up to 90 per cent. “For the rest of 10 per cent [to be rooted out], we will call for the Right to Reject [corrupt] candidates. There should be decentralisation of power in governance right up to the village level.'' The social activist was interacting with journalists at the Press Club of India here. Mr. Hazare praised...