New Delhi: Anna Hazare's fast has entered the 8th day and doctors say he is weak, though not in danger. The 74-year-old Gandhian has lost six kilos since his hunger strike began on Tuesday last and this is not lost on a government now accelerating efforts to seek a compromise solution. This, sources say, could even include giving in to demand that the PM be brought under the purview of the Lok Pal.
At the Ramlila Ground, Team Anna has said - "Appoint a mediator. Talk to us." It has also said that the government has made no proposal to break the impasse yet.
Buoyed by the massive mobilisation of public support over the extended weekend at the venue of Anna's fast, activist Arvind Kejriwal spelt out what his side expects: "We want a discussion. The government should send responsible people...There has to be one government draft, there can't be two drafts (of the Lok Pal Bill). If there is an amendment to their draft, then there's no problem."
Sources say there are indications that the government may do just that. Late last evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with senior colleagues to evaluate the government's options. Sources say key elements from Team Anna's Jan Lok Pal Bill draft might be introduced as addendums or additions to the Lok Pal Bill that has been tabled in Parliament. This, sources say, may include bringing the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lok Pal, a major sticking point between the government and the civil activists.
The BJP, the Left parties and the Congress' own ally, the DMK, have supported such a move. The government knows that the Opposition will back it on the non-inclusion of the judiciary and MPs in the Bill.
The Congress-led UPA -- bruised by the events of the last 10 days and having been caught off-guard by the scale of public support that Anna Hazare has managed to garner - is acutely aware that in this delicate political phase it needs the Opposition's support. The BJP has been bitter that the Opposition had been excluded from the process to draft what is intended to be a historic piece of legislation.
Enter spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has put in frequent guest appearances on Anna's stage. The spiritual leader is reportedly in touch with the activists, the government and the BJP and is helping in narrowing down the differences between the three sides.
The government has called for an all-party meeting at 3.30 pm tomorrow to discuss the Lok Pal Bill. It is also considering sending both Anna's Jan Lok Pal Bill and the government's Lok Pal Bill to the Parliamentary Standing Commitee, sources say. The Chairman of the Standing Committee examining the Lok Pal Bill, Manu Abhishek Singhvi, is meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning.
Sources also say that the Congress party is reportedly putting pressure on Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to make a personal intervention in breaking the deadlock over Anna's fast. Yesterday, Anna's associates had said they wanted the PM, Rahul Gandhi or a senior minister to take the lead in any negotiations with them, though today Arvind Kejriwal denied that saying, "Anna did not say PM or Rahul Gandhi, he said he wants to talk to responsible people."
From the Anna camp also came the claim that a government proposal sent late in the night yesterday, but did not reach Mr Hazare as he was asleep. Manish Sisodia, a close associate of Mr Hazare said this morning, "Some Bhaiyyuji Maharaj disciples had come carrying a government proposal around 10:30 pm, but had to return because Anna was sleeping. They insisted that they would only talk to Anna." But Team Anna has made clear that Bhaiyyuji Maharaj as a mediator will just not do.
On Monday, Anna said he would not end his fast till his version of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill was cleared by Parliament. The government spent the day stressing that it was open to discussions with him and his advisors. Speaking at IIM Calcutta, the Prime Minister said he was open to "a reasoned debate" on the Lokpal Bill. However, he stressed "The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will help. But it will not solve the problem... speedy trials and timely judgments will do a great deal to discourage corruption."
Anna's aides say they are keen to begin talks, but are waiting for the government to approach them.
The government's version of the Bill, introduced earlier this month in Parliament, has been attacked by Anna and other critics for being carefully calibrated to protect politicians and other public servants accused of graft. The Bill is being scrutinised by a Parliamentary committee headed by Rajya Sabha Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The Standing Committee working on the Bill, he has said, can alter the draft it has received by as much as 80 per cent, indicating a considerable ebbing of the government's earlier stand.
Anna's health and the teeming crowds he is drawing are both security concerns for the government, which is keen to end the stand-off with the activists, but not without ensuring its bases are covered. The government's invite in April for Anna and his partners to help draft the Lokpal Bill ended in acrimony as well as fierce criticism from parties like the BJP which pointed out that while civil society representatives had been consulted, the Opposition had been excluded from discussions on what's intended to be a historic piece of legislation.
