After 12 days of fasting for an anti-corruption law that galvanized tens of thousands across India, 74-year-old Gandhian campaigner sipped a glass of coconut water with honey offered to him by a child.
4.32 pm: Saturation TV coverage of Anna biased: Experts
There has been saturation coverage by television channels of Anna Hazare's fast reporting every twist and turn in the protest saga 24x7 for the last about two weeks. But has it been critical and unbiased or one-sided in approval?
By and large, media experts feel that television coverage was biased in favour of the 74-year-old activist, uncritical in its sweep and adulatory sometimes.
There was a lone voice of support for news television channels from noted journalist and Editor and Managing Director of Pioneer newspaper Chandan Mitra, who feels it was not the case.
"By its very nature, television is a very biased medium. Whenever a big issue or a campaign like this crops up, news channels try to be on top of it. This is the trend that prevails everywhere," says Bhaskar Rao, director, Centre for Media Studies. Read here
3.49 pm: 'We are relieved. We can now relax and reflect on the nature of the movement snd decide the future course,' Bhushan said, relieved that Anna Hazare had ended his fast.
'It was a roller coaster ride. We felt pessimistic at times. But we always felt that whatever happens in parliament, the movement engaged people across classes and barriers. Young people shed their cynicism and felt empowered. This was an achievement.'
Talking about the future, Bhushan said: 'The focus will remain on the Lokpal bill. We will keep the pressure so that all important provisions of Jan Lokpal bill are included in the final bill.'
Read here2.57 pm: "He has been admitted. He is resting. His blood pressure is 110/70 and pulse rate is 94. We are closely monitoring his condition because he has lost 7.5 kgs in a very short interval of time and in his age," Dr Naresh Trehan, chairperson and managing director of the hospital, said.
However, he said, "There is no need to worry as all vital organs are settled. We have put him on liquid diet for at least 48 hours that includes coconut water and honey.
"We will also conduct tests of his kidneys, liver and other vital organs to check for any damage," Trehan said, adding the 74-year-old will be discharged only after his condition is fit.
Read here2.40 pm: Dr Trehan says Anna is exhausted. All parameters will be checked. He was given coconut water with honey because his body cannot handle solid food now.
2.38 pm: Dr Trehan: Anna did not take electrolytes on fast
2.36 pm: Lokpal row: Khushid congratulates Team Anna for holding a peaceful protest
2.34 pm: Prime Minister calls on President Pratibha Patil and briefs her about consensus resolution passed in Parliament on Lokpal issue.
2.12 pm: We have achieved the first milestone in having a strong Lokpal Act and it may take its own time -- it's not something you can expect today, tomorrow or next month," he said, adding, "Let not the people of India expect a miracle. But we have just put the foundation for a strong Lokpal bill: Santosh Hegde.
Read here1.40 pm: Anna needs rest, will gradually move to soft diet: Doctors
1.12 pm: Amitabh Bachchan: To know that such individuals inhabit our nation is a moment of the greatest pride. But to know what they feel is incredible!! ...all praise to the spirit of the one man... that he inhabits our land and feels for it.
Read here.12.47 pm: From food, ambulance, security, crowd management, maintaining links with the media, and transcribing speeches -- the volunteers from India Against Corruption (IAC) were the lifeline behind the 74-year-old's fast that gripped the world's attention, Arvind Kejriwal said.
Read here.11.35 am: One major hurdle crossed: Santosh Hegde.
11.30 am: Team Anna has called for "grand celebrations" at India Gate Sunday evening to celebrate "people's victory" as Anna Hazare broke his 12-day fast after parliament broadly agreed to meet three key demands of his civil society group to battle corruption. Read here
11.10 am: "I have just suspended the fast.. did not end it. The fight will go on till parliament passes the Lokpal bill," the 74-year-old told thousands of his cheering supporters at the Ramlila Maidan. Read here 11.06 am: Arvind Kejriwal thanked political parties, politicians and said, 'Most of all we want to thank you, the people who stood by us through sunshine and rain...without your support we wouldn't have been successful'.
Read here
11.01 am: Dont remain silent even after passage of a strong Lokpal, continue your fight for change in system: Hazare
10.50 am: I have just defererd my agitation, the fight is on for Lokpal: Hazare
10.46 am: 74-year-old Gandhian campaigner sipped a glass of coconut water with honey offered to him by a child.
