A breakthrough seems to be in sight to set up a Lokpal to make an effective anti-corruption mechanism.

An indication to this effect was given by Swami Agnivesh who is one among the three representatives of Anna Hazare holding talks with the government. He said, after third round of talks that this was the last round and people will hear a good news soon. He also said that the announcement about the future course of action will be taken by Anna Hazare after he goes through the government document on the constitution of the committee and other demands.

Anna Hazare earlier said that a joint drafting Committee is being constituted on the proposed Lokpal Bill. The Committee will have five members each from the government side and Anna Hazare’s civil society activists.

A Government order on the panel is likely.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met President Pratibha Patil and briefed her about the efforts being made to resolve the issue. An official spokesman said that during the 35-minute meeting, the Prime Minister and the President discussed about various issues of national and international importance. Congress President Sonia Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier in the day to discuss the matter.

Senior Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has appealed to Anna Hazare to end hunger strike and join the informal committee to prepare an effective Lokpal Bill. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, he said, talks are going on with Anna Hazare, who is sitting at Jantar Mantar on strike. More people from different walks of life are joining Anna Hazare in his fast to press for a tough anti corruption law.

Meanwhile, The protests against corruption spearheaded by social activist Anna Hazare has spread to more cities and small towns. As the fast by the 71-year-old Gandhian in New Delhi entered the fourth day today, a large number of people participated in a march organised in Ahmednagar.

Karnataka Chief Minster Yeddyurappa, facing charges of nepotism and favouritism in land denotification, also demanded that the Centre take immediate steps to bring in a legislation to fight corruption.

Congress has contended that all substantial and real issues on drafting of the Lokpal Bill have been resolved and asked Social Activist Anna Hazare to work with the Government in its drafting.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, Party Spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the Government cannot abdicate its constitutional responsibility by accepting Hazare’s condition of notifying the formation of a joint committee to draft Lokpal Bill.

He said that the ball is now in the court of representatives civil society to engage in the nitty gritties of drafting the bill and urged Hazare not to delay the discussion by raising irrelevant procedural issues.

Singhvi said that the Government has already agreed to set up a Joint Drafting Committee and to introduce the Lokpal Bill in the Monsoon session of Parliament.

The indefinite fast of social activist Anna Hazare which entered fourth day today is drawing huge support of people from different walks of life in Meghalaya.

Corruption is being one of the most concerned issues prevailing in the country that needed to be rooted out. Meghalaya Right to Information Movement members have decided to stage a sit-in-demonstration tomorrow at Shillong in solidarity with the movement.
The residents from different towns in North Goa have given good response for the token hunger strike call given by Anna Hajare in protest of corruption rise in the country.

The hunger strike was held at Shivaji maidan , Bicholim in North Goa.