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We are still open to talks with govt, says Anna

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 20 2013 | 2:28 AM IST

Anna Hazare today said his campaign had not closed the door of dialogue with government, a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated it was open for discussion.

"We have not closed the door of dialogue. We have kept it open. Only through dialogue the issues can be resolved," he told his supporters at Ramlila Ground on sixth day of his fast.

His close associates referred to the Prime Minister's readiness to discuss the issue and said so far no proposal has come from the government.

"With whom and where should we discuss what," Arvind Kejriwal, a key aide of Hazare, said announcing the five decisions taken at the core committee meeting of 'India Against Corruption' this morning.

Both Hazare and Kejriwal also asked their supporters to hold dharnas in front of houses of MPs in their constituencies and demand written commitments in support of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

"The dharna should also cover Ministers and leaders of various political parties," they said.

Kejriwal said a 'maha rally' will be held today from India Gate to Ramlila Maidan in support of 73-year-old Hazare's movement and tomorrow the Ramzan and Janmashtami fast will be broken together at the ground in solidarity with the Gandhian's campaign.

The Prime Minister had said yesterday that there was "a lot of scope for give and take" and that the government was open to "discussion and dialogue".

Making it clear that he will not budge from his stand of getting the Jan Lok Pal Bill passed in Parliament, Hazare said even if the Prime Minister is covered, he will not end his campaign.

"Even if the Prime Minister is covered, the Jan Lok Pal Bill has to be passed. Till Jan Lok Pal Bill is passed, we will not go back on our mission," the Gandhian said.

Taking a jibe at the critics of his movement, Hazare said, "People's parliament is higher than the national Parliament.

"We send MPs as trustees of the treasury but they go there and start looting peoples' money. But now people who are the masters have awakened. Now we have to send several of these corrupt ministers out of power and to jails," he said.

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First Published: Aug 21 2011 | 12:37 PM IST

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