New Delhi: As Parliament gets ready to debate the anti-corruption Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare's representatives have met with both the BJP and the Congress. Seventy four-year-old Anna is on the 12th day of his hunger strike. The debate on his version of the legislation, drafted by his team of activists, is aimed at persuading him to end his fast.
Since last evening, there's been a major change in Anna's team. Activists Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have been sidelined. Medha Patkar and Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, a spiritual leader from Anna's home state of Maharashtra, have met with senior ministers on behalf of the Gandhian, who has also written directly to the Prime Minister.
The meetings between Anna's aides and the government have discussed the statement that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will read out in the Lok Sabha to begin the debate. Anna has insisted that three must-have features in his version of the Lokpal Bill must be accepted by Parliament - the replication of the Lokpal model in all states; a citizen's charter for all government departments that clearly lists penalties for under-performance; and the inclusion of junior bureaucrats for review by the Lokpal.
Anna has said repeatedly that without these three factors, any Lokpal will not be able to help people fight corruption. The government has told him that it will raise these points, but cannot guarantee that they will be approved by all parties. The debate will gauge political reactions to the sticking points.
After meeting with Law Minister Salman Khursheed, Ms Patkar shared, "We are still making the same three demands," said Ms Patkar. "The government is responding, and so is the Opposition."
Since last evening, there's been a major change in Anna's team. Activists Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi have been sidelined. Medha Patkar and Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, a spiritual leader from Anna's home state of Maharashtra, have met with senior ministers on behalf of the Gandhian, who has also written directly to the Prime Minister.
The meetings between Anna's aides and the government have discussed the statement that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will read out in the Lok Sabha to begin the debate. Anna has insisted that three must-have features in his version of the Lokpal Bill must be accepted by Parliament - the replication of the Lokpal model in all states; a citizen's charter for all government departments that clearly lists penalties for under-performance; and the inclusion of junior bureaucrats for review by the Lokpal.
Anna has said repeatedly that without these three factors, any Lokpal will not be able to help people fight corruption. The government has told him that it will raise these points, but cannot guarantee that they will be approved by all parties. The debate will gauge political reactions to the sticking points.
After meeting with Law Minister Salman Khursheed, Ms Patkar shared, "We are still making the same three demands," said Ms Patkar. "The government is responding, and so is the Opposition."
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