Help Break The Lokpal Logjam

With Team Anna saying that they would not call off their agitation unless the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed by Parliament by this month-end, and the government insisting there is no way that the due parliamentary process would be over by then, there seems to be no meeting ground for now.

Let's not forget that before Team Anna hardened its stance, perhaps as a result of losing all faith in the government's intent to act in good faith, it had primarily been insisting on (a) withdrawal of the Govt Draft and (b) introduction of a strong Lokpal Bill that would take the main principles of the Jan Lokpal Bill on some of the contentious issues, viz. Selection process of Lokayuktas and Lokpal; Jurisdiction on PM, Judiciary, MPs, lower bureaucracy, NGOs; CBI and CVC and Grievance Redressal. Its insistence now on passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill seems to be more of a maximalist bargaining tactics.

Check out the full coverage on these and more issues concerning the debate

The government, on its part, points to the versions and critique of both the drafts put out by the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) to point out the problems with the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Also see:

• A comparison and the points of contention between the major drafts.
• Critiques and suggestions put forward by the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) | More NCPRI Documents
• Justice A P Shah & Venkatesh Nayak critique the Jan Lokpal Bill

What do you think?

Do you have any concrete suggestions to help resolve the crisis?

Please share your suggestions about the possible way forward with specific steps that the government and Team Anna need to take to break the logjam.

Post Script: Now that the PM has written to Anna Hazare saying that the "government is prepared to request the Speaker, Lok Sabha to formally refer the Jan Lokpal Bill also to the Standing Committee for their holistic consideration alongwith everything else," do you think we are closer to a resolution, particularly as the PM goes on to say:

Furthermore, if you have any anxieties about time and speed, the Government can formally request the Standing Committee to try, subject to its discretion and the necessity to reflect deeply and spend adequate time on an important Bill, and fast track their deliberations to the extent reasonably feasible.

I would like to say that this letter and each suggestion herein is actuated solely by the twin considerations of deep and genuine concern about your health and the emergence of a strong and effective Lok Pal Act in accordance with established constitutional precept and practice.

I do hope that you will consider my suggestions and end your fast to regain full health and vitality.

Do you think Team Anna should take the PM's letter seriously, Anna Hazare should end his fast and call off the agitation? Or do you think this is just another delaying tactics on the part of the PM to buy time?