Read here
10.41 am: Arvind Kejriwal thanks PM, Parliament
10.35 am: It is a victory for all Indians: Anna.
Read here
10.32 am: Anna Hazare to be taken to Medanta Medicity later
10.31 am: Simran, a five-year-old, from a Dalit household another child called Iqra from Delhi give Anna coconut water
10.25 am: Anna ends fast on Day 1310.00 am: Hazare greeted by cheering crowdChronology of Saturday's events
6: 30 pm: Anna is ready to break his fast as soon as the vote goes in motion and the resolution comes to him, his associates have said. The voice vote will take place first in Rajya Sabha and then in the Lok Sabha.
6.12 pm: Vilasrao Deshmukh to deliver resolution to Anna
6.09 pm: Voice vote on Anna's demand first in Rajya Sabha than in Lok Sabha
5.52 pm: Voice vote in parliament at about 7 pm
5.38 pm: Anna to end fast when vote concludes: Sources
5.18 pm: Lokpal bill: Government agrees to voice vote
5.16 pm: Meeting with PM and opposition leaders ends
5.15 pm: Government agrees to resolution and vote: Sources
4.54 pm: PM meets L K Advani, Sushma, Jaitley
4.39 pm: "I feel this struggle will go on for a long time. We need Anna for this struggle," he added, speaking from the stage where Hazare was seated. "My request to him: please end this fast." Read fullstory here
4.33 pm: Government may agree to a resolution: Sources
4: 31 pm: BJP ready for vote as Anna wants: Sushma
4.17 pm: Fresh signs of trouble emerged on the Lokpal issue on Saturday with Team Anna terming as "betrayal" the government's response that the Parliament after the debate will not pass the resolution, which is their prime demand. "This is clearly betrayal. What else is this....In last four days, government has changed its stand thrice," Arvind Kejriwal, a close associate of Anna Hazare, told reporters after Team Anna's fresh round of talks with government representatives. Read here
4.10 pm: People need Anna's leadership, says Aamir Khan
4.02 pm: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan at Ramlila maidan
3.40 pm: The government has refused to move a resolution in parliament or have a voting to resolve the Lokpal logjam that could end Anna Hazare's fast, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said on Saturday. 'This will be a very unfortunate response to what Anna Hazare has written to the PM,' Bhushan told reporters, dashing hopes of an imminent end to the 74-year-old activist's 12-day-old fast. Read fullstory here
3.17 pm: Parliament will not vote on a Lokpal bill or even pass a resolution, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said on Saturday, adding this was 'a very unfortunate' decision.3.14 pm: Team Anna objects to discussion without voting
3.08 pm: We are told, no resolution, no voting: Prashant Bhushan
3.00 pm: Team Anna meets Khurshid
2.52 pm: Government is working on a draft of a resolution to be adopted by both houses of Parliament on Saturday in a bid to break the logjam on the Lokpal issue so that Anna Hazare could end his 12-day-old fast. Hectic discussions within government and between government and opposition parties were on to finalise the resolution that could be taken up at the end of the discussion in both the Houses for adoption.
2.32 pm: Nearing historic destination, tweets Bedi 2.06 pm: Pranab to move Govt resolution at 4.30 pm
1.51 pm: As Parliament initiated a discussion on his three demands on Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare on Saturday trained his guns at MPs saying that around 150 of them were facing criminal charges and people should not elect "useless" lawmakers next time.In his second address to supporters within two hours, the 74-year-old Gandhian said people expected a lot from the MPs but they did not live up to the expectations and that he would tour the country to appeal to people not to vote for them again. Read here
1.41 pm: Bhushan, Medha Patkar, Sisodia and Kejriwal to meet Pranab Mukherjee
1.35 pm: Govt resolution accepts Anna's conditions: NDTV Read here
1.30 pm: The massive support for Anna Hazare is a "loud and clear" message that people are unhappy with the present dispensation, opposition leader Arun Jaitley said on Saturday. 12.32 pm: The CBI is misused for political vendetta. Look at how the CBI being used against Jagan Mohan Reddy now that he is not with the Congress. CBI has become Congress Bachao Institution. What sort of party is this where when you are with them, you are absolutely pure...and when you leave...you suddenly are corrupt? We want an independent CBI...so let it be brought under the Lokpal, we support that, the senior BJP leader added.
