Congratulations to Anna Hazare and his team on creating an awareness among the Indian people of the need to fight corruption. Even at the age of 74 the Gandhian underwent 12 days of fast for a good national cause and is still soldiering on from one battle to another in his war against corruption. The first was the successive implementation of RTI act and now it is Jan Lokpal.

I also congratulate members of both houses of Parliament on adopting resolutions incorporating the three key demands put forward by Anna Hazare. This was due to the unprecedented support the Gandhian social worker's fast received across India.

People from all walks of life are seething with anger at the massive corruption at all levels of bureaucracy in India.

The governments at the center and in the states would do well to remember that there is an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among the people. This undercurrent may swell with time and cause a tsunami of anger against the establishment.

The government of India is blissfully ignorant of the depth and intensity of people's wrath against massive corruption across the country.It is time the government read the writing on the wall; otherwise we will see Ramlila Maidan turning into Tahrir Squares across the length and breadth of India.

Thanks for publishing M.J. Akbar’s excellent and timely piece on Anna Hazare (April 10).

Government of India, having sensed the mood of the people, has agreed to the demand of veteran social activist Anna Hazare for setting up a joint committee to draft a stringent anti-graft bill. His campaign and its success proved that nonviolent, peaceful protests are still valid.

Hazare has given us a lead. Now we should strive to make India a corruption-free country. Political parties should make it a point to select only honest persons to stand for election to Parliament and state legislative bodies.

We should also request Hazare to continue his crusade against corruption.

I would like to compliment Khaleej Times for the excellent coverage and opinion on Anna Hazare’s fast-unto-death (April 10.

The government of India having sensed the mood of the nation and thus agreeing to the demand of veteran social activist Anna Hazare for setting up a joint committee for drafting stringent Jan Lokpal Bill has proved beyond doubt that that Non-violence, Satyagraha and fast-unto-death are not just words meant for to be part of text books but have a meaning in real life.

Earlier in late 1990’s Hazare realised to bring transparency in public life and joined the public campaign for Right to Information Act (RTI), which has become a most effective tool to check wrong doings of the government.

The best way to pay tribute to Hazare, and the like, is to pledge to eradicate corruption from the body politic of the country. In doing so all the political parties should play a big role in nominating honest candidates and the public should also vote only for those who have a good and transparent career.

Dear Sir, The election victory of Aam Aadmi Party in New Delhi has made a huge impact on Indian politics.

With Aam Aadmi leader and now Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal repeatedly emphasising the need to end India’s VIP culture, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundara Raje Scindia has already taken a leaf out of his book, reducing her security considerably and deciding to stay in a smaller house instead of moving to a bigger one entitled to her as chief minister.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhlesh Yadav has also cut down on his mobile security.

After the Kejriwal government has reduced power tariff by half, the Haryana administration followed suit, announcing a rebate of Rs 200/ on power bills. People in Maharashtra are now demanding a reduction in power tariff. All states in India are likely to ask for proper audit of power utilities and to cut power tariff.

The Aam Aadami party has shown what could be achieved if elected representatives were honest and responsive to people’s needs. In the long term the new party’s success will be good for India’s democracy.

India needs hundred Kejriwal's to bring sweeping changes benefiting the common man.

The Aam Admi Party’s convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s political persona and charisma seem to have influenced many of his contemporaries.

Kejriwal has repeatedly emphasised the need to end VIP culture. Following Kejriwal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundara Raje has reduced her security considerably and decided to stay in a smaller house.

The Kejriwal government has demanded an audit of power companies and reduced power tariff by half. The Haryana government has announced a Rs200 rebate on power bills, and there is a hue and cry to reduce power tariff in Maharashtra. Soon all states in India will ask for audit of power utilities and reasonable power tariff.

The point is that these new men have shown in their first few days what can be done if elected representatives are honest and responsive to people’s needs.

This is with reference to the news story, ‘Indian anti-graft guru begins fast unto death’ (KT, June 4).

It is more than 100 years ago in South Africa that Mahatma Gandhi first unraveled a non-violent movement as a method of public protest, but today by judging to the widespread response Anna Hazare’s fast unto death for Jan Lokpal got across India and now Baba Ramdev’s fast against corruption and black money spirited away is equally getting great response across India. It clearly proves the power of peaceful protest endures even today.

The demands of Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev are worth perusing in national interest as they are for good cause and will benefit the nation as corruption has reached its zenith.

It clearly shows that civil activism has become the last resort for the people of India as their elected representatives have failed to take up grievances, also if we see the representatives of civil society are persons of high integrity, are low profile and well meaning people who want to take up issues most confronting the nation.

The nation hails Anna Hazare and his team for having created public awareness on the need to root out corruption. At 74, this Gandhian is leading a great struggle and inspiring the masses. I congratulate the lawmakers too for agreeing in Principle to Anna's three conditions. The government is blissfully ignoring the intensity of people's wrath against all pervasive corruption which is affecting their lives.

It is time our leaders read the writing on the wall. Otherwise, Ramlila Maidan's will turn into Tahrir Squares.

By arresting veteran Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader, Anna Hazare and his team who were protesting peacefully, the government has disgraced Indian democracy and put a blot on it. Anna is not asking for anything for his personnel benefit but only a strong LokPal to eradicate corruption, for which he has support from people across the country.

The UPA government which seems determined to turn a blind eye to corruption, cannot justify the action as the protesters were peaceful and Anna and his team had clearly addressed the nation that there should be completely peaceful demonstration and zero tolerance towards violent methods.

In a democracy, we, the citizens, have a fundamental right to protests in an appropriate manner as long it is peaceful.

