Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Noted social activist Anna Hazare will not attend the meeting of the Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill scheduled for Thursday.
Besides, Anna Hazare, former Karnataka Lokayukta and key Team Anna member Justice Santosh Hegde is also likely to miss the meeting.
Reports, Wednesday, claimed that the Standing Committee meeting will be attended by other Team Anna members like Arvind Kejriwal, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan.
Noted Gandhian, who is in Ralegan Siddhi, will however attend the meeting on Friday.
Anna, who has taken a vow of silence few days back, is also expected to end it tomorrow.
Anna yesterday threatened to launch another hunger strike if a strong Lokpal Bill is not passed in the Winter Session of Parliament, but the government hit back saying it saw no reason for such threats and reiterated its commitment for a strong ombudsman.
Team Anna, which has been facing criticism over collection and handling of funds, yesterday unveiled details of donations received and expenses incurred during its agitations for a strong Lokpal bill.
Hazare last week wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and warned the government that he would tour the five states scheduled to go to the polls early next year and campaign for "clean candidates" without naming any party.
The Winter Session of Parliament begins Nov 22 and ends Dec 21.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said, "I do not see any reason for bringing pressure on the government as the parliamentary affairs minister, the leader of the Lok Sabha, Congress leaders and the prime minister himself have repeatedly emphasised that a strong, effective and powerful instrument like the Lokpal will be put in place."
Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid has also reacted by saying that "Passing a strong Lokpal Bill is everyone’s responsibility and not the government’s alone."
First Published: Wednesday, November 02, 2011, 13:44