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

Confused state
Updated 05 Jan, 2025

Confused state

WHEN it comes to combatting violent terrorism, the state’s efforts seem to be suffering from a lack of focus. The...
Born into hunger
05 Jan, 2025

Born into hunger

OVER 18.2 million children — 35 every minute — were born into hunger in 2024, with Pakistan accounting for 1.4m...
Tourism triumph
05 Jan, 2025

Tourism triumph

THE inclusion of Gilgit-Baltistan in CNN’s list of top 25 destinations to visit in 2025 is a proud moment for...
Falling temperatures
Updated 04 Jan, 2025

Falling temperatures

Vitally important for stakeholders to acknowledge, understand politicians can still challenge opposing parties’ narratives without also being in a constant state of war with each other.
Agriculture census
04 Jan, 2025

Agriculture census

ACCURATE information relating to agricultural activities is vital for data-driven future planning, policymaking, as...
Biometrics for kids
04 Jan, 2025

Biometrics for kids

ALTHOUGH the move has caused a panic among weary parents mortified at the thought of carting their children to Nadra...