As the government reiterated its commitment to table the Lokpal Bill in the current session of Parliament, and met Opposition parties to build consensus; team Anna's core committee began a two-day meeting in New Delhi to chalk out their future plans.
Anna Hazare: Extend the Parliament session to pass Lokpal bill
Anna Hazare: Will stage protests outside houses of MPs
Anna Hazare: There will be a strong protest from December 27 if the Lokpal Bill is not passed.
Anna Hazare: The protest will be an indefinite one
Anna Hazare: The government has to pass the Lokpal Bill, there is no way out
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal says,"Our aim is how to find a consensus view from the different views given by the parties...the government has started working now on the issue and its sole effort is to see how we can come up with the bill as soon as possible."
Government believes it will be able to introduce the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill in the winter session of parliament which ends on December 22.
Lokpal Bill on the agenda of a Cabinet meet on Sunday. A note is being prepared for this meeting that takes into account the opinions expressed by political parties at a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister last night.
Government says Anna should climb down. Minister of state in the PMO V Narayanasamy said, "Parliament will decide the time frame for introducing the Lokpal Bill. We will look at legal limits. Anna should not make an issue of this."
Team Anna meets for a second day to chalk out future plan of action; Anna Hazare says, "If the weather is nice, will fast in Delhi or else in Mumbai."
Lokpal Bill: Needs more time?
- Will winter session be extended?
- Opposition accuses government of being non committal
- Parties ask for SC/ST representation in Lokpal search panel
No consensus reached on whether CBI should be included under Lokpal: Sources
Opposition says govt has given no commitment on Lokpal
Lok Janshakti Party's RamVilas Paswan said after the meeting that the majority including NDA allies told the government 'don't rush through Lokpal.'
All-party meet on Lokpal ends: Sushma Swaraj says Group C employees should be included in Lokpal
PM, Sonia and key Cabinet ministers at all-party meet
Govt keen to see Lokpal Bill being passed in current session: Dr Manmohan Singh at all-party meet
The Government is committed to implement in letter and spirit a good and effective Lokpal Bill that would have a quick and positive impact in further curbing the cancer of corruption without any adverse effects on the efficiency of our system of public administration - PM at all-party meeting
I'm keen Lokpal Bill should be passed on basis of consensus among all parties as far as possible: PM Manmohan Singh.
All-party meeting underway at PM's residence
Sonia Gandhi, L K Advani, Arun Jaitley arrive for all-party meeting on Lokpal
BJP leader Arun Jaitley speaks exclusively to NDTV ahead of today's all-party meeting on the contentious issue of the Lokpal Bill.
Jaitley: Need Lokpal which is strong, independent & not misused
Jaitley: Lokpal a governance issue, not one upmanship game
Jaitley: We may be close to a resolution on Lokpal
Jaitley: We are hopeful of a political consensus
Jaitley: The opposition and the government have been in informal talks to evolve a consensus
Jaitley:This time I can't say the opposition and government haven't spoken
Jaitley: Inclusion of PM a non-negotiable issue, safeguards negotiable
Jaitley: The main sticking point is the investigative independence of the CBI
Jaitley: CBI director must be appointed through an independent mechanism
Jaitley: Investigative functions of CBI should not be interfered with
Jaitley: The Lokpal can have a right of appeal over the Citizens' Charter
Jaitley: Team Anna kept political parties strangers to movement
Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar also met the Prime Minister with his views on the draft Lokpal bill.
Ahead of today's crucial all-party meeting, CBI Director A P Singh meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey his concerns over the Parliamentary Standing Committee's recommendations on the agency's functioning once the Lokpal comes into being.
Sources: Govt to offer CBI prosecution wing be under Lokpal
CBI against draft which says agency's final reports to be approved by Lokpal
Sources: Team Anna meets CBI officials on Lokpal
Anna: They want to make another bill on citizen charter, which is totally wrong. Mamata ji had done such a great thing in FDI and it had been saved. We request Mamata Ji to think for Lokpal bill also so that corruption could be reduced in the country.
Anna speaks ahead of Team Anna's core committee meeting
The government will take a "broad consensus" among its allies on its latest version of the Lokpal Bill to a crucial meeting of all political parties this evening.
Allies concerned about the Citizen's Charter and the inclusion of the CBI under the Lokpal.
Broad consensus on the Lokpal being allowed to investigate the Prime Minister, though with safeguards. Sources say the allies have also indicated their willingness to the inclusion of the lower bureaucracy under the ambit of the Lokpal.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi met all UPA allies late on Tuesday evening to discuss the government's peace formula.
Also on the agenda: Team Anna sources say Core Committee will also discuss how to go ahead with their campaign in the five poll-bound states if the situation warrants.
Anna Hazare to chair the meeting; decision likely on an indefinite fast from December 27 if a Lokpal law which addresses his concerns is not passed in Parliament.
Team Anna's Core Committee will meet in New Delhi for two days starting today to chalk out their future plans.