Government says, the dialogue with Civil Society Group led by Anna Hazare is moving positively and it will continue today. Emerging from the meeting with Team Anna on Wednesday night, the Law Minister Salman Khurshid said, Anna Hazare's health is the priority. He said, there is need for a broad national consensus as suggested by the all-party meeting and the Government is working to achieve it. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who has been appointed as Negotiator by the Government, hoped that Parliamentary process will be allowed to complete its exercise and make suitable recommendatons for a strong Lok Pal Bill. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, close aide of Anna Hazare, Mr. Shanti Bhushan described the talks as disappointing. The Group had third round of talks with the Government on Wednesday evening. Earlier, the all party meeting on the Lokpal Bill appealed to Anna Hazare to end his fast. The resolution adopted at the meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence in New Delhi on Wednesday, gave a call for due consideration to the Jan Lokpal Bill so that the final draft of the Bill provides for a strong and effective Lokpal, supported by broad national consensus. Several opposition parties urged the Government to withdraw the present Bill and bring an effective one. These include the main opposition BJP, Left Front and JD(U). The move is believed to have been opposed by National Conference and Lok Jana Shakti Party. Talking to reporters after the meeting, the leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said that her party is in favour of a strong Lokpal Bill after taking into consideration the Jan-Lokpal. CPI(M) leader Sita Ram Yechuri said that the Government Bill should be withdrawn and a new draft should be made after giving due consideration to various suggestions on the issue. Mr. Yechuri also stated that due Parliamentary procedures must be adhered to. Earlier, in his opening remarks at the all-party meeting, Dr. Manmohan Singh called upon all stakeholders to work together for a strong Lokpal.The Prime Minister said that he would also like the Standing Committee to consider all points of view to evolve a broad based national consensus to create a strong institution of the Lokpal. Referring to his letter to Anna Hazare, Dr. Singh said, he requested him to end his fast and reiterated Government’s intention to pass the best possible Lokpal legislation with inputs from civil society and on the basis of the broadest possible consensus. Meanwhile, Anna Hazare's fast entered the 10th day on Thursday. Doctors attending to him said that his condition is stable.
News On AIR | August 25, 2011 9:04 AM
Dialogue with team Anna continue for strong Lokpal, broad consensus needed: PM