Hazare sets three conditions to end fast

PTI

New Delhi, 25 August 2011: Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare, who is on a hunger strike for the tenth day on Thursday has set three conditions to the government in order to end his fast.

 

The 74-year-old Gandhian wants the government to begin discussion on Lokpal from Friday in the Parliament, including the issue of inclusion of lower bureaucracy.

 

"I can consider ending my fast, if there is consensus on three issues we have raised," Mr. Hazare informed the gathering in Ramlila Maidan.

 

Mr. Hazare’s three demands to the Prime Minister includes, citizen’s charter, Lokayuktas in all States with Lokpal powers and inclusion of lowest to highest bureaucracy under the ambit of the Bill.

 

"If there is agreement on all these three issues then I can consider ending my fast but not protest," he said.

 

Amid continuing deadlock between government and Team Anna Hazare on Lokpal, the Gandhian on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

 

“Anna has written a letter to the Prime Minister and a response is awaited. Once Anna gets the reply, he will brief you,” activist Manish Sisodia told Mr. Hazare’s supporters.

 

However, the contents of Hazare’s letter were not disclosed by Mr. Sisodia.

 

The letter was sent through senior Maharashtrian leader and Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who met the Gandhian who is on his tenth day of his fast.

 

Sources said Mr. Hazare has sought written assurances from the government on some issues in the Lokpal Bill.

 

Following Dr. Singh’s speech, Lok Sabha on Thursday unanimously appealed to Mr. Hazare to end his hunger strike as his life was “much too precious”.

 

The Prime Minister had on August 23 reached out to him with an appeal for ending fast and a promise that his Jan Lokpal Bill could be considered by Parliament along with the government draft.

 

Core committee meets

 

Earlier, the core committee of Team Anna Hazare discussed Dr. Singh’s fresh offer that the Jan Lokpal Bill will be considered by Parliament and his request to the Gandhian to end his hunger strike.

 

The meeting at the Ramlila Maidan on Thursday afternoon was attended by Mr. Hazare, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Medha Patkar and others.

 

Hailing the Gandhian as “an embodiment of the disgust and concern of the people over corruption” and expressing his respect for him, Dr. Singh said, the government will find effective ways and means to discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill, along with the government version of the Bill, Aruna Roy’s Bill and the paper presented by Jaiprakash Narayan of the Lok Satta.

 

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of mounting pressure on Team Anna to persuade the Gandhian to end his fast which has entered its 10th day.