Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday restored NAC member Aruna Roy's place in the Lokpal debate, telling Parliament that along with Anna Hazare's Jan lokpal bill, it would also discuss the drafts by Roy and JP Narayan of Loksatta. The comment came a day after BJP dislodged Roy as the reference point for the new lokpal bill by limiting the reference to non-government input to Jan lokpal bill in the resolution...

-IANS   Talks between the government and Team Anna continued to be hindered by three 'sticking issues' Wednesday, when Anna Hazare's fast for a strong lokpal bill entered the ninth day amid concerns that his health was deteriorating and time was running out. 'Another round of talks are on between Salman Khurshid (law minister) and Team Anna,' former police officer and Team Anna member Bedi tweeted ahead of an all-party meeting on the...

-The Telegraph   Anna Hazare’s dipping health indicators pushed the government and his team into formal talks on the Lokpal impasse tonight. There was no breakthrough at the end of the two-and-a-half-hour dialogue but neither side suggested a breakdown either. Senior ministers and Congress leaders gathered at the Prime Minister’s house late tonight and the meeting stretched till 2am in two phases. Sources said several issues had been more or less sorted out and...

-IANS   A group of 20 youngsters enter Delhi Metro, shouting 'Vande Mataram' and urging commuters to sing along. As their voices begin to fade, a middle-aged woman announces, "They don't know a thing about Lokpal, corruption has brought them together." This statement, addressed to nobody in particular, pretty much sums up what the movement is all about. It's not the lokpal bill, it's not a 74-year-old man on fast who has turned...

There are two broad governance issues that concern every citizen in this country today: corruption at different levels in the government, and grievances arising from the government’s poor functioning. The last few months have seen an outpouring of emotions related to these issues. It is amply clear that the people of India want no one to be above the law; everyone, irrespective of the position they hold, should be accountable. ...