Government representatives in the Joint Drafting Committee of Lokpal Bill on Thursday night reviewed the progress made in framing the anti-corruption legislation and firmed up their response to the six contentious issues over which they have differences with civil society counterparts.

With barely 24 hours left for his “satyagraha” against corruption and black money, the government on Friday initiated a fresh round of talks with Baba Ramdev to persuade him to give up his proposed agitation.

The government on Thursday made a desperate bid to woo yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who proposes to go on a fast-unto-death from June 4, on Wednesday. It dispatched no less than four Union ministers, led by Mr Pranab Mukherjee, to welcome Baba Ramdev at the airport.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved the development of housing and basic facilities in slums across 250 cities in the country.

The government, faced with rising corruption charges, is now examining the possibility of dropping controversial ministers, including Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran, in the next Cabinet reshuffle. Pressure is mounting on both the Congress high command and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to “drop ministers being accused of corruption”.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet on Thursday did not discuss the Ramdev issue, even as senior ministers were engaged in persuading the yoga guru not to go ahead with his proposed fast on June 4.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and the Tihar Jail chief after hearing a PIL demanding certain changes in parole rules and other provisions to protect the fundamental rights of under-trial prisoners and convicts lodged in the jail.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has attacked Baba Ramdev, who has threatened to go on an agitation on the issue of corruption, dubbing him more of a businessman than a ‘sanyasi’.

A middle-aged couple was shot dead by armed assailants in northeast Delhi’s Harsh Vihar area in the early hours of Wednesday.

Jammu and Kashmir police has registered a case against unidentified Army personnel for allegedly entering three hotels in the dead of the night in Leh and harassing tourists, including foreigners, earlier this week.