New Delhi: Doctors say Anna Hazare is weak but not in critical condition on the eighth day of his fast against corruption. At the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi this morning, after a long weekend which saw thousands of people joining Anna's camp, there was a smaller audience today- about 4000 people at 10.30 am. Anna is no longer able to deliver his customary morning and evening speeches to the crowds.
With public anger and frustration on unparalleled display, the government is desperate to find a compromise - not just with Anna and his activists, but with the Opposition as well, whose support will be critical in determining how Anna's demands are treated in Parliament. An all-party meeting has been called tomorrow by the government. As the negotiations pick up speed - not officially but behind the scenes- spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has emerged as a major mediator. He is seen repeatedly with Anna on stage at Ramlila Maidan; he also met with BJP leader LK Advani yesterday.
Sources say the Congress is pressuring General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to intervene and help make peace with Anna and his associates, referred to as Team Anna. A key member of that group, Arvind Kejriwal, this morning denied media reports that the activists have privately indicated their preference for like either the PM or Mr Gandhi to handle the discussions.
What Anna has said so far is that the government must pass his version of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill; till this is done, he has vowed, he will not end his hunger strike. The crisis lies in the fact that the government earlier miscalculated Anna's drawing power among average Indians, and disregarded his version of the Lokpal Bill. Instead, it chose to introduce in Parliament its own draft, which is now being studied by a Standing Committee consisting of 31 members from different parties.
The government does not want to compromise on Parliamentary procedures. However, it is desperate to find an eject button from a crisis largely of its own making. A Congress MP has tabled Anna's Lokpal Bill before the Standing Committee. One option is for Parliament to consider both the government's and the activists' Bills. Another is to include salient features of Anna's bill as additions to the government's Bill. A key factor in the compromise is likely to be the government's acceptance that the Lokpal Bill should apply to the Prime Minister. Both Team Anna and the Opposition have said this is essential. The government had said that the PM's office must be exempt from the review of the Lokpal.
The Bill provides for an ombudsman committee to handle charges of corruption against those in public office. The government believes it should not apply to senior judges or junior bureaucrats. Team Anna believes it should. Both sides also disagree on the powers, selection and removal of the nine members who will form the Lokpal.
With public anger and frustration on unparalleled display, the government is desperate to find a compromise - not just with Anna and his activists, but with the Opposition as well, whose support will be critical in determining how Anna's demands are treated in Parliament. An all-party meeting has been called tomorrow by the government. As the negotiations pick up speed - not officially but behind the scenes- spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has emerged as a major mediator. He is seen repeatedly with Anna on stage at Ramlila Maidan; he also met with BJP leader LK Advani yesterday.
Sources say the Congress is pressuring General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to intervene and help make peace with Anna and his associates, referred to as Team Anna. A key member of that group, Arvind Kejriwal, this morning denied media reports that the activists have privately indicated their preference for like either the PM or Mr Gandhi to handle the discussions.
What Anna has said so far is that the government must pass his version of the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill; till this is done, he has vowed, he will not end his hunger strike. The crisis lies in the fact that the government earlier miscalculated Anna's drawing power among average Indians, and disregarded his version of the Lokpal Bill. Instead, it chose to introduce in Parliament its own draft, which is now being studied by a Standing Committee consisting of 31 members from different parties.
The government does not want to compromise on Parliamentary procedures. However, it is desperate to find an eject button from a crisis largely of its own making. A Congress MP has tabled Anna's Lokpal Bill before the Standing Committee. One option is for Parliament to consider both the government's and the activists' Bills. Another is to include salient features of Anna's bill as additions to the government's Bill. A key factor in the compromise is likely to be the government's acceptance that the Lokpal Bill should apply to the Prime Minister. Both Team Anna and the Opposition have said this is essential. The government had said that the PM's office must be exempt from the review of the Lokpal.
The Bill provides for an ombudsman committee to handle charges of corruption against those in public office. The government believes it should not apply to senior judges or junior bureaucrats. Team Anna believes it should. Both sides also disagree on the powers, selection and removal of the nine members who will form the Lokpal.
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