A veteran Indian social activist Anna Hazare ended on Saturday a five-day hunger strike after the government gave in to his demands for tougher anti-graft legislation which had drawn the support of thousands.

Septuagenarian Hazare's demands for the Lokpalbill, a tough anti-corruption law that gives an independent ombudsman police-like powers to prosecute ministers, bureaucrats and judges had tapped into widespread anger over a spate of graft scandals that have tarnished the country's image and weakened the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Singh has come under intense opposition pressure, agreed to discuss the 'Jan Lokpal' bill when parliament next convenes in July.

He also accepted another demand by Hazare for activists to join officials in drafting the bill.

'This (corruption) is a scourge that confronts all of us. The Government intends to introduce the Lokpal bill in Parliament during the monsoon session,' Singh said in a statement. The monsoon session generally begins in July.

Hazare had been on fast-unto-death since Tuesday on a street-side platform in the shadow of New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding the government enact the Jan Lokpal bill.

Crowds in the capital and other cities across the country have swelled each day, with word being spread through extensive media coverage, text messages and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

On Friday, the thousands gathered before Hazare shouted anti-graft and anti-government slogans, vowing not to yield until the Congress-led coalition government agrees to their demands.

Protesters held up banners that read: 'It's the talk on the streets, my leader is a thief'. Badges read: 'Manmohan Singh want my vote? Support the Jan Lokpal Bill.'

Hazare had demanded on Friday that members of civil society sit with ministers to draft the bill, which would give an independent ombudsman police-like powers to prosecute ministers, bureaucrats and judges.

'The people's voice has reached your (government's) ears. If you remain deaf, the people will teach you a lesson,' Hazare told his supporters, to loud cheers.

'This bill will come, whatever the sacrifice it needs. I am ready for that sacrifice,' said the slight Hazare, clad in a white tunic and trousers and a Gandhi cap.

His fast had triggered protests by thousands of people across the country, drawn by a campaign that has drawn comparisons to Mahatma Gandhi's protests and hunger strikes that helped end British colonial rule.

Even leaders from India’s influential corporate industry expressed solidarity with Hazare in his anti-corruption fight, joining ranks with thousands across the country galvanised by the activist and his Gandhian method of non-violent agitation.

'There would be another campaign, if the law doesn't get enacted by August 15,' the slight Hazare, clad in white tunic and trousers and a Gandhi cap, told a thousand-strong crowd of supporters, referring to India's independence day.

As he displayed a copy of Singh's statement, his supporters shouted : 'Who is bigger the government or the public?' and 'This is the result of the struggle of the Indian public!'

India ranked 78th on Transparency International's latest corruption index, a worse ranking than Asian rival China. Graft has long been a part of daily life, but the recent scandals - which include violations in granting telecoms licences that cost the country $39 billion in lost revenue - are unprecedented.

Some analysts said that by bowing to Hazare's demands, the already weakened government had opened the door for similar populist movements.