Anna ready to talk directly with Govt: Sources-Aug 25, 2011

Anna ready to talk directly with Govt: Sources

CNN-IBN
Updated Aug 25, 2011 at 12:31pm IST

New Delhi: Anna Hazare is ready to negotiate directly with the Government to end the deadlock over the Lokpal issue with his old time supporters telling CNN-IBN that Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi are proving to be main hurdles to talks. The supporters, who have worked with Hazare for many years, say that the Government has agreed to almost 80 per cent of his demands and this is the right time to talks directly with the Government.

There is also a feeling that Kiran Bedi's tweets are creating confusion.

A group of Hazare supporters have also expressed their concern over his falling health and feel that the fast and agitation cannot be continued for an indefinite period of time. Hazare's fast entered its 10th day on August 25 and he has almost 6.5 kg.

Sources say that the crisis can be resolved if any credible political leader speaks to Hazare. He is reportedly ready to talk to any leader from Maharashtra, including Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is heading the Government team negotiating with Team Anna, has reportedly called Vilasrao Deshmukh for a meeting to discuss Hazare's fast.

Social workers from Maharashtra who have been involved in many agitations launched by Hazare say that he wants a strong Lokpal Bill and assurances by the Government on the entire process related to the Bill. He wants a political solution to the anti-corruption agitation and is ready to negotiate with a leader like Chavan who has a clean record.

Sources say that Hazare is willing to consider breaking his fast or at least go on drip if there is a political assurance. However, he wants the clause by clause talks to go on with his associates who are more familiar with the details.

Talks between the Government and Hazare's associates - Kejriwal, Bedi and Prashant Bhushan - appear to have virtually broken down forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to look for outside help once again

The Prime Minister has written to former Chief Justice of India JS Verma asking him to try and convince Anna to be rational while dealing with a complex problem.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal and Bedi have questioned the Government's sincerity and named Union Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Home Minister P Chidambaram as spoilers. They hinted that Pranab Mukherjee was not getting the political leeway he needed to resolve the deadlock over the Lokpal issue.

Team Anna also threatened to intensify the agitation and have not committed to the next round of talks with the Government. Kejriwal appealed to Hazare supporters to sit on dharna outside the Ministers 7 Race Course Road residence at 5 PM on Thursday and request him to act on the Jan Lokpal Bill.

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