Jan Lokpal Bill must be discussed in Parliament, says Gadkari

New Delhi, Aug 25 (ANI): Expressing concern over Anna Hazare's health, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that he has written a letter to the veteran social activist saying that his party disagrees to the stand taken by the UPA Government on the Lokpal Bill issue.

"Anna Hazare is fasting from the last ten days at the Ramlila Maidan. The way government has tackled this issue is unfortunate. His health is deteriorating continuously. There has to be a decision to this so that a logistic conclusion comes to the fore. I sent a letter to Anna Hazare this morning explaining the role of the BJP and appealing him to end his fast," Gadkari told mediapersons here.

"We have made it clear about the current situation of the situation of the country, and in particular because of the record corruption the people have lost its trust in the government," he added.

Gadkari further said the Jan Lokpal Bill must be discussed in the Parliament.

"The Jan Lokpal Bill must be discussed in the Parliament. The government must find a solution to it and Sushma Swaraj has made it clear that the government should find a solution to it. We also raised this issue in the Parliamentary Board meeting. But there was no logistic conclusion to it," said Gadkari.

"I personally appeal to the Prime Minister to take stock of the anguish of the common man. Taking Anna's health into consideration, the government must come out with a solution," he added.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is presently presiding over a meeting of his key ministers here this evening to discuss Hazare's latest message with regard to ending his fast and the impasse over the Lokpal Bill.

According to reports, Hazare sent a letter to the Prime Minister through Union Science and Technology Minister and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who met him at the Ramlila Ground for around 20 minutes earlier in the day.

Addressing the gathering at the Ramlila Ground earlier today, Hazare reiterated that he will end his fast only if there is a consensus on the three issues raised by civil society.

He placed three conditions before the government, which is inclusion of lower bureaucracy in the Lokpal bill, appointment of Lokayuktas in all states, and implementation of citizen's charter in government offices.he 74-year-old social activist, whose fast for a strong Lokpal entered its tenth day today, said that he was awaiting a response from the Prime Minister.

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

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)