Congress core committee meets to discuss Anna's fast

With the government struggling to come out with a response to Anna Hazare's continuing fast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight held consultations with senior leaders of Congress on ways to resolve the situation.

The meeting of the Congress core group was held at a time when Team Anna has made it clear that it would like to hold direct talks with the government and does not want any intermediaries.

Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary Umesh C Sarangi had held three rounds of talks with Team Anna, including Hazare, and later left for Mumbai.

Already, there is talk that Hazare was ready to be flexible on the inclusion of the higher judiciary if the government brings a strong Judicial Accountability Bill.

Informed sources said Hazare has also indicated that he would be flexible on the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the anti-corruption law but wanted direct talks with the government.

There is also talk that government could go in for a discussion on the issue of Lokpal in Parliament tomorrow in a move to gauge the mood of the entire political spectrum.

However, Parliament sources said no such formal proposal has come before the concerned authorities.