Anna Hazare to go on hunger strike from August 16

Jun 16 (PTI) Amid growing differences with civil society members on the proposed Lokpal Bill, Government today held a series of meetings to formulate a strategy to handle the ticklish issue.Union Minister Kapil Sibal and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hours after Anna Hazare accused the UPA of "playing tricks" with people of the country and questioned the rationale behind sending two versions of Lokpal Bill to the Cabinet for consideration.

However, both the leaders remained tightlipped on what transpired in the meeting. The Group of Ministers on Media also met at noon and is learnt to have decided to follow a 'wait and watch' policy to the unfolding situation and not be hurried in its response.

Anna Hazare today threatened to go on hunger strike from August 16 alleging "backtracking" on Lokpal bill but the government refused to yield, saying it cannot allow creation of a "parallel" structure.

Amidst hardening of positions by both sides, government made it clear that it would come out with a "strong and sound" draft of Lokpal bill by June 30 irrespective of whether civil society activists cooperate.

A day after talks in the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill got deadlocked, Hazare accused the government of having no intention to enact a strong anti-corruption law and that it had "backtracked" on the promises that it will agree to all the suggestions forwarded by the civil society members.