Team Anna, now celebrating its so-called “victory” over the government, is unlikley to get anything in a hurry. The government, after getting Anna Hazare to end his fast, has sent his Jan Lokpal Bill to the standing committee. But that committee will also consider several other drafts, including those proposed by Aruna Roy and Loksatta convenor Jaiprakash Narayan, besides the earlier government bill.
And despite the hue and cry by Team Anna, Parliament has not set any deadline for the bill’s introduction or passage. Sources told this newspaper that neither Parlia-ment nor the government was “in any mood to rush things”.
After deliberating on the bill’s four versions, the committee’s draft will be sent to the Cabinet and then introduced in Parli-ament. “There are technicalities and it’s not certain if it will be possible to call a special session just to pass this bill. The Winter Session begins in November, and Team Anna might just have to wait till then,” a senior Congress leader said.
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Anna on liquid diet, in hospital for 2 to 3 days
Age Correspondent
Gurgaon, Aug. 28
After ending his fast, Anna Hazare was brought to Dr Naresh Trehan’s Medanta Medicity Hospital in Gurgaon at 11.30 am. Dr Trehan said Anna’s health was not too good. He would be in hospital for two to three days.
Dr Trehan said Anna had lost 7.5 kg weight in his 288-hour fast. Anna’s blood pressure (120/70) was below normal and some internal organs were affected. He was given a liquid diet and will get solids only after 48 hours.