Hazare sets conditions to call off hunger strike
Anti-graft activist Anna Hazare in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday reiterated three conditions to end his hunger strike.
The points are bringing all civil servants under Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) ambit, display of a Citizen Charter at all government offices, and setting up Lokayukta (anti-corruption watchdog) at every state.
The 74-year-old Gandhian said if parliament discusses the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill, also referred to as the citizens' ombudsman, and there is a consensus on three issue he have raised, he would call off his fast that began on August 16.
The 74-year-old Gandhian made it clear to the prime minister through his emissary Deshmukh that he will consider ending the fast if parliament starts its discussion on the matters this morning.
Deshmukh, a prominent political leader of Congress from Hazare's home state Maharashtra, was roped in after Wednesday night's breakdown in talks between the government and the Team Anna.
Issues like bringing the entire bureaucracy under the Lokpal and applying it to all states and introducing the Jan Lokpal bill bypassing a parliamentary standing committee as demanded by Hazare are some of the sticky points between the two sides.
Deshmukh met Hazare yesterday afternoon when the activist conveyed his demands in writing to the prime minister.
Manmohan Sigh took the first step towards breaking the standoff yesterday as he said in Lok Sabha that parliament will consider the Jan Lokpal Bill along with bills proposed by others, including right to information activist Aruna Roy and Dr Jayaprakash Narayan.
He also applauded Hazare for his ideals saying "I salute him. His life is much too precious and therefore, I would urge Hazare to end his fast."
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj supported Singh's appeal after which unanimous appeal was made by Speaker Meira Kumar to Hazare to end the hunger strike.
Earlier yesterday, former Indian chief justice JS Verma wrote to Manmohan Singh asking him to discuss the drafts already prepared by sections of civil society and in the public domain, including those by the Team Anna and the Aruna Roy team as the first step to end the imbroglio, reports The Hindustan Times.
Responding to the letter from Verma, Manmohan Singh said parliament can pass a law that not only meets the aspirations of the people but is also "practical and effective".
The prime minister asked Verma to use his offices to urge Hazare and his supporters "to adopt a more rational approach in dealing with this complex problem.
Hazare's hunger strike entered the tenth day yesterday.
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