Lokpal Meet: Can Anna Hazare create magic on birthday?

New Delhi, Jun 15: Amidst the ugly war of words between Team Anna Hazare and Central government over the inclusion of Prime Minister under Lokpal ambit, the Lokpal drafting panel will meet in Delhi on Wednesday, Jun 15.

Literally, it will be the sixth meet of the panel as the last meeting on Jun 6 was boycotted by the Civil Society members to protest against government's action on Baba Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. Later, Anna Hazare held a one-day fast at Rajghat, widening the differences between the government.

Team Anna Hazare wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh describing the reasons for including PM under Lokpal ambit. In the letter, Civil Society members alleged that the government appeared to shrink the scope of the anti-corruption regime and the non-inclusion of Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal would be a "retrograde" step.

Anyhow, Anna Hazare, who celebrates his 74 birthday on Wednesday, said to the government that differences could be resolved through dialogue and not through confrontation. Hazare said he cannot force anyone not to level allegations as being a mask of RSS or BJP by putting a hand on their mouth, but said the civil society has every right to raise issues.

"Differences can be resolved through talks but not through confrontation. We feel that the government has accepted some of our demands and a lot more needs to be done. There is time till June 30," Hazare said.

"People in the government act like kings. That's why people should reflect on Congress leader Digvijay Singh said about bringing Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill. It is not just Anna Hazare's question," he added.

OneIndia News