12.08 pm: Sushma Swaraj said that the Prime Minister cannot be kept out of the Lokpal bill, especially at a time when incriminated ministers have pointed to his alleged role in carrying out the actions they have been accused of.
11.54 am: Govt Lokpal has no teeth. Parliament will make history today by giving a strong Lokpal Bill, Sushma Swaraj said in Lok Sabha on Saturday. Highlights
11.41 am: The Rajya Sabha will take up debate on all versions of the Lokpal bill at 12 noon after a statement by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
11.32 am: Pranab in his speech said that the Lokpal Bill alone cannot root out corruption. He said the government is working on a grievance redressal bill to address corruption at local level.
11.26 am: Expressing concern over the health, Pranab Mukherjee requested Anna Hazare to end fast.
11.13 am: He began by recounting the chain of events since Anna Hazare first went on fast at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on April 9.
11.03 am: Pranab opens Lokpal debate in Parliament
11.00 am: Talks are still on, we are all working towards a resolution: Medha Patkar
10.30 am: Hazare, who did not address his supporters since 8 pm on August 25, emerged on the dais at around 10 am to a loud cheer from supporters who raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', 'Vande Mataram' and 'Inquilab Zindabad'. "I am not doing this for my personal gain. If it was so, I would not have lasted five days. Till Jan Lokpal Bill is passed, my protest will continue," the Gandhian told his supporters at Ramlila Maidan where he is sitting on a fast.
10.00 am: Activist Anna Hazare's fast for a strong anti-corruption bill is likely to end on Saturday as the parliament will hold a special sitting to discuss the Lokpal issue later in the day, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said. Read here
9.30 am: Anna Hazare has lost seven kg and he is feeling weak and tired,' a doctor said on Saturday. Although his vital parameters are stable at present, he should end his fast as soon as possible as his health is deteriorating. His complexion shows his health condition - he has turned dark due to dehydration,' he added.
9.00 am: Lokpal debate in parliament today; Anna holds on to demands
Chronology of Friday's events:17: 50 pm: The BJP wants the Lokpal Bill debate put down to votes in the House. The BJP has criticised Rahul Gandhi's "constitutional slogans" on Lokpal and insisted that the government must outline its ideas more clearly.Arun Jaitley said discussions can't take a vague route, the government has every right to reject certain demands but it needs to be more specific in addressing the problems of Lokpal. The details of the bill can be addressed and that which is found unconstitutional can be debated and if necessary amended. Maintaining that the Parliament's supremacy cannot be undermined, Jaitley conceded in "extraordinary cases, extraordinary decisions can be taken" to bring about some solutions.17: 20 pm: The Opposition are adamant not to make this House session an easy one as Sushma asks why the government has been so casual in conducting this debate when the issue is of paramount importance?16: 30 pm: Just like yesterday when Anna supporters thronged outside PM's residence, today Rahul Gandhi got a treatment of what it's like to be a PM during a protest. Hazare supporters are protesting outside Rahul's residence at this moment.16: 15 pm: As the government seeks to discuss all versions of the bill in Parliament, the opposition BJP wants more clarity on the subject and asks "what bill would you like us to discuss?"Sushma Swaraj in the Lok Sabha asked how can the government's resolution be cleared without taking our views into consideration? The BJP wants the lokpal debate put through the voting process.15: 45 pm: Anna Hazare in his letter to the PM said he regretted hurting him or any other person. He said it was unintentional because his movement was not against any individual or political party but a corrupt system."Out agitation is against the corrupt system and if by chance any words uttered by me or any other members have hurt you or any other person then I regret… as it was unintentional," he said in his letter. "Your government is trying to crush those who raise their voice against corruption. This is happening more often in your government. You are 79-years-old and are holding the nation's top position. You have got everything from life. What else do you want from life? Show courage and take some concrete steps." 