Manmohan appeals Hazare to quit fast
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday appealed to the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to end his hunger strike with a promise that his version of tough anti-corruption law, the Jan Lokpal Bill, could be referred to a parliamentary standing committee if rules permit.
Manmohan's appeal came on the day when his government held its first direct talks with key aides of 74-year-old Hazare whose 8-day fast and failing health have triggered widespread concern.
Manmohan wrote to Hazare, saying he was concerned about his health and that he should end his fast, Prime Minister's Office (PMO) sources said.
Prime minister told Hazare that he was also concerned over corruption and that there was no difference between the government and the activist over this issue.
The government will ask Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, and if rules permit, the Jan Lokpal Bill insisted on by Hazare would be referred to the parliamentary standing committee, Manmohan told Hazare.
Meanwhile, the meeting took place between Law Minister Salman Khurshid and Arvind Kejriwal, a key aide of Hazare.
"There has been no progress on the contentious issues. We just had general discussions," Kejriwal told reporters after the meeting.
"We met them to get information, understand their viewpoint," Khurshid said. There was no agenda, he added.
Kejriwal said the government had nominated Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to take forward a formal dialogue, and the activists would choose its representative after discussions with Hazare.
Hazare insists the anti-corruption bill introduced by the government in Parliament is weak, and is demanding the government to adopt and pass his version of the bill by August 30.
Manmohan called an all-party meeting on the crisis for Wednesday but faces an uphill struggle in building a consensus with opposition parties who have accused him of misjudging and mishandling Hazare's campaign that has attracted groundswell of support across the country.
Pressure has grown on the government to find a way out of the impasse amid mounting concerns over Hazare's health.
He has lost 5.6 kilograms since he began his fast on August 16. "We are worried about his health," said Hazare's close aide Kiran Bedi. "Every hour is crucial now”.
But despite health concerns, Hazare told his supporters this morning at Ramlila grounds, venue of his public hunger strike, that he is “fine”, and has a good team of doctors who would not let him die.
"It would be my good fortune to die for the country," he said. "My demands will not change. I will have my head severed but I won't allow it to bow down."
The follower of Gandhi's path asked his supporters to stick to the path of non-violence and peaceful protests saying “the strength is in non-violence”
While addressing his supporters, he also asked the students to join his movement against graft.
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