The Lok Sabha is set to hold a sitting on Saturday, where the Lokpal issue is likely to be discussed following a statement by the Finance Minister.

This follows the back and forth between the Government and Team Anna on Friday, even as Mr Anna Hazare’s fast entered the11th day.

On Friday, the Lokpal issue took a new turn in the Lok Sabha with Congress General Secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that the Lokpal be made a Constitutional body like the Election Commission, accountable to Parliament.

Mr Gandhi took a swipe at Mr Hazare, saying that “individual dictates, no matter how well-intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process”. This could set a dangerous precedent, he added.

Earlier, Mr Hazare wrote a letter to the Prime Minister expressing his respect for Parliament and terming it 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. “We are not against any party or individual” he said.

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 which 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 the Union Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram and the HRD Minister Mr Kapil Sibal for the incident.

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