New Delhi, Aug 28 (ANI): Congratulating Anna Hazare and his team of civil society representatives for holding a peaceful protest for a strong and effective Lokpal Bill, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said the government was optimistic that he would end his fast following appeal from the parliament and various political outfits that all are united in the fight against corruption.
"We were hoping for it with regard to whatever talks we had and the way the Parliament and various political parties appealed to him and assured him that we are all united to fight corruption. The whole country is one and there was no question of having two views on it. We were optimistic that he would end his fast. It was also formally announced yesterday," Khurshid told mediapersons here.
"I believe that it is an occasion for the whole country. I congratulate Anna and his team on their victory. I congratulate them for the way the whole protest was peaceful. We expect that in these pure protests, none of the persons would be allowed to participate, who would spoil the atmosphere," he added.
Responding to a question that Hazare after breaking his fast declared that electoral reforms will be next on his agenda, Khurshid said: "There will be talks with everyone. I was listening to his various proposals on the television channels. A few of his proposals are long run proposals. There are some proposals, which the government is discussing continuously."
"Jairam Ramesh has made a new bill, which will be brought out soon to deal with the problems faced by the common man with the government and administration. The bill is in this regard. In the same manner, land acquisition bill and rehabilitation bill is coming, which is very important," he added.
Khurshid further said the government is giving a positive response to problems faced by the common man.
"The problems, which we have seen in the past several months, the problems of household persons, tribals and common man linked to land acquisition, we are giving them a very positive response on that. And I consider it is a very positive response. It is their right that the government gives such positive response. We are welcoming the response from the common man and giving them legal structure," he said.
Stating that the civil society should play a major role in today's political scenario, Khurshid said: "There will be a lot of issues, which will overlap between the government and civil society representatives. We always believe that the civil society should play a prominent role in today's political scenario."
After securing Parliament's nod on key elements of Jan Lokpal bill, Hazare broke his over 288 hour-long fast declaring that electoral reforms will be next on his agenda.
Hazare broke his fast at 10.20 a.m. by taking coconut water mixed with honey offered by two little girls.
The 74-year-old social activist was driven straight to Medanta Medicity run by India's top cardiologist Dr Naresh Trehan, who was attending to him along with his team during his entire period of fast. He will stay in the hospital for two to three days.
The latest developments came after both the Houses of Parliament on Saturday agreed in principle with Hazare's three key demands.
Both Houses of Parliament adopted a resolution on the sense of house accepting key demands of Hazare on citizen charter, lower bureaucracy to be under the ambit of Lokpal and establishment of state lokayuktas and power of lokpal to penalise grievance redressal mechanism violators. (ANI)
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