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.