15: 10 pm: Meanwhile Santosh Hegde, one of the core members of the Hazare movement, has spoken against the demands of Team Anna.He said the demand that "my dictum should be accepted by Parliament" is, in fact, demeaning to the Lok Sabha."I feel I am not in Team Anna any more by the way things are going. These (telling the Parliament what to do) are not democratic things," Hegde said."I can't justify these things that you give command to Parliament. No (it should not be done)," he said. "I have been a judge and I believe in certain democratic principles. And to me, it's very difficult to digest," he added. Arvind Kejriwal has denied these revelations saying the report is false and Santosh is very much part of the Anna movement.15: 00 pm: NDTV reports that the BJP are voting for an independent Lokpal and are in agreement with most of the three contentious points but maintain that some parts of the Jan Lokpal cannot go.14: 40 pm: Government is likely to start a Lokpal debate in the parliament without a vote today after the parliament was adjourned till 3.30 pm.13:49 pm: Prime Minister holds consultations with senior ministers Pranab Mukherjee and Vilasrao Deshmukh on the Lokpal issue.13: 00 pm: Anna Hazare has written to the PM saying the three contentious points are crucial to eradicating corruption and must be implement in their version.On Thursday, Hazare placed three conditions before the government, which are the inclusion of lower bureaucracy in the Lokpal bill, appointment of Lokayuktas in all states, and implementation of citizen's charter in government offices.12:11 pm: Making a rare appearance in the Parliament today, Rahul Gandhi said the Lokpal Bill alone is not a one-stop solution to eradicate corruption, and it needs to be made like the Election Commission body to work within the constitutional framework of the country.Urging that no system must weaken the democratic setup in the country, Rahul said any Lokpal separate from democratic checks is "dangerous". Thanking Hazare for bringing the issue of corruption to the fore, he also said that a strong political will is required to eradicate corruption.11:57 am: One of Anna's aids, Prashant Bhushan said mere discussion will not do, the Parliament will have to pass a resolution indicating that Lokpal Bill covers the three sticky issues.11:47 am: Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has adjourned the plea challenging Anna's arrest.11: 20 am: A motion will be brought to facilitate a combined discussion on the Lokpal Bill, the Jan Lokpal Bill brought out by Anna Hazare as also the drafts prepared by activist Aruna Roy and Jai Prakash Narain, sources said.While the exact wording of the motion is not immediately known, sources said the discussion could take place on the Jan Lokpal Bill in the shape of a "document" and its salient features, after which the records of the debate are expected to be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee examining the Lokpal Bill.A decision in this regard was reached during hectic parleys within the government and discussions held by Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee with Parliamentary Affairs minister Pawan Bansal and Law minister Salman Khurshid.11: 00 am: The Lokpal debate in the House is unlikely to be held today as a new deadlock emerged. The debate on all versions of the Lokpal Bill will only likely be held tomorrow, reports suggest.The government wants a direct word with Anna, by-passing his aides (as the government feels quite apprehensive about his associates and their influence on Anna's fast) and want assurances from Hazare that he would end his fast (but could continue his protest) after the three critical points are put in place in parliament. The government wants to start discussions on the issue in the parliament but is growing increasingly apprehensive about Anna's aides who they feel are adamant about getting their version passed by breaking parliamentary procedures.Parliamentary Affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that no notice has been given for discussion on Jan Lokpal Bill yet. While TV reports claim that the government has asked Team Anna to redraft its Jan Lokpal Bill.10: 50 am: Government wants assurances from Hazare that he will end his fast before taking the debate to the parliament. Team Hazare maintained that while the government has agreed to three talking points of the bill, Anna will only call off his fast after the parliament approves those three points.The government meanwhile is willing to give written assurances on their promised words, but are apprehensive of Anna's aides who they feel would convince Anna to continue his fast despite his demands being met. The government wants verbal agreement from Anna that he would call off his fast.10: 00 am: One of Team Anna's key associates, Arvind Kejriwal said that the BJP "broadly agrees with us" on the issues relating to their version of the Lokpal after the two parties met today.9: 50 am: Team Anna met with senior leaders of the BJP to discuss their version of the bill. Arun Jaitley said the meeting was productive with the idea of amendments to the bill being discussed.
