Anna Hazare gets Sonia's support;India on 'Delhi Chalo' mode

New Delhi, Apr 8: Anna Hazare's "fast-unto-death" has entered the fourth day on Friday, Apr 8 and it has already received nation wide support from school children to corporate society; Bollywood actors to social activists. Now, pushing the government further, Congress president Sonia Gandhi extended her support to the 72-year-old Gandhinian crusader.

Citing the irresistible agitation from the 'aam admi' (common people) led by Hazare, Sonia Gandhi tried to console the agitators and isolated the UPA government. Sonia, giving assurance of the government's prompt action on Jan Lokpal Bill, requested Hazare to give up his fast. (Read Anna Hazare pumps up agitation with mass huger strikes)

Sonia Gandhi, in a statement to Hazare, stated, "There can be no two views on the urgent necessity of combating graft and corruption in public life. I believe that the laws in these matters must be effective and must deliver the desired results. I am sure that Anna Hazare Ji's views will receive the government's full attention as we move forward to fight this menace." (Who is Anna Hazare?)

However, the unmoved Hazare, in reply to the Congress president, asked her to tell the government to bring the Lokpal Bill urgently. Meanwhile, Union minister Kapil Sibal met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and discussed about the necessary move to tackle the situation, sources confirmed. (What is Lokpal Bill?)

On Thursday, Apr 7, Sibal conducted two rounds of meeting with Hazare's representatives - social-activists Swamy Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal. But the meeting failed to break the deadlock between Hazare and the government. (Hazare-Govt talk)

The government has already conceded the demand of forming a 50-50 joint committee comprising government and civil society to redraft the Lokpal Bill. There are still two sticking points - one, on who will head the joint committee and two, an official notification on the formation of the committee.

The government and Hazare's representatives are expected to meet once again on Friday morning. The Manmohan Singh government is being pushed back day-by-day as the support for Hazare is enhancing.

OneIndia News