NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI) -- Team Anna Hazare on Wednesday said it was waiting for a written commitment from the Indian government on its demands over the Lokpal issue.RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal, key member of the civil society, also said that the Lokpal Bill can be "passed in 24 hours and it is a very simple law."
"Let us see what kind of written commitment is given by the government," he told reporters at the Ramlila Maidan, the venue of Hazare's fast demanding a strong Lokpal.
"It can be done in 24 hours. I have worked with the government. It is a very simple law," he said.
Kejriwal said the government side told them that the sticking points were bringing lower bureaucracy under Lokpal, preparing a citizen's charter and setting up of Lokayuktas in states.
On whether the government had any problems in bringing the Prime Minister under Lokpal, he said, "They did not discuss that. So we can assume that because we asked them what are the problems you have with Jan Lokpal and they said these were the three sticking points."
Government representatives and Team Anna members met for the first time on Tuesday ever since the crisis erupted on August 16 after Hazare was arrested by police.
After meeting for a whopping three hours, leaders of all major political parties have together appealed to Anna Hazare to end his hunger strike against corruption.
A formal resolution also suggested that "due consideration should be given to the Jan Lokpal Bill," which is the version of the anti-corruption bill drafted by Anna and his associates.
Opposition leaders reportedly agreed with the government that parliamentary processes cannot be violated, messaging to Anna and his associates that some of their demands may not be acceptable. So the activists' insistence on their bill bypassing a parliamentary committee and being placed directly for debate in Parliament is unlikely to succeed. A third round of talks will take place later tonight between senior ministers and Anna's representatives.
A little before the all-party meeting ended, Anna vowed he will not stop fasting. He has not eaten for nine days. The 74-year-old activist took the stage at his camp at Ramlila Maidan, where even on a weekday, 15,000 people were waiting to hear him. "I am not weak," he declared, "I can go another nine days (without food)."
Sources say the government is preparing an emergency plan to move Anna to hospital; the doctors attending to the activist have been consulted, they will indicate if and when Anna should be air-lifted to hospital.
It is, the frail condition of the Gandhian is what is bearing down on the government as it hunts desperately for a compromise with Anna and his associates on the Lokpal Bill, meant to combat corruption among public servants through a new independent agency.
Briefing Opposition leaders on Team Anna's demands, Dr Manhoman Singh said, "Broadly their position is that (a) the Government should withdraw the Bill introduced in Parliament (b) the Jan Lokpal Bill should be introduced with some changes in Parliament within four days and (c) this Bill should be discussed and passed during this session of Parliament by extending it if necessary...If a written commitment can be given with timelines, then the representatives said they can hopefully persuade Annaji to stop his fast."
The deadlines set by Team Anna have stumped the government and the Opposition, who agree that the Lokpal Bill is too important to be pushed through without due consideration and debate.
This Parliament session ends on September 8. BJP leader Arun Jaitley said before heading to the PM's meeting that it's not the deadline but the content of the Bill that must be a priority.
Separately, the government stressed that Anna's Lokpal Bill has been sent for scrutiny to the parliamentary committee that has received the government's version.
The Lokpal Bill provides for the creation of an anti-corruption agency that will be empowered to handle cases of official graft. -- NNN-PTI
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