deadline

Lokpal Bill row: Govt mulls options on Anna Hazare's                                                                                                                 

New Delhi:  It's the second day of Anna Hazare's fast at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. The 74-year-old Gandhian launched his 15-day mass-protest against corruption from here on Friday after a massive roadshow. Today, around 5,000-6000 people have gathered there, many more are expected to join him over the weekend.

Seated in front of a huge poster of Mahatma Gandhi, Anna had vowed last evening that he will not leave this camp till a new anti-corruption law drafted by his team is passed by Parliament. "I have lost 3.5 kg over the past four days... but there is nothing to worry," the Gandhian said today, as the crowd of supporters at the ground in central Delhi cheered.

"I will not give up...we will keep fighting until we get the Jan Lokpal bill passed," he added.

The government, sources say, is mulling over its options on Anna's deadline. Efforts are on to set up backchannel talks for negotiations through Anna's NGO supporters in Maharashtra, sources added. Within the government however, there seems to be differences over the way things have been handled so far.

Team Anna's Bill too has evoked strong criticism for provisioning an all-powerful Lopkal that would have few checks and balances. Their Jan Lokpal Bill (or People's Lokpal Bill) may yet arrive in Parliament. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, an Independent member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, has submitted Anna's version as a Private Member's Bill. The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha can send the bill to President Pratibha Patil. If she agrees, the Bill can be taken up after a month.

In April, Anna and his team captured the mood and imagination of the country when Anna went on a four-day hunger strike.  In towns and cities, thousands of people marched in solidarity, backing his mission for more accountability from those in office.

Then, like now, the government waffled between trying to write off Anna and treating him like a representative of the people. When he refused to end his fast, his demands were met. Anna and four of his nominees were invited to help draft a new Bill against corruption. Five ministers formed the other half of the drafting committee. The Lokpal Bill was to be introduced in Parliament before the end of August.

But there was an absence of consensus between the activists and the ministers. Both sides had vastly disparate takes on who should select the Lokpal or ombudsman committee, what sort of powers its members should have, and whether senior judges and the Prime Minister should be exempt from its investigation. Ultimately, both teams delivered separate drafts of the Lokpal Bill. The government chose to introduce its own version in Parliament, daring Anna to fight back if he disagreed.