Sonia appeals to Hazare to give up his fast

New Delhi, Apr 7 (PTI) Declaring that there were no
two views on the need for combating corruption, Congress
President Sonia Gandhi Thursday appealed to Anna Hazare to
give up his fast, assuring the Gandhian that his views would
receive government's "full attention".
"I am pained by Anna Hazareji's fast-unto-death. The
issues he has raised are of grave public concern. There can be
no two views on the urgent necessity of combating graft and
corruption in public life," she said in a statement.
In the backdrop of Hazare resorting to the protest
action since Tuesday to demand an effective Lokpal (Ombudsman)
Bill, Gandhi said that she believed that the laws in these
matters must be effective and "must deliver the desired
results".
"I am sure that Hazareji's views will receive the
government's full attention as we move forward to fight this
menace. I appeal to Anna to give up his fast", Gandhi, who is
also United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson, said.
The appeal by Gandhi came when the hunger strike by
the 71-year-old social activist entered the third day and the
government began talks with anti-corruption campaigners led by
him.
During the parleys Thursday, the government agreed to
form a joint committee to draft a stronger Lokpal Bill but
there was no consensus on who will head it and as to whether
it should be notified.
Hazare rejected the government's offer of an informal
committee and said he would not end his protest till the
demands were met.