Lokpal: Anna’s fast enters day 9

New Delhi: The government and Team Anna have still differences on several issues even as Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare today entered day nine of his fast for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill.Team Anna has demanded that the government withdraw its draft Bill from the Standing Committee and pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in current Parliament session. Team Anna also demanded a written commitment from the Congress and the UPA government that they will pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in the current Parliament session.”We want a written commitment from the government. The government should withdraw its Bill and pass our Bill. They should extend Parliament session by two-three days if there is a need,” Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal said at the Ramlila Maidan yesterday after two-hour long meeting with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee at North Block. Mr Kejriwal said they have demanded that the government should also pass the judges accountability bill with the Jan Lokpal Bill. The government has appointed UPA’S troubleshooter Mr Mukherjee to negotiate with Team Anna.Both the sides had a “cordial and fruitful meeting”. They will again meet today in an effort to break the deadlock. The government has also convened an all-party meeting on the Lokpal today. Mr Mukherjee and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid were present from the government side while Team Anna included Mr Kejriwal, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan.Team Anna rejected the government’s statement that the Jan Lokpal Bill will be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, which is already studying the government’s Bill.Mr Kejriwal said there were disagreement on three major issues– bringing junior bureaucracy under the Jan Lokpal ambit,establishment of Lokayuktas in all the states for state governments’ employees and a citizen’s charter in every department to decide on a time frame for people’s works.Ms Bedi said the government was agreed with their demand that anti-corruption wing of the CBI will come under Lokpal. Mr Bhushan said the government was agree on inclusion of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal ambit. The government was concerned for the health condition of Mr Hazare who has refused to take any medicine even after the doctors suggested him to be hospitalised. Mr Bhushan said the government has urged them to convince the 74-year-old social activist to break his fast. Mr Hazare is on a fast for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill from August 16.