Anna Hazare says he can hold talks with PM or Rahul Gandhi only !!!!!!!!!!!!

With Lokpal jogjam bringing the government to its knees, there is some of ray of hope about an early solution to crisis. Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on Monday said he would only negotiate with either Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

According to media reports, Hazare, whose fast over a stronger Lokpal Bill entered its seventh day on Monday, has clarified nothing less than the Prime Minister or the Gandhi scion, will do - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram or Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal are also a no-no for him.  Govt open to reasoned debate on Lokpal Bill: Manmohan
The Lokpal Bill negotiations cannot happen with non-government mediators, Hazare said, adding, he can talk either with the Prime Minister's Office or Rahul. The crusader expressed willingness to speak with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan as well.
 

Supporters of Anna Hazare march to Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on Aug. 21, 2011.

Hazare, who said that no official mediator has approached him or his team, said he would speak to mediators in the presence of his advisers only. (Video: Salman Khurshid speaks exclusively to Headlines Today)

While hinting at some flexibility over excluding judiciary from the Lokpal purview, Hazare said the Judicial Accountability Bill must be strengthened. However, he was unrelenting on his key demand: Lokpal Bill introduced by the UPA government in Parliament must be withdrawn immediately as it was weak.

Meanwhile, the government has gone into a huddle over the Lokpal crisis. A meeting at Chidambaram's house has just got over. Law Minister Salman Khursheed and Minister of State in the PMO V. Narayanswami also attended the meeting.

The meeting came after Team Anna on Monday said government should appoint a negotiator to hold talks with Hazare on the Jan Lokpal Bill and withdraw its draft from Parliament.

"If the government wants to talk to us it should appoint a negotiator," Swami Agnivesh, one of the members of Team Anna's core committee, said, adding, "We are open for talks. In order to open a door for dialogue, the government has to create an atmosphere."

Anna loses 5 kgsThe septuagenarian anti-corruption activist, who has been fasting since August 16 for a stronger Lokpal Bill, has lost weight significantly. On the seventh day of his hunger strike, he was found to have lost around 5 kg as a team of doctors examined him at Ramlila Maidan on Monday morning.
"He has lost five kilograms in the past seven days. His weight has come down to 67 from 72 kg. His blood pressure is 130/80 and pulse rate 90," close associate Manish Sisodia told reporters in New Delhi.

Hazare's key aide Arvind Kejriwal said ketones were found in his blood and urine samples. He, however, ruled out any serious health problem to the veteran Gandhian.

Ketones in urine can give an early indication of insufficient insulin in a person who has diabetes. Its presence in urine indicates blood in the urine. Kejriwal, however, said Hazare was not diabetic.

"The ketone level in blood and urine has risen slightly. There is nothing to worry as of now. He is fine," he said.

'Whom do we meet', asks Team AnnaOn the other side, Kejriwal put the ball back in the government's court saying no one from the government had approached the civil society to resolve the impasse over the Lokpal Bill.

Supporters of Anna Hazare hold a huge Indian flag as they march during a rally in support of Hazare in Mumbai on August 21, 2011.

"The prime minister tells you people (media) that they are ready for talks. But we are asking again and again where do we come? Whom do we meet? Until we don't have a concrete proposal, we cannot react to it," Kejriwal said.

Team Anna asserted that they have no intention to topple the government. They however defended the Gandhian's remarks that the government should go if the bill was not passed by August 30.

Our motive is not to topple the govt: KejriwalAsked about Hazare's statement that the government should go if it does not pass the bill by August 30, Kejriwal said Team Anna has no intention to topple the government.

"We have been repeating that our motive is not to topple the government. If the government is so insensitive even on the seventh day of protest and mass gathering, they are saying we will protect corruption and shelter the corrupt...so what is wrong if Hazare said this," he said.

Noting they have not changed their stand and they could not leave the government free to help corrupt people, he put the ball in government's court on negotiations saying now the way ahead has to be decided by the government.

"If they have the political will, it will take less than two minutes to pass the bill," Kejriwal said.

Government has initiated move for back-channel negotiations by roping in Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Umesh Chandra Sarangi and spiritual guru Bhaiyyuji Maharaj. Both had a meeting with Hazare and his team on Sunday.

Security tightened at Ramlila Maidan

A child dozes off as supporters march to Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on August 21, 2011.

Meanwhile, thousands of people reached the venue for hunger strike, Ramlila Maidan, to express solidarity with Hazare, 73, who began his fast in police custody on August 16.

Police enhanced the security at Ramlila Maidan on Monday morning deploying additional personnel, including a woman unit of the CRPF.

A senior police official looking after security arrangements said CRPF and Delhi Police personnel have been asked to keep a tight vigil and ask for identity cards in case of suspicion.

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