Govt blinks on Lokpal bill, Hazare to end fast on Saturday

NEW DELHI: Wilting under a sustained anti- corruption campaign, government tonight blinked in the war of attrition with Anna Hazare by agreeing to issue a formal order to set up a 10-member joint committee for drafting a strong Lokpal Bill and the Gandhian will end his fast tomorrow.

The announcement of an agreement came from both sides after four days of Hazare's fast-unto-death that evoked a nationwide support cutting across the society.

"Government has accepted all our demands and I will end my fast tomorrow at 10:30 A.M. This is a victory for the entire nation," Hazare said.

Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who led the government team of negotiators, welcomed Hazare's announcement and thanked him for it. The order will be issued tomorrow morning at around 10 AM after which Hazare will end his fast.

"This is a victory for democracy," he said adding it was for the government now now to issue an appropriate order constituting the committee that will include representatives of civil society and government.

However, Hazare's emissaries Kiran Bedi and Swami Agnivesh made it clear that the protest fast will not not be ended till the government issues the order.

The denouement came after his emissaries met ministers for a round of talks, third in two days and after some hiccups.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee that will also include Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Telecom Minister Sibal, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid as members.

Besides Hazare, those representing the civil society in the joint committee will be eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan, Prasant Bhushan, retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hege and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal. Shanti Bhushan will be the co-Chairman.