A veteran social activist renews a fast to the death in New Delhi on Tuesday to force tougher laws against corruption, to the dismay of India's embattled prime minister and his ruling party as they grapple with scandals and a slowing economy. Decked out in a plain white shirt, white cap and spectacles in the style of Mahatma Gandhi, the septuagenarian Anna Hazare became the unlikely thorn in the side of the Congress party-led coalition when he went on an indefinite hunger strike in April. Tapping into a groundswell of discontent over corruption scandals in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, Hazare lobbied for a parliamentary bill creating a special ombudsman to bring crooked politicians, bureaucrats and judges to book. Hazare called off his fast after the government promised to introduce the bill into parliament. The legislation was presented in early August, but activists slammed the draft version as toothless, prompting Hazare to renew his campaign. A string of corruption scandals have shaken India in the past few months, smothering Singh's reform agenda, denting investor confidence and distracting parliament at a time when the economy is hit by inflation and higher interest rates. Hazare's campaign, fanned by social networking sites and a raucous TV and print media, will be another headache for the Congress party when government resumes work on Tuesday, the day after India celebrates the 64th year of its Independence from British rule. "As soon as the government listens to the majority's demand, we will stop our fast," Suresh Pathare, Hazare's personal assistant, told Reuters by phone. But this time around, Hazare's fast may not have the same impact as his previous efforts. He has sparked a backlash of his own, with critics saying his methods are tantamount to blackmailing an elected government into changing policy.
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NEW DELHI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Indian leaders told U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates they were willing to increase aid to Afghanistan, during talks on Tuesday that also raised shared concerns about Islamist militants, U.S. officials said.

Gates' Jan 19-21 trip to New Delhi comes as the United States deploys an additional 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. Washington has been trying to get allies do more for the Afghan effort.

India is already one of the biggest donors in Afghanistan. But its influence -- with more than $1 billion in aid from highway construction to new consulates -- is viewed with suspicion in Pakistan.



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Politics of India take place in a framework of a federal parliamentary multi-party representative democratic republic modeled after the British Westminster System. The Prime Minister of India is the head of government, while the President of India is the formal head of state and holds substantial reserve powers, placing him or her in approximately the same position as the British monarch. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Parliament of India. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

According to its constitution, India is a "sovereign socialist secular democratic republic." India is the largest state by population with a democratically-elected government. Like the United States, India has a federal form of government, however, the central government in India has greater power in relation to its states, and its central government is patterned after the British parliamentary system. Regarding the former, "the Centre", the national government, can and has dismissed state governments if no majority party or coalition is able to form a government or under specific Constitutional clauses, and can impose direct federal rule known as President's rule. Locally, the Panchayati Raj system has several administrative functions.


Abdul Kalam अब्दुल कलाम Was the eleventh President of India (2002 - 2007). Abdul Kalam आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Atal Bihari Vajpayee अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी The eleventh Prime Minister of India. Atal Bihari Vajpayee आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat భైరాన్‌సింగ్ షెకావత్ Former Vice - President of India. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Brinda Karat A communist politician from India, elected to the Rajya Sabha and the first woman member of the CPI(M) Politburo. Brinda Karat आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Chandra Shekhar चन्द्रशेखर Was the 11th Prime Minister of the Republic of India. Chandra Shekhar आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Jawaharlal Nehru जवाहरलाल नेहरू The first and one of the longest-serving prime ministers of the Republic of India. Jawaharlal Nehru आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Jayalalitha Jayaram ஜெயலலிதா ஜெயராம் / जयललिता The incumbent general secretary of a Dravidian party in India. Jayalalitha Jayaram आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Lal Krishna Advani Lal Kishenchand Advani (Sindhi: लाल किशनचंद आडवाणी) Former president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Lal Krishna Advani आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Lalu Prasad Yadav लालू प्रसाद यादव The Minister of Railways and the president of the Janata Dal. Lalu Prasad Yadav आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Manmohan Singh ਮਨਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ / मनमोहन सिंह The 17th and current Prime Minister of India. Manmohan Singh आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Mayawati Kumari मायावती, मायावती नैना कुमारी Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati Kumari आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

N. Chandrababu Naidu నారా చంద్రబాబు నాయుడు / चंद्रबाबू नायडू Was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1995 to 2004. N. Chandrababu Naidu आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Prakash Karat പ്രകാശ് കാരാത് The current General Secretary of the CPI (Marxist) since 2005. Prakash Karat आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Pranab Mukherjee প্রনব কুমার মুখার্জী The 14th Minister for External Affairs of India. Pranab Mukherjee आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Pratibha Patil प्रतिभा देवीसिंह पाटिल The current President of India. Pratibha Patil आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Rajasekhara Reddy The current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Rajasekhara Reddy आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Rajendra Prasad Hindi: डा॰ राजेन्द्र प्रसाद The first President of India. Rajendra Prasad आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Rajiv Gandhi राजीव गांधी Was the 9th Prime Minister of India (and the third from the Nehru-Gandhi family). Rajiv Gandhi आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Rajnath Singh राजनाथ सिंह The current leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party in India. Rajnath Singh आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Sharad Pawar शरदचंद्र गोविंदराव पवार Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Sharad Pawar आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!

Sonia Gandhi सोनिया गांधी The President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi आपकी राय, समर्थन और वोट के लिए तैयार है. वोट ऑनलाइन!




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