9: 45 am: Rahul Gandhi is expected to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today to apparently discuss on the Lokpal issue.9: 40 am: And if anyone is under the illusion that the BJP or other opposition parties are actually in favour of the passing of Jan Lokpal in its current format then they should hear LK Advani's comment today.The BJP leader said the several inherent flaws in the Jan Lokpal Bill cannot be passed in the parliament, but expressed hope on the passing of a more fault-free version. He said his party supports any good bill that helps cut down on corruption.Advani said: "I know what are the flaws in the provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill due to which it will not get passed. And this, I tried to explain to them (Team Anna) yesterday," Advani told a group of students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) who called on him."I also told (Finance Minister) Pranab (Mukherjee) and the government, that look... these people are emotionally attached to the title 'Jan Lokpal Bill' so assure them whatever be the final shape of the Lokpal Bill after amendments, do continue to call it the Jan Lokpal Bill," he said at his residence."They (the government) said we will think about it," said the top BJP leader, adding that his party would support any legislation that was aimed at ending corruption.9: 30 am: With the government assuring to debate a resolution in parliament on the Jan Lokpal Bill today, Team Anna last night said they were hoping the solution would be "clear enough" to enable the activist to end his fast."We hope it (the resolution) is clear enough to enable Anna ji to end his fast," Hazare's associate Prashant Bhushan said last night to reporters.Chronology of Thursday's events:19: 00 pm: On the 10th day of his fast, Anna Hazare on Thursday refused to end his protest until Parliament begins debating three key issues related to his call for a strong anti-corruption law.Speaking hours after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj urged him to call off his hunger strike, Hazare placed three conditions -- inclusion of lower bureaucracy in the Lokpal bill, formation of Lokayukta in all states, and citizen's charters in government offices. Read
18: 30 pm: Amid continuing deadlock between government and Team Anna Hazare on Lokpal, the Gandhian on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue."Anna has written a letter to the Prime Minister and a response is awaited. Once Anna gets the reply, he will brief you," activist Manish Sisodia told Hazare's supporters. Read
18: 00 pm: News reports suggest that the Parliament is set to discuss all three versions of the bill tomorrow.
Vilasrao Deshmukh said he went in his personal capacity to convey his concerns over Anna's health. He urged Anna to come discuss all versions of the bill in the parliament, but Hazare said discussions should only take place over the Jan Lokpal Bill.
17: 30 pm: A high-level meeting between ministers is underway at the PM's residence as Anna supporters continued their protest outside his house.
16: 20 pm: After the brief meeting with Deshmukh, Hazare sent a message back to the Prime Minister who had urged him to end his fast and continue the protest if he so chooses to.15: 45 pm: Deshmukh has urged Anna to listen to PM's offer and end his fast.15: 00 pm: In another attempt to break the fast, the government has sent Maharashtrian mediators, namely Vilasrao Deshmukh, to convince Hazare to end his fast.Meanwhile, the Parliament, namely the Speaker and all parties present in the House, have urged Hazare to end his fast amid growing concerns to his health.
14: 05 pm: In a quest to end the crisis, the PM said the only way forward is to bring all three drafts (including Aruna Roy's version of the bill) to the table and reach a consensus.14: 00 pm: Law minister Salman Khurshid said, despite his cabinet colleagues being skeptical of talks with Team Anna, he proceeded with discussions with the activists, but felt they just aren't willing to take the talks further. He said there is nothing much he could do if Team Anna is unwilling to discuss the issue further."There is no impression of any breakthrough in the meeting. The government is keen on dialogue and are committed to talks," Khurshid said.Asked what is the way forward, Khurshid said: "I don't know ask them (Team Anna). Government is willing to talk, but if they don't want to come then what is the way out?"Should the government only listen, they can't suggest?" he asked."We might have different strategies but finally one strategy has to prevail. Why should there not be any scepticism if people just talk and walk out and say something to us inside and something else outside," he said, accusing civil society activists of double talk."We were talking, they walked out. Now they are asking whom should they talk to...," he added.13: 55 pm: Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari has apologised to Anna Hazare for accusing him of being corrupt. He said at times during political discourse, things are said without proper reflection. 13: 30 pm: The PM is hopeful Team Anna would come to the discussion table (the standing committee in the parliament) and look into all three versions (including Aruna Roy's lokpal bill) of the bill and reach a consensus.12: 55 pm: Urging Hazare to end his fast, the PM said he has registered his point. PM said an agreement had been reached on the shape of the draft but little details had to be worked out. He asked Anna to abide by the parliamentary procedures and work towards the drafting of a strong lokpal bill.Admitting that he might have made some mistakes, the PM denied accusations that he had ever "connived with corruption" and reassured the members of the parliament that his "government would do everything possible to cleanse the system"."We need to find credible solutions to deal with the scourge of corruption," he said, admitting that the opposition charges against him has hurt him.
