INDIA: Aides of social activist Anna Hazare meet India's federal Law Minister Salman Khurshid to discuss the contentious issues of the Ombudsman Bill
Record ID:
1375236
INDIA: Aides of social activist Anna Hazare meet India's federal Law Minister Salman Khurshid to discuss the contentious issues of the Ombudsman Bill
- Title: INDIA: Aides of social activist Anna Hazare meet India's federal Law Minister Salman Khurshid to discuss the contentious issues of the Ombudsman Bill
- Date: 28th August 2011
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (AUGUST 26, 2011) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) MAN STANDING OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE OF SALMAN KHURSHID, FEDERAL LAW MINISTER THE GATE OF THE RESIDENCE A NAMEPLATE READING 'SALMAN KHURSHID' SALMAN KHURSHID, ARRIVES TO TALK TO NEWS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SALMAN KHURSHID, INDIAN FEDERAL LAW MINISTER, SAYING: "We reflected on the decisions that were taken by the party and the government, and which will be discussed tomorrow. We gave them all the details regarding that. The decisions and the way the discussions are shaping concern us so that a consensus can take place tomorrow and there can be a general agreement. I informed them that we need to move on the path that the Prime Minister had hinted." KHURSHID LEAVING IN HIS CAR MEDHA PATKAR, CLOSE AIDE OF SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, ARRIVES (SOUNDBITE) (English) MEDHA PATKAR, CLOSE AIDE OF SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, SAYING: "The House will have to debate the issues but I think there should be consensus on the three issues that is what we would like to have because we don't want to divide the Parliament anymore. We want their unity. Whether under 184 or 193, there can be unanimous resolution. The situation is such. And if there are some objections, they can raise it in the discussions thereafter." PATKAR LEAVING BHAYYUJI MAHARAJ, CLOSE AIDE OF SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, ARRIVES (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BHAYYUJI MAHARAJ, CLOSE AIDE OF SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, SAYING: "Our opinion is that Anna should break his fast and after getting well soon he can carry his work forward for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. In this context, we had a very positive discussion in a commendable environment and I believe that tomorrow we will get to hear good news." MAHARAJ STANDING
- Embargoed: 11th September 2011 21:56
- Keywords:
- Location: India, India
- Country: India
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7DBPZHBUV0IGIQ7L6NDD1RK49
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Aides of social activist Anna Hazare met India's federal Law Minister Salman Khurshid to discuss the contentious issues of the Ombudsman Bill, in India's national capital New Delhi on Friday (August 26).
The meeting took place between the Law Minister and Prashant Bhushan and Medha Patkar, Hazare's aides.
Bhayyuji Maharaj, a spiritual leader, who had so far played a mediatory role between the government and the civil society, was also present during the meeting.
After the meeting, while talking to news media, Khurshid stated that discussions were held on the ruling Congress party and the government's position and the details regarding the same were conveyed to the civil society members.
"We reflected on the decisions that were taken by the party and the government, and which will be discussed tomorrow. We gave them all the details regarding that. The decisions and the way the discussions are shaping concern us so that a consensus can take place tomorrow and there can be a general agreement. I informed them that we need to move on the path that the Prime Minister had hinted," he said.
Khurshid also added that Saturday's (August 27) discussion on the bill in the parliament would be led by federal Finance Minster Pranab Mukherjee.
While reacting on the discussion, Medha Patkar said that the civil society wants all the political parties to work seriously on the issue so that a consensus is reached.
"The House will have to debate the issues but I think there should be consensus on the three issues that is what we would like to have because we don't want to divide the Parliament anymore. We want their unity. Whether under 184 or 193, there can be unanimous resolution. The situation is such. And if there are some objections, they can raise it in the discussions thereafter," she said.
Bhayyuji Maharaj stated that the meeting was very fruitful and people will soon get some good news.
"Our opinion is that Anna should break his fast and after getting well soon he can carry his work forward for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. In this context, we had a very positive discussion in a commendable environment and I believe that tomorrow we will get to hear good news," he said.
Hazare has been on a hunger strike since August 16 in New Delhi, demanding the formulation of an effective Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill, which envisages setting up of a national anti-corruption watchdog.
Hazare's campaign has struck a chord with millions of Indians, especially the expanding middle-class, sick of endemic bribes, and has become a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his government battles corruption scandals.
The debate on Hazare's proposals to create a powerful anti-corruption agency, a condition he made to end his fast, may take place on Saturday as parliament struggled on Friday to agree on the wording of several of the proposals, sources in the ruling Congress party told Reuters.
The government wants a deal quickly, worried Hazare's deteriorating health could force authorities to force-feed him, a move that would make them appear even more out of touch with the peoples' demands. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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