Lokpal debate: All eyes on Parliament today
NEW DELHI: Members of Parliament - who have been at the receiving end of protests outside their homes -- will be under the eagle eye of Anna Hazare and his team on Saturday. Team Anna will be closely watching the Parliament proceedings that come after over nine months of advocacy, letters, protests, meetings and discussions and will finally know where the debate on the anti-corruption legislation stands.
After frantic meetings over the last two days, Friday was a quiet day with no word from the government's end. But Team Anna used the opportunity to meet with major political leaders.
In his letter to PM Manmohan Singh, Hazare struck a reconciliatory tone, regretting causing any inadvertent hurt. But he stuck to his guns saying that his concern was the common man. Hazare said he would break his fast if Parliament agreed to his three key demands but would continue his protest till the legislation was passed.
Hazare's letter to Singh also contained his version of a resolution to be moved in Parliament which detailed his three demands -- all civil servants should be brought under Lokpal, a citizen's charter should be displayed at all government offices and all states should have Lokayuktas.
"My inner conscience tells me that if there is a consensus on these proposals, then I will break my fast. The other issues in the Jan Lokpal Bill like selection process and others are also very important to contain corruption. I will continue to sit in Ramlila Maidan along with my supporters till Parliament takes decision on the other issues because this is the voice of the people," he said in his two-page letter.
Hazare's aide Prashant Bhushan said, "He (Hazare) has made his position clear that he will break his fast if this minimum demand of at least the resolution containing three things is passed by Parliament or at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill. Then he will withdraw the fast. If it is passed today, he will call off the fast immediately."
He said earlier, Hazare had said at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill. "Now he has said if you can't table the bill, alright, at least pass a resolution on these three issues which affects the common people of the country, then I can call off the fast while maintaining the right to continue the strike on the issue."
Bhushan criticised the government for not bringing a resolution to Parliament to discuss Hazare's three key demands.
In a concentrated effort, Team Anna met BJP leaders late on Thursday night. Bhushan met Left leaders on Friday morning and the group also had meetings with leaders from Shiv Sena. So far, the Hazare group claims that they have the support of BJP, Left parties, JD(U), TDP and Shiv Sena. They also plan to approach other political parties including Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and DMK to convince them.
After frantic meetings over the last two days, Friday was a quiet day with no word from the government's end. But Team Anna used the opportunity to meet with major political leaders.
In his letter to PM Manmohan Singh, Hazare struck a reconciliatory tone, regretting causing any inadvertent hurt. But he stuck to his guns saying that his concern was the common man. Hazare said he would break his fast if Parliament agreed to his three key demands but would continue his protest till the legislation was passed.
Hazare's letter to Singh also contained his version of a resolution to be moved in Parliament which detailed his three demands -- all civil servants should be brought under Lokpal, a citizen's charter should be displayed at all government offices and all states should have Lokayuktas.
"My inner conscience tells me that if there is a consensus on these proposals, then I will break my fast. The other issues in the Jan Lokpal Bill like selection process and others are also very important to contain corruption. I will continue to sit in Ramlila Maidan along with my supporters till Parliament takes decision on the other issues because this is the voice of the people," he said in his two-page letter.
Hazare's aide Prashant Bhushan said, "He (Hazare) has made his position clear that he will break his fast if this minimum demand of at least the resolution containing three things is passed by Parliament or at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill. Then he will withdraw the fast. If it is passed today, he will call off the fast immediately."
He said earlier, Hazare had said at least table the Jan Lokpal Bill. "Now he has said if you can't table the bill, alright, at least pass a resolution on these three issues which affects the common people of the country, then I can call off the fast while maintaining the right to continue the strike on the issue."
Bhushan criticised the government for not bringing a resolution to Parliament to discuss Hazare's three key demands.
In a concentrated effort, Team Anna met BJP leaders late on Thursday night. Bhushan met Left leaders on Friday morning and the group also had meetings with leaders from Shiv Sena. So far, the Hazare group claims that they have the support of BJP, Left parties, JD(U), TDP and Shiv Sena. They also plan to approach other political parties including Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress and DMK to convince them.