Stand-off on: Lokpal issue may come up in Parl tomorrow

New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) The stand-off between Indian
government and Anna Hazare Friday showed no signs of
resolution, with Parliament failing to meet the Gandhian's key
demand for a discussion on Jan Lokpal Bill as major political
parties sparred on how it should be debated.
The Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian parliament), which
was to discuss Jan Lokpal Bill and other civil society drafts,
was caught in a political war between the Congress and
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on procedural issues and now the
matter is expected to come up 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 Indian 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.
Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who ruled out
replacing the official Lokpal Bill, is now expected to make a
statement in Lok Sabha 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
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.

On another day of hectic consultations within government
and Congress party, Rahul Gandhi broke his silence and
appeared to be critical of Hazare's hunger strike to get his
demands met though he felt the Gandhian has helped people
articulate their disillusionment with corruption.
In a brief speech, Gandhi said democratic processes
should not be weakened by "individual dictates" which could
set a dangerous precedent.
Though he maintained that Lokpal alone was not enough to
eradicate corruption, he favoured the ombudsman to be
Constitutional functionary accountable to Parliament, an idea
that generated a lot of debate.
As the ruling and Opposition were locked in a
confrontation leading to a brief adjournment of Lok Sabha,
Speaker Meira Kumar held discussions with leaders of both
sides.
The principal Opposition maintained that either the Prime
Minister or Leader of the House (Mukherjee) should make a
statement on which a discussion could take place or pass a
resolution as demanded by Hazare.
It was decided at the meeting that Mukherjee will make a
statement which will be followed by a discussion under a Rule
that does not entail voting. However, government sources did
not rule out voting on a substantive motion if situation
demands.
Hazare himself wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, in which he said "my inner conscience tells me that if
there is a consensus on these proposals (three issues), then I
will break my fast."
He was conciliatory to the Prime Minister on the issue of
personal attacks on him, saying "if my or my colleagues' words
have hurt you or anybody else, I express my regrets. We don't
want to hurt anybody."

Mukherjee, who is the government's chief negotiator with
the civil society, expressed concern over Hazare's health and
appealed to him to end the fast.
However, he ruled out replacing the official bill on
Lokpal, saying the Standing Committee, which is considering
it, can suggest recommendations and it was for Parliament to
either accept or reject them.
He dismissed a suggestion that the government has been
boxed into a corner, saying sometimes some actions of the
government may not be liked by the people. "It is nothing new
but the current agitation is not good," he said.
Earlier, BJP accused the government of not being serious
about Lokpal Bill or Anna Hazare's fast as it was pressing for
a "casual" debate on such an important issue which could lead
to the end of the Gandhian's hunger strike.
"Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal had said the
discussion on the Lokpal Bill will only take place on Monday.
But to our utter surprise we got a call that Sandeep Dikshit
(Cong MP) will initiate the debate on Lokpal in five minutes.
The government wanted a casual debate on such an important and
serious issue," Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma
Swaraj said.
The BJP members in Lok Sabha objected, saying they were
not given adequate notice and forced adjournment of the House.

The government had formulated a resolution which said --
"The document 'Jan Lokpal Bill' drafted by members of the
civil society under the leadership of Anna Hazare as also the
proposals by prominent civil society groups and eminent
citizens for addressing issues of corruption".
However, when this was presented to Team Anna it did not
agree and sent its own resolution which said --
"The House resolves that a Lokpal Bill which will set
up an independent Lokpal institution be enacted quickly to
effectively deal with the prevailing rampant corruption in the
country.
"The House further resolves that such law would cover
all levels of government servants. Such law would also provide
a framework for setting up of similar Lokayuktas in the states
and would also include effective provisions for redressal of
grievances which affect the common people in country."