11: 55 am: Echoing Pranab's views, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear that the Parliamentary democracy cannot be undermined.Responding to a letter from former Chief Justice J S Verma, the PM asserted that it is only after "due deliberation" that a law can be passed that not only meets the aspirations of the people but is also "practical and effective".Virtually rejecting the August 30 deadline set by Hazare for passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill, he said, "It is the bounden duty of Parliament to pass a law only after its members have had reasonable time and opportunity to hear a wide range of public opinions and apply their minds to its various provisions."The PM asked Verma to use his good offices to urge Hazare and his supporters "to adopt a more rational approach in dealing with this complex problem". 11: 44 am: Laws can only be made in the parliament seems to be overwhelming government response as that seems to be the reason why the talks broke down yesterday. Pranab Mukherjee reiterated today that the Lokpal Bill can only be passed in the Parliament in accordance with the set procedures but Team Anna wanted to skip the procedures.Taking to reporters here, Pranab said: "The all party meeting which was convened on Wednesday rejected the idea of bypassing the parliamentary procedures and opined for the bill to go through the standing committee."We are appealing to Anna to end his fast. Then they gave these three conditions. If they are fulfilled, then they would request Anna to break his fast. Those three conditions were one; the government bill will have to be withdrawn. Two, Jan Lokpal Bill will have to be introduced. Three, parliamentary standing committee route will have to be avoided and the bill will have to be passed straightway in the parliament before the end of this session. "Today, we informed them that this is not possible. Parliamentary process will have to be worked out and parliamentary process should be allowed to function,11: 28 am: Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till noon after the BJP created an uproar over shift in government's stand on Anna's agitation.11: 26 am: Pranab Mukherjee told Congress MPs that Team Anna were trying to hijack legislative functions.
11: 00 am: Doctors treating Hazare are concerned about his failing health as they feel he requires immediate hospitalisation."We already recommended Hazare to get admitted in a hospital on Wednesday, but he refused. We are yet to check the blood samples," a doctor treating Hazare said.Hazare, 74, has so far refused to be administered glucose drips. He has been asked to drink lots of water and told not to take any strain. 10: 55 am: Blaming internal politics for disrupting progress in talks, activist Arvind Kejriwal said Team Anna is a "victim of Congress politics". He also feared that Anna could be evicted from Ramlila today."We have become victims of internal politics of Congress. How many rounds of talks we have had with senior leaders like Kapil Sibal and Chidambaram, but nothing has happened till now. Whom will we talk to?" Kejriwal said.."There were strong indications that Annaji could be evicted from Ramlila Maidan early morning on Thursday. As the issue was publicised, but nothing was done," Kejriwal told reporters here.10: 50 am: Amid fears that police might take action against Anna Hazare, his aide Kiran Bedi last night said she has been assured by the Delhi police chief that the fasting social activist won't be removed forcibly unless his health was in jeopardy."I got an SMS from Delhi Police commissioner that police won't take any action till the doctors declare that Anna needs serious medical attention. So even if they got orders from the ministers, they would not touch Anna," she said. 10: 45 am: Despite the talks breaking down yesterday, both sides said that discussions would continue today.A day after their parleys ended in a logjam, the two sides will meet again around noon to thrash out a solution.Hazare's representatives -- Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi -- were visibly upset at the lack of progress in a 90-minute meeting with government negotiators led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday.They alleged that the government had done a U-turn and was not being serious about bringing in a strong anti-corruption law that would set up a powerful and an independent watchdog.10: 40 am: One of the members of Team Anna, activist Arvind Kejriwal, blamed "some elements" within the government for the breakdown of talks.He claimed that senior ministers -- namely Kapil Sibal and P. Chidambaram -- strongly opposed the talks between government and Team Anna representatives and jeopardised the negotiations over the contentious Lokpal bill."It is unfortunate that some elements in the government were trying to jeopardise the talks. We had reached a consensus," Kejriwal told reporters.Chronology of Wednesday's events:19: 00 pm: The all-party meet into the Lokpal issue here on Wednesday asked the government to give due consideration to activist Anna Hazare’s Jan Lokpal Bill.The parties felt there should be an effective Lokpal. They appealed to Hazare to end his fast. Read
18: 30 pm: Appealing to Anna Hazare to end his fast, the government on Wednesday said it has forwarded Jan Lokpal Bill to Parliament's Standing Committee for consideration and it is up to it to take a decision."We have forwarded Jan Lokpal Bill to the Standing Committee for its consideration. It is for the Committee to decide," Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy said in the Rajya Sabha. Read
18:00 pm: Amid concerns over his health as his protest entered ninth day, Anna Hazare on Wednesday said he could fast for another nine days."My fast has entered the ninth day. Nothing will happen to me. I can fast for another nine days. We will fight together," he told the gathering at Ramlila Maidan. The statement by the 74-year-old Gandhian was greeted by loud applause and cheers by his supporters. Read
