No deal, Govt acts tough with Team Anna

Day 9: Ramdev sings, politicos huddle, Anna fasts on

New Delhi: The meeting between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Anna Hazare's associates - Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Prashant Bhushan - remained inconclusive on Wednesday with the two sides agreeing to resume talks again on Thursday. The Centre seemed to have hardened its stand during the third round of talks with 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. While Law Minister Salman Khurshid said the talks went on in a positive manner at the North Block, Team Anna had an entirely different take on how the talks went on and said that they were disappointed with the outcome. Mukherjee said that parliamentary process have be followed and requested Anna Hazare to end his fast. "We apprised them of the outcome of the all-party meet. We requested them that there is a parliamentary process to complete," said Mukherjee. "We hope that the parliamentary process will be allowed. We recommended that Anna Hazare ends his fast and that due consideration would be given to Jan Lokpal bill so that an effective Lokpal Bill will be formulated,

" he added. "Talks are going in a positive manner. Talks will continue tomorrow. Both parties are trying to understand each other. Anna's health is a priority. There is need for a broad national consensus suggested by all-party meeting and we are working towards that. We cannot undermine the official Lokpal Bill that was passed by the Cabinet," said Khurshid. But Bhushan said that the Government told them that parliamentary procedures cannot be short-circuited. "We are disappointed from the meeting. Unfortunately, we are back to square one. Yesterday there seemed to be some progress. But today after the meeting we are back to square one," said Prashant Bushan. "Today we are being told that the parliamentary procedure cannot be short-circuited but some timelines can be adhered to," he said. "They told us that the Jan Lokpal Bill will not be presented," said Arvind Kejriwal. Bedi added that Government’s tone had changed overnight. She claimed that the difference between Government's attitude on Tuesday and Wednesday was marked like "day and night". "Today their (Government team’s) attitude was very tough. Instead of talking as they did yesterday they were literally shouting at us and putting us down. When we asked will they use police force to pickup Anna tonight they got angry,” she said. At the all-party meeting held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 7 Race Course Road residence, 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 says 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.