Khurshid meets Anna's emissaries

New Delhi, Aug 26 : In a meeting between the government and Team Anna here late tonight, the former conveyed to the Gandhian emissaries that a consensus should be built around the note struck by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his speech in Parliament on the Lokpal issue.

The meeting held at Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid residence and also attended by Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit came ahead of tomorrow''s debate on Lokpal issue in Parliament which could lead to Anna Hazare calling off his hunger strike.

Team Anna was represented by Medha Patkar and Prashant Bhushan. Indore-based spiritual leader Baiyuji Maharaj, who had earlier played the role of an intermediary in the tense standoff between the two sides, was also present.

Both sides described the talks as "positive" in which an attempt was made to exchange notes on the developments that took place during the day both in Parliament and within the government to deal with Anna Hazare''s demands.

"I informed them about the decisions taken by the government and the party and on which there will be a discussion (in Parliament tomorrow). We have to make efforts that a consensus is built in the direction shown by what the Prime Minister had said," Khurshid told reporters after the meeting. (more) PTI RC

PTI