17:30 pm: I am receiving energy from the enthusiasm of the crowd. Some people have spoiled the country, we will all together re -build the country: Hazare.16: 30 pm: PM in the all-party meet told members that Team Anna wants a Lokpal Bill passed in four days. Meanwhile, Salman Khurshid has said that there are only two or three key differences in opinion between the government and Team Anna on the bill and is hoping the issue will be sorted out soon.15: 30 pm: The all-party meeting begins as the PM and Pranab start briefing the members on the details of their new draft and initiating the talks that are potentially decisive to forming a solution to the Lokpal issue.15: 00 pm: The opposition managed to invoke a rare smile out of Manmohan Singh today as BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi took the lead in the parliament and cracked a jestful comment on the PM's earlier "magic wand" remark.The Lok Sabha broke into a fit of laughter as Joshi quoted the PM's I-Day speech in which he had said "the government had no magic wand to end corruption".Joshi on Wednesday jested: "Science and technology has developed in India. We need to invent a magic wand to end corruption."That comment provoked a smile out of the usually serious-looking Manmohan.Noticing the PM smile over his comment, Joshi said he had been "waiting to see that smile on Dr. Singh's face".He said: "There is a smile on your face. I have been dying for this day. This is a very special day for the parliament."
14: 15 pm: Senior BJP leader, Yashwant Sinha and two other party members have threatened to quit the party because they feel that their party took a "soft" stance on the issue of Lokpal and should have instead come out openly in support of Anna and his demands.13: 37 pm: A meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, between members of Team Anna and the government just ended with media reports suggesting that another round of talks will soon follow in the evening once the all-party meeting (due to start at 3.30 pm) ends.13: 35 pm: Almost 200 hours have passed since Anna started his fast and the government is more keen to end his fast first amid concerns to his health and then sort out the nuances concerning the bill, news reports claim.Urging the need to find a point of convergence on the issue and that it takes time to do so, Salman Khurshid said the government is working on resolving matters and is urging Team Anna to come to the talking table.13: 15 pm: Calling this moment in time a historic period to introspect and react, Arun Jaitley elaborated on the issues the government and parliament faces in addressing the Anna movement and their core issue of corruption in the country. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Jaitley said: "While we are in this delicate situation and discussing the issue of corruption, I believe this opportunity presents a historic challenge to us. The Parliament is the ultimate law-making authority... movements outside parliament are all intended to convey public opinion and the intensity of public opinion to us."That message coming to all of us could not be louder and clearer. That the country is expecting Parliament to perform its obligation and duty and take effective steps so we are able to substantially tackle the problem of corruption." Noting the complexity of law making and the levels of thought needed in striking a balance and consensus on the issue, Jaitley said: "We must also have the honesty of purpose to analyze where we have gone wrong. There is erosion of credibility as far as governance is concerned. People are losing faith (so much so) that (they believe that) normal mechanisms will be adequate to tackle the problem. So it is extremely important that we introspect honestly. We must truthfully accept the situation on the ground. We should raise the bar for accountability."13: 00 pm: In his extended speech expressing disgust at government's inability to tackle corruption, Jaitley said, "people are losing face in the government. There is a crisis of credibility in there. Corruption has become so rampant in every corner. Accusing the CBI of working for "political masters," Jaitley said: "The enormity of this protest is proportionate to public anger. In this country, public opinion is fierce and fair. Can you blame the people for expressing their anger in such a situation?"12: 40 pm: The opposition has initiated the lokpal debate in the parliament, Arun Jaitley has accused the government of inaction and inability to deal with the issue of corruption in Rajya Sabha.12: 30 pm: The PM today wrote to Anna Hazare on the Lokpal issue. His letter to Anna can be read here.12: 25 pm: Meanwhile Hazare has said that he is feeling fine despite having lost 6 kgs and that he can carry on the fast until his demands are met.12: 00 pm: While much of the television media (which has been accused of giving rise to the movement) has been going by the populist support that Anna has received, many critics within the larger media have come out to express their disapproval of Anna's methods, and more importantly, his version of the draft (which they point out is potentially draconian in nature).The likes of AP Shah (as quoted in Tehelka) have already questioned the bill, calling many of its provisions "overboard, defective and preposterous". "To attribute such 'mind-boggling' power to an ombudsman is unprecedented, not just in the history of India, but the history of the world", he argued.Shah is not alone in his criticism. There are many who feel the institution Hazare and his team desire to create would resemble one "gargantuan, authoritarian, sweeping" body that is potentially in danger of becoming corrupt by itself without a larger check. Columnist Manish Chand is one such critique who prefers to look at the movement's hysteria or 'Annamania' as he calls it.
