Hazare steps up campaign, brushes aside Sonia's appeal

New Delhi:Stepping up his anti-corruption campaign, Anna Hazare brushed aside Sonia Gandhi's appeal to him to withdraw his hunger strike as Government initiated talks on formation of a joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill but there was no consensus on two crucial aspects. Government agreed to the formation of a committee with equal representation for civil society members and government representatives. But it is said to be having reservations over how to formally notify constituting it and give its chairmanship to a private individual, which could be setting a precedent. "I thank Sonia Gandhi for her statement (appealing to him to end the fast). Soniaji, tell the government to get the Lokpal bill enacted at the earliest," Hazare said in a terse reaction to Gandhi's appeal.