Team Anna Govt talk but logjam persists

Deadlock continued between the UPA government and Team Anna on Wednesday over the Lokpal Bill, with a second meeting between the two sides in as many days failing to reach a consensus.

Emerging from the meeting with Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal told reporters that the talks will continue.

Kejriwal, who attended the meeting along with Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi, said another round of talks could take place after the all-party meet which will begin at 3.30 pm this afternoon.

Sources said there was no headway on the three sticking points, namely citizen’s charter, inclusion of lower bureaucracy and setting up of Lokayukta in state through Lokpal.

Sources also said the government is ready with its fresh draft on the Lokpal issue which could be revealed at the all-party meet.

The meeting came at a time when the government is trying to persuade Anna Hazare to break his fast.

Khurshid had earlier said, “The Lokpal Bill is as important as Anna breaking his fast.”

Team Anna, Govt talk but logjam persists
“We need to set the priorities. The bill can be made 10 days or 15 days later but Anna can’t break his fast after so many days. He should understand this and break his fast,” Khurshid added.

Prior to the meeting, the government had insisted that ending of fast by the Gandhian assumed greater urgency than passage of Lokpal Bill.

The meeting took place at Khurshid’s residence to resolve differences which persisted after last night’s deliberations between the civil society activists and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Delhi MP Sandeep Dikshit, who is believed to be negotiating through back-channel, was also present at the meeting.