Govt-Anna stand-off on

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Government-Anna Hazare stand-off
continued on Friday as Parliament could not take up a
discussion on Jan Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman) Bill, a
key demand of the fasting Gandhian, as major political parties
sparred on how it should be debated.
The issue will now come up in Lok Sabha (lower house of
Parliament) on Saturday when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
makes a statement on the Lokpal issue, setting the stage for a
debate, which may lead to the 74-year-old activist calling off
his 11-day hunger strike.
Mukherjee held late night consultations with some senior
colleagues on the formulation of government's stand in
Saturday's debate which could be followed by a vote, depending
on the situation.
After the meeting, Law Minister Salman Khurshid said,
"We are concerned about Hazare's health."
He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants a solution
and "a strong bill" but "before everything, we want his fast
called off because we are concerned about his health."
Asked whether government had received any commitment from
Team Anna, he said, "there are expectations but not a
commitment."
He said the government hopes that "emergence of any form
of consensus or convergence during the day will persuade him
about both of our seriousness and our willingness and our
sincerity to ensure that there is good strong Lokpal Bill."
Senior Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who met Hazare
on Thursday, talked to him twice over phone on Friday,
apparently to convey the government's seriousness about the
issues raised by him.

The Lok Sabha, which was to discuss Jan Lokpal Bill and
other civil society drafts, was caught in a political war
between the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party on
procedural issues and now the matter is expected to come up on
Saturday in a different form.
Differences cropped up in Team Anna over the 74-year-old
Gandhian continuing his fast as his health caused considerable
worry to his doctors.
But he refused to end his 11-day hunger strike demanding
in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Parliament
pass a resolution, accepting three of his key demands --
setting up Lokayuktas in States, covering entire bureaucracy
and citizens charter.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who ruled out
replacing the official Lokpal Bill, is now expected to make a
statement in Lok Sabha on Saturday which will form the basis
for a discussion.
However, earlier in the day, Opposition members gave
notices for a discussion on the Lokpal issue under a Rule that
entails voting while Congress members wanted it under a Rule
that does not provide for voting.
Opposition BJP foiled the ruling side's attempt to get it
discussed without voting that made the government to change
its strategy to go for a debate in a different form.
Team Anna, which was expecting a Parliamentary vote
on Friday, reacted sharply, saying that he would end his fast
only if three of demands are conceded or at least Jan Lokpal
Bill be tabled in Parliament. PTI ARC
MNS