Govt likely to decide on Jan Lokpal Bill today

New Delhi: As Anna Hazare's fast enters the eighth day on Tuesday, a worried Government is likely to take a decision on placing the Jan Lokpal Bill before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. With no quick-fix formula in hand, the Government is weighing over various options.

Under pressure, the Congress Party's main troubleshooters Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and Ahmed Patel held a meeting at the Prime Minister's residence on Monday to discuss the party's strategy on the issue.

Sources tell CNN-IBN that the Government is thinking of placing the Jan Lokpal Bill as a corrigendum in Parliament.

Sources also say that there is no plan to withdraw the Government's version of the Lokpal Bill and that the Government will take the final decision on Tuesday.

Sources say that the Government is also considering bringing the Prime Minister under the purview of the Lokpal.

Sources also said that the Government is exploring the option of getting the Opposition to support the idea that Anna Hazare cannot be allowed to bypass Parliament.

The Government is contemplating the option of requesting the Standing Committee to ensure that its proceedings are completed within two months, said the sources.

The Government's next option, say sources, is calling a special session of Parliament if needs be.

The Government may consider appointing political negotiators to directly talk to Team Anna as Anna Hazare has said he doesn't want to talk to non-political negotiators, but someone from the PMO or Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Team Anna on Tuesday reiterated that they are ready for direct talks.

"A solution can be found through dialogue and not through media," said Arvind Kejriwal.

"There are two options before the Government - either introduce the Jan Lokpal Bill or amend their version of the Bill," he said.

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Anna's attempts to impose Jan Lokpal Bill misconceived: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a strong statement in Lok Sabha on the Anna Hazare standoff on Wednesday morning, defending the Delhi Police's decision to arrest the Gandhian and calling the social activist's attempts to impose his Jan Lokpal Bill on Parliament as "totally misconceived".

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare, his team and their ever-swelling supporters dug their heels in and outside the Tihar Jail, demanding the government give in to all conditions for their fast at Jai Prakash Narain Park in central Delhi.

“All of us agree that the Lokpal Bill should be passed by Parliament. The question is who drafts the law and who passes the law,” Singh said.

“It is the sole prerogative of Parliament to make laws and government has gone by well-settled principles,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Team Anna must allow elected representatives of the people to do their job.

The Prime Minister detailed before members the sequence of events that led to Anna Hazare's arrest, saying his detention and that of his colleagues' was a “preventive measure” as they had rejected several key security suggestions by the Delhi Police.

Singh said the government “acknowledges” the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests, but reiterated Hazare refuses to come out “unless the government gives him an undertaking that he would be allowed to fast at Jai Prakash Narain park”.

Ignoring loud grumbles from the Opposition, Singh appealed to all political parties to ensure that Parliament functioned smoothly.

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