Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Amidst signs of a breakthrough on the Lokpal impasse, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan on Saturday said the process appears to be headed towards another stalemate.
Bhushan said the government has refused to move a resolution in Parliament or have a voting to resolve the Lokpal logjam that could end Anna Hazare's fast.
Prashant told reporters here that they have not been able to understand the government’s stand, and added it will be very unfortunate if the Parliament doesn’t pass a resolution after the debate on Lokpal Bill.
Prashant said the government had last night made it clear to them that a resolution will be passed or voting will be held after today’s Lokpal debate. However, he added, the team is getting the sense that no such thing will happen.
Meanwhile, the government is reported to have responded by saying that the debate in Parliament is not happening under Rule 193 as stated by Prashant Bhushan.
Finance Mukherjee initiated the debate and representatives of various political parties have expressed their views as part of the general discussion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal told a news channel.
He added that the government will make a statement in the Parliament after the debate, conveying the sense of the House.
He however added that if Team Anna is adamant on voting, then a voice vote could be held on the statement.
Bhushan, while speaking to reporters, said after a meeting with Law Minister Salman Khurshid that Hazare aides had been told that despite a special sitting of Parliament over the Lokpal bill today, "there won't be any resolution or voting".
He asked why can’t the Parliament pass a resolution and vote on the issue after the crucial debate, adding the nation wanted to know on which side the parties and MPs are.
Prashant said if the same can’t happen under Rule 193, then the government should meet Team Anna’s demands on the same under Rule 184.
He informed the government has conveyed to them that at the end of the general discussion a statement will be made giving a sense of the House.
“This won’t help… this will be a very unfortunate response,” Prashant said.
"This will be a very unfortunate response to what Anna Hazare has written to the PM," Bhushan told reporters, dashing hopes of an imminent end to the 74-year-old activist's 12-day-old fast.
Asked if in this case Hazare would break his hunger strike, he said that would be for him (Hazare) to decide.
Separately, Anna aide Bhaiyyu Maharaj too said there are indications that a resolution won’t be passed but all the three sticky issues will be accepted.
The spiritual guru said the government had stated that it will try to pass a resolution.
Commenting on the Lok Sabha debate, another Team Anna member, Arvind Kejriwal said it is a clear case of betrayal. In the last four days, the government has changed its stand thrice, he added.
First Published: Saturday, August 27, 2011, 15:13