Congress chief Sonia Gandhi?s meeting with Anna Hazare and his associates on Saturday turned out to be, what Digvijaya Singh had predicted, a mere ?formality? as both sides heard each other in a ?cordial atmosphere? and in ?full civility? without budging from their respective stance on contentious issues. The Congress did not offer any response to Hazare?s and Arvind Kejriwal?s justification for the need to include the PM and the judiciary under Lokpal?s purview.
While Hazare did state at the meeting, as also after it, that Parliament is ?supreme? and ?the civil society members would respect whatever Parliament decides?, he reiterated that if the ?proper draft? of the proposed anti-corruption legislation does not go to Parliament, he would go on fast from August 16. He, however, did not talk about his fast at the meeting in the presence of senior leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Janardhan Dwivedi and Mohsina Kidwai.
Sonia was said to have assured the civil society members that she would discuss their views on the proposed legislation within her party again. Congress media department chairman Dwivedi, however, said, ?The coalition government is led by the Congress. It is our responsibility to support the government. Whatever draft is prepared through collective wisdom, we will support it.?
Asked if the meeting was successful, Dwivedi said, ?I did not use the word successful. I said that the meeting took place in a very cordial atmosphere and in full civility.?
The civil society members said Sonia was ?very gracious? in her response to their concerns while adding that they had not expected the Congress, like other parties they have talked to, to give any immediate reply on contentious issues.
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