Hazare acknowledges the crowd as he returned to the stage after a break, in front of the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi.—AP

NEW DELHI: India's government is holding an all-party meeting to discuss improving anti-corruption legislation in hopes of ending protests led by a 73-year-old activist on a hunger strike.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Anna Hazare to end his fast, and sent the finance minister to negotiate with him in a sign the government may meet some of the activist's demands.

Hazare was refusing to let doctors feed him intravenously Wednesday, his ninth day of fasting. His aides say he is waiting for the government to pledge that it will push for creating an anti-corruption watchdog with authority over the prime minister and judiciary.

Tens of thousands have joined protests across India. Several hundred people camped overnight in the rain at Hazare's New Delhi protest.

Opinion

Editorial

Closed doors
Updated 08 Jan, 2025

Closed doors

The nation’s fate has been decided through secret deals for too long, with the result that the citizenry has become increasingly alienated from the state.
Debt burden
08 Jan, 2025

Debt burden

THE federal government’s total debt stock soared by above 11pc year-over-year to Rs70.4tr at the end of November,...
GB power crisis
08 Jan, 2025

GB power crisis

MASS protests are not a novelty in Pakistan, and when the state refuses to listen through the available channels —...
Fragile peace
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

Fragile peace

Those who have lost loved ones, as well as those whose property has been destroyed in the clashes, must get justice.
Captive power cut
07 Jan, 2025

Captive power cut

THE IMF’s refusal to relax its demand for discontinuation of massively subsidised gas supplies to mostly...
National embarrassment
Updated 07 Jan, 2025

National embarrassment

The global eradication of polio is within reach and Pakistan has no excuse to remain an outlier.