Cong core committee meets to discuss Anna fast

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) With the Indian government
struggling to come out with a response to Anna Hazare's
continuing fast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday night
held consultations with senior leaders of Congress on ways to
resolve the situation.
The meeting of the Congress core group was held at a time
when Team Anna has made it clear that it would like to hold
direct talks with the government and does not want any
intermediaries.
Western Indian state Maharashtra Additional Chief
Secretary Umesh C Sarangi had held three rounds of talks with
Team Anna, including Hazare, and later left for Mumbai.
Already, there is talk that Hazare was ready to be
flexible on the inclusion of the higher judiciary if the
government brings a strong Judicial Accountability Bill.
Informed sources said Hazare has also indicated that he
would be flexible on the inclusion of the Prime Minister under
the anti-corruption law but wanted direct talks with the
government.
There is also talk that government could go in for a
discussion on the issue of Lokpal in Parliament Tuesday in a
move to gauge the mood of the entire political spectrum.
However, Indian Parliament sources said no such formal
proposal has come before the concerned authorities.