The government has invited social activist Anna Hazare on Monday to discuss the draft of the Lokpall bill prepared by the civil society.
V. Narayanaswamy, minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs has written to Hazare in this regard.

According to the letter, the government has formed a sub-group of ministers chaired by defence minister A K Antony. “This Group would like to meet you and have discussions with you on your proposal for the Lokpal Bill,” said the letter dated March 23, 2011.

Hazare met the prime minister on March 7 on this issue. In the meeting, the prime minister told him that a group of ministers (GoM) headed by the finance minister was already looking into measures that could be taken by the government to tackle corruption.

The prime minister had also indicated that he would take up with the finance minister to constitute a sub-group of GoM that would interact with Hazare prior to the GoM making its recommendations in respect of the Lokpal Bill.

Hazare has said that he would go on indefinite hunger strike from April 5 if the government does not take concrete action to formulate a Lokpal bill in consultation with the members of the civil society.

On receiving the invitation for discussion on the bill, Hazare said, “The government should set up a joint committee consisting of half the members of civil society preferably those who drafted the Jan Lokpal Bill and half from the government to discuss the Government’s objection to the Jan Lokpal Bill.  If the Government does not do that I would continue with my fast."