Vilasrao Deshmukh meets Anna Hazare

New Delhi, Aug 25 (ANI): Union Science and Technology Minister and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Thursday met veteran social activist Anna Hazare, whose fast for a strong Lokpal has entered the tenth day, at the Ramlila Ground here.

"A lot of people from Maharashtra have met me and asked me to request Annaji to end his fast. I went to meet Anna to inquire his health and requested him to end fast following the appeal by Parliament and the Prime Minister. So, I went there," Deshmukh told mediapersons after meeting Hazare

"We are concerned about his health and requested him to end his fast. I briefed Pranab Mukherjee about Anna and the current situation," he added.

Emphasising that Hazare's health was the government's primary concern, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier in the day said India needs a robust Hazare.

Mukherjee's remarks came after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, demanded clarifications from him on the claim made by Team Anna that government was not concerned about the failing health of the 74-year-old fasting social activist.

"I thank the honourable leader of the opposition that she has brought my attention to a distorted version of what I said. In fact, at the end of the meeting when all of them left, I came out of my office and I told the waiting journalists that we request Shri Anna Hazare to break his fast. Nation requires a robust and healthy Anna Hazare in the service of the nation," said Mukherjee.

"I would like to place this on record, what appeared was totally distorted, no word was said in the meeting itself and I did not have an iota unless somebody told me that this distortion is coming. I thought I should clarify the position," he added.

Talks between the government and Team Anna ended in a deadlock on Wednesday night, with both sides failing to resolve key issues.

Hazare's representatives - Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Kiran Bedi - were visibly upset at the lack of progress during the meetings with government negotiators.

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.

"We are back to the position where we were two days ago, when no meetings have taken place. The agreement on procedure, which appeared to have been reached yesterday, has been withdrawn by them," Kejriwal said.

"We will decide in a short time whether or not to meet the government today. They are saying they will now draft a new bill. Since they already have our bill, there is nothing to talk about. If they come up with any proposal, they can send it to us," he added.

Kejriwal further said: "Yesterday, after the all party meeting, they told us that we couldn't reach a consensus; so the bill will go through the Standing Committee. They informed us that we'll come with new law or bill in Parliament and you can put your point in that bill."

Hazare has been on a fast since August 16, the day he was arrested and taken to Tihar Jail. He was released the same day, but he refused to leave. He shifted to the Ramlila Ground in New Delhi on August 19, from where he has been continuing with his fast. (ANI)