11: 55 am: Meanwhile one of Team Anna's key members, Kiran Bedi said the Jan Lokpal Bill is the "cause of every Indian today". Terming the bill a "citizen's charter" and a boon for the "common man", Bedi said: "We have the right to have an honest India and the right to our own belief. To a common man, corruption has also become a very vital issue and the government should pass the Lokpal bill. The benefit of the Lokpal to the common man would be just like the Right to Information (RTI). We are urging the government to pass the bill in the benefit of the common man."11:35 am: Aruna Roy, member of the National Advisory Council, met Anna today at Ramlila to convey her concerns on his deteriorating health.11: 20 am: In an extended speech, Anna maintained his position on the government by claiming that their intentions "are not good" and that they lacked the will or desire to tackle corruption.11: 00 am: Meanwhile the Prime Minister said he was "concerned about Anna's health" and asked him to take medical assistance amid worries to his kidney.10: 50 am: Reports say that Pranab Mukherjee and his aides are busy drafting a new bill that they hope will be the solution forward as small differences still persist between the government's version and team Anna's version of the draft.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid and New Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit are heading over to meet Pranab to help with the drafting of the bill.
10: 40 am: To know more about the key talking points between the government's version of the lokpal billl and Team Anna's version, check this detailed table highlighting the differences of the two drafts.10: 25 am: Ahead of an all party meeting due this afternoon at 3.30 pm, Home Minister P. Chidambaram submitted a report detailing the current situation of Anna's fast to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sources said the report was given to the PM this morning, but declined to divulge the contents of the report.Concerning the afternoon talks, the sources said a final decision would only be taken after the meeting as the opposition parties had earlier pointed out that the government had taken all decisions on its own without consulting them. Many of the demands of Team Anna, which is insisting on its version of the Lokpal bill, have been met, sources said, adding that talks with the two continued. 10: 17 am: BJP MP Varun Gandhi, who has already tabled the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha as a private members' bill, was found sitting as "a common man" (in his own words) with the rest of Anna's supporters at Ramlila Maidan. 10: 12 am: According to a health bulletin issued by the doctors treating Hazare, his blood pressure and sugar levels hit dangerous levels as his weight fell by 200 gm. Ketone particles (created by the body during starvation) levels have also risen posing a threat to his kidneys and liver, the doctors said.
10: 10 am: After late night discussions between the government and Team Anna on Tuesday night, both sides agreed on a variety of issues leading to hopes of the fast ending today. But Team Anna insist that only upon clear written assurance from the government would it end its fast. "Anna will read every word of the written agreement when it comes. Rest assured he is not going to take any chances at all. Today is crucial. His health as well as government giving a written commitment for tabling and passing in current session the Jan Lokpal is important," his aide Kiran Bedi said. 10: 05 am: Hazare said the government could attempt to shift him to a hospital and asked his supporters to not let that happen. "If they try to take me away forcibly, park yourself at the gates and don't let me be taken away," he said.But insisted they continue their protest in a non-violent manner. "But there should be no violence," Hazare said, adding that "whatever we do, it should be done non-violently. Violence is a crime." 10: 00 am: Looking weak compared to the first days of his protest, Hazare today said that he was not afraid of dying.On being told that his kidneys showed signs of weakening and that he needed drips, Hazare said: "I consulted my inner conscience... My inner conscience does not allow me to take saline drips. It doesn't matter if I die. If I die, so many Annas will emerge."
