Anna Hazare’s fast reaches seventh day; Government to begin talks

New Delhi: Anna Hazare has lost five kg of weight as his fast for a strong anti-corruption bill entered the seventh day.

"Ketone particles have been traced from his blood and urine. He has lost five kg of weight, his health is all right otherwise," Arvind Kejriwal said at Ramlila Ground where Anna Hazare is sitting on fast.

The Anna Hazare camp on Sunday stepped up its campaign by demonstrating at the PM’s residence and the Gandhian leader delivering a "bring Lokpal bill or go" call. The campaign’s escalation came on a day that saw crowd support for the protests swelling dramatically, with large turnouts at India Gate and Ramlila Ground.

Efforts to resolve the argument also got on the move, with intermediaries meeting telecom minister Kapil Sibal late on Sunday evening. Veteran Maharashtra bureaucrat U C Sarangi and longtime Hazare associate Bhayyuji Maharaj indeed met Hazare. They were later closeted with Sibal.

“The discussions were of a general nature and no proposal was conveyed to the government,” said the campaign leaders after meeting with Sibal. Bhayyuji Maharaj has cleared that the talks were positive and both sides were flexible.

Further, Team Anna is willing to talk and wants a negotiator to be appointed by the government. While Arvind Kejriwal has said the government should tell them whom to meet and when. Also, Swami Agnivesh added that the government should introduce the Jan Lokpal bill in Parliament to create trust.

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