Hazare ready to talk, but offers riders

Social activist Anna Hazare, fasting for a tougher anti-corruption law, and the government on Sunday headed for a dicussion to end the impasse even as Hazare’s fast entered sixth day on Sunday. But consultations between an emissary of the government and Hazare’s supporters came to nought, Arvind Kejriwal, a key member of Team Anna, said late tonight without elaborating.

The septuagenarian activist, on protest fast since August 16, had earlier agreed to compromise on keeping the judiciary out of the purview of the Lok Pal Bill if the government drafted a stronger Bill to check corruption among judges.

“At least bring a Bill that is similar to the Jan Lok Pal Bill. Then we will think the government has shown some intent,” said lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a close aide of Hazare, at the Ramlila Maidan, at a press interaction endorsed by Hazare. “Even on Sunday, if the government wants, it can bring such a Bill. I request the government to see what the people of the country are saying,” he said.

Hazare has been fasting at Ramlila Maidan since Friday.

Across the country, there was growing support for Hazare’s campaign against corruption, as there were rallies in many small cities like Ujjain and Kota. Among bigger cities, Delhi, and Mumbai saw thousands of people marching in support of Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.

Terming the government’s version of the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill, as ineffective, Bhushan said they would accept the conduct of the judiciary out of the Jan Lok Pal, if the government brought a stronger Bill to check corruption among judges.

“We don’t have a problem if the government is ready to have an independent agency to check corruption in judiciary. But this Bill should be passed with the Lok Pal Bill,” he said.

In front of thousands of supporters, Bhushan reaffirmed his challenge to the government to have an open debate on both versions of the Bill.

“The government can discuss with us everything in front of cameras, if they really want a discussion. We are ready to have talks on an open stage,” he added.

The comments from the Hazare camp came on a day when Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee criticised the civil society activists for behaving like legislators.

“The way the civil society movement is continuing in the country, it gives an impression that the leaders have become legislators,” Mukherjee said in Kolkata.

However, the finance minister remained ambivalent on the position of the government on the issue. “The prime minister and the home minister have made the position of the government quite clear in respect of the issue. I have nothing more to add,” Mukherjee said.

Swami Agnivesh, a member of the core committee of IAC, said Sarangi had visited the team and had been given the copies of the government’s Lok Pal Bill and the Jan Lok Pal Bill.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also chairman of the standing committe of Parliament examining the government Bill, on Sunday said protesters should have faith in the committee. We might just spring a surprise for everyone, he added.

While Arvind Kejriwal, an RTI activist and a member of Team Anna, invited both the government and dissenting civil society members like Aruna Roy to come and talk at the Ramlila ground, Hazare himself was scathing about the government. “Doors for dialogue are open. People in the government are our people but have become traitors and so we have been forced to take to the streets. So, we must talk. But even if we talk, we won’t go back till the Jan Lok Pal Bill is passed. Even if the Prime Minister comes here we won’t back out,” he said.

Roy, however, rejected the invitation for dialogue at Ramlila Maidan, saying she would discuss her draft at the standing committee of Parliament.

Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer and a key member of Team Anna, said the give-and-take proposed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was inexplicable, as there could be no compromise in the amount of corruption that can be allowed. “We are not here negotiating for an increase in wages where we can talk about reducing the amount. It is about fighting corruption,” he said.

There were protests outside the houses of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and Lok Sabha MP Rewati Raman Singh. People also protested outside the house of senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh.

Kejriwal had appealed to supporters to protest outside the houses of MPs to seek support for the Jan Lok Pal Bill. On Sunday, about 82 people were arrested, as they gathered near the Prime Minister’s house in Delhi.