Lokpal Bill: Government draft agrees to all 3 conditions, Anna may end fast
NEW DELHI: Team Anna has received a communication from Parliament that states that all three conditions of Anna Hazare have been agreed upon, according to Times Now. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to move an appeal at 4.30 pm in Parliament.
The Government and opposition today appeared to be on the same page in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Lokpal issue with both sides emphasising that Anna Hazare should end his fast.
A discussion in the House over the issue saw the two sides moving closer to a consensus on most points, including the three sticky issues of including the lower bureaucracy, appointing Lokayuktas in states and having a Citizens' Charter, which were a bone of contention in the past.
The tone of the debate was set by NDA Working President L K Advani who in his brief remarks appealed to the House to discuss the issue for the entire day but ensure that by evening the views of the House reach Hazare.
He felt that today's discussion would be fruitful only if Hazare heeds the appeals made by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker and the House and breaks his fast.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said history has given the House an opportunity to pass this legislation and it should not miss it by getting entangled in technicalities.
"Let us give this country an effective, strong, free and impartial Lokpal," she said.
Ending all speculations about BJP's reservations on the three sticky points on which Team Anna was adamant, Swaraj said her party gives its consent to all of them.
The Congress also underlined that the government was agreeable to reasonable changes on the contentious issues and most of it is "a matter of dialogue and design".
Sandeep Dikshit (Cong) said the debate should firstly limit its aim to reaching a consensus so that Hazare can end his fast, which entered its 12th day today.
The Government and opposition today appeared to be on the same page in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Lokpal issue with both sides emphasising that Anna Hazare should end his fast.
A discussion in the House over the issue saw the two sides moving closer to a consensus on most points, including the three sticky issues of including the lower bureaucracy, appointing Lokayuktas in states and having a Citizens' Charter, which were a bone of contention in the past.
The tone of the debate was set by NDA Working President L K Advani who in his brief remarks appealed to the House to discuss the issue for the entire day but ensure that by evening the views of the House reach Hazare.
He felt that today's discussion would be fruitful only if Hazare heeds the appeals made by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker and the House and breaks his fast.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said history has given the House an opportunity to pass this legislation and it should not miss it by getting entangled in technicalities.
"Let us give this country an effective, strong, free and impartial Lokpal," she said.
Ending all speculations about BJP's reservations on the three sticky points on which Team Anna was adamant, Swaraj said her party gives its consent to all of them.
The Congress also underlined that the government was agreeable to reasonable changes on the contentious issues and most of it is "a matter of dialogue and design".
Sandeep Dikshit (Cong) said the debate should firstly limit its aim to reaching a consensus so that Hazare can end his fast, which entered its 12th day today.