Lok Sabha all set to discuss Jan Lokpal

Anna Hazare’s major demand is set to be met with the government yesterday deciding to have a discussion in the Lok Sabha today on the Jan Lokpal Bill. Sources said the discussion will take place on the bill in the shape of a “document” and its salient features after which the records of the debate are expected to be sent to the parliamentary standing committee examining the Lokpal Bill. It was, however, not clear immediately whether the debate would be held under Rule 193 or Rule 184, which entails voting. The decision in this regard was reached during hectic parleys within the government, which included Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Subsequently, Singh held consultations with senior ministerial colleagues Pranab Mukherjee and A K Antony. The decision to hold the discussion marks meeting of a major demand of Hazare who said only then he would decide on ending his 10-day fast. Anna Hazare has made three demands to the Prime Minister--- citizen’s charter, lokayuktas in all states with Lokpal powers and inclusion of lowest to highest bureaucracy. During the discussion, members will be free to speak on Aruna Roy’s version of Lokpal Bill as also another version. In view of the discussion, Parliament will have a sitting tomorrow, the sources said. Parliamentary Affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal also held a meeting with Mukherjee on the issue of discussions. The meeting took place soon after Hazare reacted to Parliament’s appeal to end his fast and demanded that it discuss from three key issues on Jan Lokpal and create an agreement first. He has warned that if the Parliament failed to do this, he will not end the fast. Bansal also had a meeting with Law Minister Salman Khurshid apparently to work out the format for such a discussion. East Delhi MP Sandip Dikshit, who also been involved in negotiations with Team Anna, was also present in the meeting. The meetings took place on a day when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Lok Sabha that Parliament 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. He also made an appeal to the Gandhian to end his fast. Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the anti-corruption activist whose hunger strike has rocked the government to end his 10-day fast, leading parliament in a united appeal. Singh said his government had heard Anna Hazare’s message and was determined to tackle the graft that many Indians complain is endemic among officials handling every issue from driving licences to construction deals. Hazare’s hunger strike has triggered large rallies among supporters across the country, as a civil movement backed by many middle-class urban voters has mushroomed around his cause. With his health a growing concern, Hazare has posed a thorny dilemma for Singh, who saluted the activist’s commitment while urging him to end his protest. “He has become the embodiment of our people’s disgust and concern about tackling corruption,” Singh said of the 74-year-old Hazare, whose public fast in central New Delhi has drawn tens of thousands of cheering supporters. “He has made his point and it has been registered with us,” Singh said in a televised address to parliament. “I respect his idealism. I respect him as an individual... I applaud him.” Singh’s comments contrasted with his stance last week, when he said the path the activist had chosen was “totally misconceived” and risked “grave consequences for our parliamentary democracy”. Saying yesterday that Hazare’s life was “too precious” to waste, Singh urged him to start eating again -- a call supported in a rare show of parliamentary unity by the leader of the opposition and the speaker. Hazare says he will abstain from food until the government agrees to withdraw an anti-corruption bill currently before parliament and replace it with a more stringent version drafted by himself and other civil society leaders. He responded to Singh’s appeal by thanking him for his compliments but refusing to back down on his demands. “You are worried about my health?” he said in a speech aimed at the prime minister. “It’s taken you 10 days. I have been talking about this for six months, now you are worried.” Looking energetic and alert despite only drinking water since August 16, Hazare said he had lost around 6.5 kilos (14 pounds) but was still feeling well. The government argues that adopting Hazare’s bill would undermine the parliament’s authority, but Singh yesterday said it could be discussed by lawmakers. “Perhaps we could have a debate in this house on all the bills that are in the public domain and have a discussion on what are the weak points,” Singh suggested.