At the Ramlila Ground, Team Anna has said - "Appoint a mediator. Talk to us." It has also said that the government has made no proposal to break the impasse yet.
Buoyed by the massive mobilisation of public support over the extended weekend at the venue of Anna's fast, activist Arvind Kejriwal spelt out what his side expects: "We want a discussion. The government should send responsible people...There has to be one government draft, there can't be two drafts (of the Lok Pal Bill). If there is an amendment to their draft, then there's no problem."
Sources say there are indications that the government may do just that. Late last evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with senior colleagues to evaluate the government's options. Sources say key elements from Team Anna's Jan Lok Pal Bill draft might be introduced as addendums or additions to the Lok Pal Bill that has been tabled in Parliament. This, sources say, may include bringing the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lok Pal, a major sticking point between the government and the civil activists.
The BJP, the Left parties and the Congress' own ally, the DMK, have supported such a move. The government knows that the Opposition will back it on the non-inclusion of the judiciary and MPs in the Bill.
The Congress-led UPA -- bruised by the events of the last 10 days and having been caught off-guard by the scale of public support that Anna Hazare has managed to garner - is acutely aware that in this delicate political phase it needs the Opposition's support. The BJP has been bitter that the Opposition had been excluded from the process to draft what is intended to be a historic piece of legislation.
Enter spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who has put in frequent guest appearances on Anna's stage. The spiritual leader is reportedly in touch with the activists, the government and the BJP and is helping in narrowing down the differences between the three sides.
The government has called for an all-party meeting at 3.30 pm tomorrow to discuss the Lok Pal Bill. It is also considering sending both Anna's Jan Lok Pal Bill and the government's Lok Pal Bill to the Parliamentary Standing Commitee, sources say. The Chairman of the Standing Committee examining the Lok Pal Bill, Manu Abhishek Singhvi, is meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this morning.
Sources also say that the Congress party is reportedly putting pressure on Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to make a personal intervention in breaking the deadlock over Anna's fast. Yesterday, Anna's associates had said they wanted the PM, Rahul Gandhi or a senior minister to take the lead in any negotiations with them, though today Arvind Kejriwal denied that saying, "Anna did not say PM or Rahul Gandhi, he said he wants to talk to responsible people."
From the Anna camp also came the claim that a government proposal sent late in the night yesterday, but did not reach Mr Hazare as he was asleep. Manish Sisodia, a close associate of Mr Hazare said this morning, "Some Bhaiyyuji Maharaj disciples had come carrying a government proposal around 10:30 pm, but had to return because Anna was sleeping. They insisted that they would only talk to Anna." But Team Anna has made clear that Bhaiyyuji Maharaj as a mediator will just not do.
On Monday, Anna said he would not end his fast till his version of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill was cleared by Parliament. The government spent the day stressing that it was open to discussions with him and his advisors. Speaking at IIM Calcutta, the Prime Minister said he was open to "a reasoned debate" on the Lokpal Bill. However, he stressed "The creation of the Lokpal as an institution will help. But it will not solve the problem... speedy trials and timely judgments will do a great deal to discourage corruption."
Anna's aides say they are keen to begin talks, but are waiting for the government to approach them.
The government's version of the Bill, introduced earlier this month in Parliament, has been attacked by Anna and other critics for being carefully calibrated to protect politicians and other public servants accused of graft. The Bill is being scrutinised by a Parliamentary committee headed by Rajya Sabha Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The Standing Committee working on the Bill, he has said, can alter the draft it has received by as much as 80 per cent, indicating a considerable ebbing of the government's earlier stand.
Anna's health and the teeming crowds he is drawing are both security concerns for the government, which is keen to end the stand-off with the activists, but not without ensuring its bases are covered. The government's invite in April for Anna and his partners to help draft the Lokpal Bill ended in acrimony as well as fierce criticism from parties like the BJP which pointed out that while civil society representatives had been consulted, the Opposition had been excluded from discussions on what's intended to be a historic piece of legislation.
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