Drop your bill, says Team Anna

Members of Team Anna said late night on Tuesday that during their talks with Union senior minister Pranab Mukherjee, they had demanded that the government either withdraw its Lokpal bill or allow it to lapse, and table in Parliament a new bill incorporating all the provisions of the Jan Lokpal bill.

Addressing the supporters of Anna Hazare at the Ramlila grounds, three of his representatives who attended the meeting – Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi – said they dismissed the prime minister’s suggestion to refer the Jan Lokpal Bill to Parliamentary standing committee which is currently studying the government Bill.
“We are not in favour of it as it will get stuck in that committee. We want it to be passed in this session itself. If needed, extend the session. We want a commitment from the government or Congress and until then Anna will not end his fast”.

Mukherjee, making a statement after the two-hour long discussions, said: “I appeal to Anna Hazare to break his fast. His life is too precious to be put at any risk whatsoever. We have started discussion. Matter will be discussed at the all-party meeting tomorrow (Wednesday). Dialogue will continue and we are hopeful to find a solution to the issue.”
Kejriwal said the discussion was held in cordial atmosphere. “They have asked to request Anna to break his fast. And that they are assuring us that they will move constructively forward. On such assurances, it is going to be difficult to persuade Anna to break his fast. There has to be something concrete. If the commitment had come tonight, Anna would have ended fast. This time he will not relent.”

MP's conduct  contentious issue
The conduct of MPs inside Parliament is emerging as one the contentious issues in dialogue between the  government and the Team Anna. According to highly placed sources the government wants Team Anna to give up this demand or let it be decided by the all-party meeting scheduled on Wednesday. The Team Anna has to quickly decide on the issue.

Team Anna has been insisting on bringing all politicians, including the prime minister and all bureaucrats as well as as lower bureaucracy under the purview of Lokpal Bill.  Citing the cash-for-vote scam, the civil society members have also been arguing that if MPs resort to any corrupt practices inside Parliament they could be investigated by the Lokpal. The demand was rejected by the Centre during the Joint Drafting Committee meting on Lokpal Bill. The Centre is of the view it will be infringement of the power of Parliament and the Speaker. Constitutionally immunity to MPs for their conduct in Parliament is absolute, reports DHNS from New Delhi