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New Delhi: Team Anna feels that the Congress is divided over the Jan Lokpal Bill and believes that the party's internal politics forced the Government to take a U-turn, said sources. The Government called Team Anna at 1 am, said sources, and invited them for another round of talks on Thursday, after talks last night ended on a bitter note.
The Government, after an all-party meet on Wednesday, said that parliamentary procedures can't be bypassed.
The Centre seemed to have hardened its stand during Wednesday night's talks with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying that due consideration would be given to Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill, echoing the resolution passed by an all-party meeting on Wednesday evening. "It's back to square one," said Kiran Bedi after the meeting.
Sources said if the Government doesn't agree, Team Anna will have no choice but to intensify its agitation.
Anna Hazare's is said to be feeling fine even as his fast enters the tenth day on Thursday.
He told supporters to continue protesting peacefully and to court arrest if he is forcibly taken to hospital.
But Delhi's Police Commissioner has allayed those apprehensions and said Anna Hazare would be taken out of the Ramlila Maidan only if the doctors attending to him advised hospitalisation.
Earlier, at the all-party meeting held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7 Race Course Road residence on Wednesday afternoon, the Government offered to make changes in the Lokpal Bill it has tabled in Parliament. But the entire Opposition wants the Government to withdraw its bill.
However, the Government said that there is no need for the withdrawal of the bill.
The Government has agreed that an amended Lokpal Bill will be tabled in Parliament but has refused to give any timeline for the final bill. The final bill will contain amendments suggested by Team Anna or any other group and the Prime Minister will be brought under the Lokpal's ambit.
The Lokpal will replace the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the investigation agency for corruption cases and a citizens' charter will be included for redressal.
But two main sticking points remain: Lokayuktas for all states and inclusion of lower bureaucracy under the Lokpal.
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