New Delhi: Expressing hope that differences between Anna Hazare and government could be sorted out soon, spiritual leader Baiyyuji Maharaj, who has emerged as a mediator, Monday said the government was trying "really hard" to find a solution.
Indore-based Maharaj, who is known to several top
politicians from Maharashtra, said the crux of the dialogue is
that how much of concession each side was ready for.
"I can tell you the government is trying really hard. I
am not supporting or favouring anybody but intentions of both sides are very clear...," he said when asked about his role in mediation process.
He, along with Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary Umesh Chandra Sarangi, both of whom are known to Hazare, have
been roped in by the government to initiate back-room
negotiations to end the fast by 73-year-old Hazare demanding a
strong Lokpal.
Describing his meeting with Hazare as "family talks",
Maharaj said he was studying both the government and the civil
society`s drafts of the Lokpal Bill. There was some
communication gap between the two sides, he said and expressed
hope that the differences of opinion can be sorted out.
"The question is how much conditions are going to be
acceptable (to the two sides)... Now things are going that way
and dialogue can be started on those grounds on which there
are objections from Anna and what government can accept," he
said.
Sarangi held two rounds of talks with Hazare on Saturday
night and yesterday while Maharaj joined the official
yesterday during the discussions.
Sarangi has a good rapport with Hazare having handled
several such situations in Maharashtra under former Chief
Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh when he had either gone on fast or
threatened to do so.
PTI