Today’s police action has put the UPA government in the dock and defies logic, putting its credibility at an all-time low.

The government should understand the mood of the nation and accept main demand regarding a strong Lokpal bill.

TO Anna Hazare's fast, woman RTI activist Shehla Masood's shocking murder, did not receive the prominence it deserved in the media. This is a highly deplorable act and is not acceptable in a civilised society like ours. Like many other RTI and anti corruption crusaders across India, she paid a heavy price for bringing the truth to the public lomain.

Police should be directed to take swift action and bring the culprit to justice.

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare's fast-unto-death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi bears a huge resemblance to the protest at Tahrir Square in Cairo which led to the toppling of the Mubarak regime. It's not surprising that, his demand for a tough body to crack down on corruption at all levels, has received.

tremendous response from all walks of society Centre gives a bit, Hazare holds firm, April 8). The country has been plagued by a multitude of scams for the past two decades, and people are indeed fed up.

The feisty crusader has indeed put the government of India in a quandary. Let's hope his mission sets a new beginning and our democratic institutions regain their accountability.

Sir, This refers to 'Government reaches out to Hazare' (DH, April 8). Anna Hazare's fast unto death at Jantar Mantra in New Delhi can be best compared with the protests at Tahrir Square of Cairo. It is getting tremendous response as people from all walks of life are joining him and similar agitations are taking place in other cities in his support.

In India, regulating authorities are not independent. They just play an advisory role with no power to investigate or prosecute. So the government should consider and accept Hazare's demands which are in the interest of the nation.

This is with reference to 'Anna's fast feeds ?revolution' (DNA, April 8). Veteran social activist Anna Hazare's fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, which can be describe as the Tahrir Square of India, to press for a stronger anti-graft law is getting tremendous response as people from all walks of society join him. In India regulatory authorities are neither fully independent or have just an advisory role with no power of independent investigation or prosecution, which has led to a very low level of accountability.

Though the CBI is an efficient organization, government will prevails in its activities. Similarly, anti-corruption watchdogs like CVC and CAG, though independent, are but advisory bodies Hence there is an urgent need to set up a body like the Jan Lokpal which can act as an independent anti-corruption watchdog.

By arresting Anna Hazare, the government has disgraced our democracy. Anna is not seeking anything for his personal benefit, but only calling for a strong LokPal to eradicate corruption. He has support from people across the nation. The UPA which seems determined to turn a blind eye to corruption, cannot justify the action as the protesters are peaceful.

Citizens have the fundamental right to protest in an appropriate manner as long it is peaceful. Tuesday's police action has put the UPA in the dock and it has lost credibility.

The government rito should sense the mood of the nation this time and accept the demands for a strong Lokpal Bill.

The Government of India owes an explanation to the entire nation for the midnight swoop and forcible eviction of unsuspecting peaceful demonstrators at Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi led by Baba Ramdev which included men, women and children.

Baba Ramdev’s movement against corruption is unique as people from various parts of India had descended at the maiden to show their solidarity. These peaceful demonstrators want black money to be brought back to the country so that it can be used for the welfare of the common man like improving education and healthcare in rural India. Karnataka in rural India.

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has rightly said that this brutal attack is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of citizens and amounts to a violation of human rights as it was a peaceful demonstration.

Sir, Protests are vital part of any democracy, but in India this right is often misused. While communities have every right to make demand in peaceful ways on the government, they have no business going on a violent agitation.

The deplorable Jat stir is a case in point that has brought life in northern states of India to a standstill. Reports suggest that traditional leaders of the movement have lost control over the agitation. It is high time all political parties intervene in the nation's interest and bring the protest under control before it spreads to other states and causes more havoc.

This refers to the news story, “Cong loses mid-term trust vote” (October 18). It is time for UPA-2 to give a healing touch and bring a strong Lokpal Bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. The demand for an effective Lokpal has been there since 1969.

The failure of the Union Government to bring an anti-graft legislation has led to a widespread revolution across the country. If the Congress is still reluctant to give in to the popular demand, it should be ready to face the consequences. The Lokpal Bill, once passed, will bring the corrupt politicians to book and help in reducing corruption to a large extent.

The by-poll results clearly indicate that Anna Hazare’s agitation against corruption has nationwide support as the UPA-2 lost all the four constituencies that went to polls recently: One Parliament seat in Haryana and one Assembly seat each in Maharashtra, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Congress will lose further it its sticks to its arrogance.

It is true that, when Anna Hazare was detained by the Delhi police and afterwards when he undertook his fast at the Ramlila ground to demand a strong Jan Lok Pal Bill, he gathered massive nationwide support. In fact, the ‘Anna factor’ against corruption has become a symbol of the people’s popular aspiration.

Though it was sad to see the veteran social worker resorting to such an extreme step of an indefinite fast-unto-death at his age, it had to done for the nation’s sake.

Rallies and demonstrations are part of a democratic set-up and serve to highlight the grievances of the public and shortcomings of the ruling party. These also happen in advanced countries like the USA/UK and in Europe, but they are held at a designated place without causing any difficulty to the public at large. Providing security to these rallies in the heart of the city, is no doubt a herculean task for the police.

It would be better if such rallies are limited to places like Freedom Park where gathering and speeches can be made without affecting common man or traffic flow.

Public rallies and demonstrations are necessary in, a democracy to highlight the grievances of public and shortcomings of the government. But they should be held at designated venues without causing difficulty to the public at large. If a memorandum needs to be submitted, key leaders should take the responsibility. When such rallies are held in the heart of the city, it becomes a mammoth task for the police force to arrange for security and this affects regular police work.

There should be designated places for such rallies to be held and they should not be allowed on roads, causing chaotic traffic and disturbing normal life.