Team Anna wants special session to pass Lokpal

Team Anna today hoped that the government will convene a special session of Parliament to pass the Lokpal Bill in a month's time.

Team member and senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the government has told them that it would include all the three issues in the Bill and send it to the Standing Committee concerned.

"We hope that the government convenes a special session of Parliament within a month's time to pass Lokpal Bill," he said in Ramlila Maidan, minutes after Anna Hazare ended his fast.

"By that time, we hope that the Standing Committee also completes its work so that the Bill can be passed," the Supreme Court lawyer said.

Asked about their stand on their government version of Lokpal Bill, Bhushan said there is no point in demanding its withdrawal now as Parliament has agreed in-principle on three issues raised by the Team Anna.

Meanwhile, activist and another team member Medha Patkar dismissed suggestions that Team Anna was divided.

"We don't have any differences among us. The reports that I and Prashant Bhushan went to negotiate with the government because we are moderate are totally untrue," she said.

"First of all that day it was decided that I and Prashant Bhushan will go as different people engaged in different activities," she said.

Patkar said she would not have joined the negotiating team if she had any inclination that it will lead to speculation about differences among the members.

"Our views are very clear. We take decisions unitedly. We consider Arvind and his team as real core team," Patkar said.