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The Lok Sabha is set to hold a sitting on Saturday, where the Lokpal issue is likely to be discussed after a statement by the Finance Minister.
An all-party meeting was convened by the Speaker on Friday to end the impasse, even as social activist Anna Hazare's fast entered the11th day.
The Lokpal issue took a new turn with the Congress General Secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that the Lokpal be made a Constitutional body like the Election Commission, accountable to Parliament.
Taking a swipe at Mr Hazare in the Lok Sabha, Mr Gandhi said, “individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process”.
Hazare writes to PM
Earlier, Mr Hazare wrote a letter to the Prime Minister terming Parliament as the “temple of our democracy”.
He spelt out three conditions for inclusion in the resolution to be passed by Parliament – citizens' charter, Lokayuktas in all States and inclusion of lower bureaucracy — for calling off his fast.
Reacting to Mr Gandhi's suggestion, former Law Minister and Team Anna member, Mr Shanti Bhushan said, the “Bill for Lokpal does not clash with the Constitutional body that Mr Gandhi is suggesting”.
In a related development, the Supreme Court agreed to examine whether the Government violated fundamental rights of a citizen by taking Mr Hazare into preventive custody on August 16. A bench of justices, however, declined to issue notice to Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and HRD Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal.
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