BeyondHeadlines Staff Reporter
New Delhi: No consensus is likely to be reached on the Lokpal logjam today with both Anna Hazare and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government toughening their stand. While the government has demanded a written assurance on Hazare ending his fast, the 74-year-old anti-corruption crusader has refused to budge till his three demands are met.
Hazare has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that he would break his fast if Parliament agrees to his three key demands — inclusion of the lower bureaucracy, citizen’s charter and the appointment of lokayuktas in every state — but that he will continue his protest till the legislation is passed.
In his letter Hazare also apologised to the prime minister if he was hurt by any statement or speech made by him (Hazare) or any of his associates.
Hazare’s close associate Arvind Kejriwal addressed the crowd at the Ramlila Maidan and claimed that he was not involved in any secret negotiations with the Government. He and Prashant Bhushan demanded that a special sitting of Parliament should be called on Saturday to debate the Lokpal bills.
Government sources say that the Government is ready to discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament but Team Anna cannot be given a written assurance on acceptance of their version of the bill by the House.
Sources have also told CNN-IBN that Parliament may debate the Lokpal bills on Friday as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has received a notice to take up the issue.
The notice has been given to the Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar by three Congress MP’s Sanjay Nirupam, Anu Tandon and Jagdambika Pal under Rule 193 which means there will be no voting on Lokpal bills.
