Lokpal: Govt, Team Anna begin talks
New Delhi: Caught in a fix over Anna Hazare’s indefinite fast to press for a stronger Lokpal Bill, the government on Tuesday met Team Anna to find a solution to the impasse.
Government emissary and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid met social activist and prominent member of the team, Arvind Kejriwal, at the residence of Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit. Dixit was also present in the meeting.
“The time is running out. The government wants a solution to the problem. Different contact points are being explored,” Khurshid said addressing reporters after the meeting.
“They are fighting for democracy. There are fighting for transparent governance. But we are trying to understand what they want,” he said.
“The govt wants things to move forward. Stalemate on the issue can’t go on for long. We hope there will be a breakthrough soon,” the Union Minister said.
Kejriwal said in the meeting the government expressed its readiness for a discussion on the issue. “Government wants to discuss the issue with a representative of our team,” he said.
“We can say it is just the beginning. But I can tell you more after discussing with Annaji,” Kejriwal added.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the negotiators between the government and Team Anna said, “Good progress has been made so far.”
Earlier in the day the government held hectic consultations to find a way out of the logjam opening a political dialogue on the Lokpal issue.
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee held talks with senior ministers, including Sharad Pawar and Vilasrao Deshmukh, both of whom are from Maharashtra, a state from where Hazare hails.